Grassi & Toering, PLC

In preparing their estate plan, most people want to make sure that "what they have goes to whom they want, how they want and when they want," when they die. Often times a will or a living trust is used to accomplish this purpose. However, a will or living trust (or any other type of estate planning document) deals only with the disposition of the temporal aspects of a person's estate. What most people are not aware of is an aspect of proper estate planning that is no longer taught in law schools or discussed with clients; yet, that aspect is infinitely more important than a living trust or any other type of estate plan an attorney might prepare for a client. I am referring to your eternal estate plan.

Your eternal estate plan deals with the disposition of the eternal aspects of your estate - your soul. Your soul is eternal, and at the moment of your death it will either be at peace with God or in fear of God. Grassi & Toering, PLC desires that you be apprised of this often neglected truth so that you can be sure that your eternal affairs (as well as your temporal affairs) are in order when you die. We want you to know "the rest of the story" as concerns your estate plan.

The Bible tells us that God loves us, and He wants us to live in peace with Him and receive eternal life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) However, most people do not have God's peace in their life nor are they at peace with God in this life or in the hereafter. Why? Because all people have a free will to choose or reject God's love and His plan of eternal life. That's the way God made us. Regrettably, like our forefather, Adam in the Garden of Eden, people often choose to disobey God and go their own selfish way (read Genesis chapters 2-3). This side of human nature is called sin, and it separates us from God. The Bible says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

God's only remedy for mankind's separation from Him, is through His only son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose from the grave to pay the penalty for mankind's sin - once and for all. The Bible says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

However, Jesus Christ's death and resurrection does not, in and of itself, result in the automatic forgiveness of your sins. You must first receive and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord before your sins can be forgiven. This means, you must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again from the dead so that you could be saved from your sins, and you must receive Him personally into your heart as your Savior and Lord. God has done everything that is necessary to make your salvation possible - but (like any other gift) you must receive it. Thus, a personal relationship with the living Savior is a prerequisite to ensuring that your eternal estate plan is in order, so that there will be no doubt when you die that you will be at peace with God and will have eternal life in Heaven. You must trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins, and not in any works (including church attendance or charitable giving) or good deeds you have done or will do. The Bible says, "Yet to all who received Him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) "For it is by [God's] grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

How does a person "receive and believe" in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord?

You may want to pray a prayer, similar to this:

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I do not have peace with God because I am sinful and I need your forgiveness. I believe that You died to pay the penalty for my sin. I want to turn from my sin nature and follow You instead. I invite You to come into my heart and life, and take charge, as Lord of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen."

If you have prayed such a prayer and sincerely asked Jesus Christ to come into your life, you have the assurance that your past sins are forgiven, that you will have eternal life, and will be at peace with God, in Heaven. The Bible says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord [Jesus Christ] will be saved [from their sins]." (Romans 10:13) "He who has the Son [Jesus Christ] has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:12-13) "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1b)

True prosperity is more than the accumulation of wealth. We all know that "you can't take it with you" when you die. Have you ever seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer, or a Brink's armored car in a funeral procession? True prosperity involves investing not only in the temporal, but also in the eternal. Life on this earth is but a cup of water in comparison to the ocean of eternity. Take time today, this moment if possible, to put your eternal estate plan into effect. Best of all, unlike an estate plan prepared by an attorney, your eternal estate plan has already been paid for, in advance, by Jesus Christ - it's a free gift to you, just for the asking!

So, now you know "the rest of the story."

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, or if you have more questions concerning the Christian faith, you may want to contact:

RBC Ministries *
Grand Rapids, MI 49555-0001
(800) 598-7221
http://www.rbc.org

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association *
1 Billy Graham Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28201
(877) 247-2426 or (704) 401-2432
http://www.billygraham.org/

Additional thoughts:
"I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God."
-Abraham Lincoln

"Let a person go to a psychiatrist and what do they become? An adjusted sinner. Let a person go to a physician and what do they become? A healthy sinner. Let a person achieve wealth and what do they become? A wealthy sinner. Let a person join a church, sign a card, and turn over a new leaf and what do they become? A religious sinner. But let a person go in sincere repentance and with faith to Jesus Christ, and what do they become? A new creature in Jesus Christ, forgiven, reconciled and at peace with God."

* Grassi & Toering, PLC is not associated or affiliated with RBC Ministries or Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.