We hear much these days of the final apocalypse. There is the prediction of the Mayan calendar. There are the continuing stories on cable TV science channels about super volcanoes that could cover us with ash and choke out our existence, or the possibility of a stray asteroid hitting the earth with grave consequences. We edge closer every day to nuclear holocaust with rogue nation after rogue nation, perfecting their bomb-making and delivery technologies.

Bible readers have skimmed over Revelation 9:16, which speaks of an army of 200 million men, thinking, "How could that be?" We know now that Asian countries have amassed active armies of that number.

We see Russia come and go as a strategic power, but every day brings closer the dreadful reality of the prophecy in Ezekiel 38, when Russia marches south for the greatest invasion ever. When we think the cauldron of Middle East politics might be cooling, it is stirred anew, and we wait for the whole thing to come unhinged.

Date setting for the Last Day has always been interesting. It has sold a lot of books, made a lot of interesting sermons, and scared many into spiritual pursuits. But maybe it's different this time. Maybe we are very close to the last day.

Rather, the possibility exists that it may be our last day--our last day on planet earth as we know it. Death stalks all of us. Sickness, accidents, and purposeful acts take the lives of countless people daily.

Typically, there is no warning. It seems to be hard wired into the human psyche that those things happen to somebody else, not me.

The apostle Paul tells us, "You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2). In other words, when we least expect it, the end comes--either the end of our lives or the end of the world.

How do you prepare? If you do not recognize God as the Lord of the universe, you will likely do nothing. What could you do, anyway, if you truly believe that death ends it all?

For the sake of discussion, we must consider the possibility of the existence of Almighty God, Creator of all things and Sovereign Ruler of the universe. Almighty God wrote the Bible, through the minds and hands of godly men, with the intent of telling His story and giving us a hint of His timeline.

Let's pay attention for a moment to God's instructions for all of us who will either die physically in some manner or meet Him on that last day. God says there is eternity; that is, every human being will exist somewhere forever. For those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ the Son of God--who came to earth as a man, suffered death on a cross, was buried, and was resurrected from the dead by the power of God--there will be eternity with God in heaven.

Revelation 20 speaks of the "book of life." Every person who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior has their name in that book. They will be in heaven. Every person who has not put their faith in Jesus Christ will not have their name in the book of life, but will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

This is serious business. It is more than idle conversation around the coffee shops; this is about eternal destiny.

What if today were our last day? Where will you exist then?