AVOID HELL
“The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”- C.S Lewis
Luke 16:23, And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The rich man had everything he needed in life; fine clothes, fancy diners, and servants to do his dirty work. Lazarus didn’t have anything. He just wanted the crumbs from the rich man’s table. Instead of heeding to God’s Word while he was alive, the rich man rejected the Truth, ending up in hell. Lazarus heeded the Word, ending up in Heaven.
Friend, you can avoid Hell by trusting Jesus Christ to be your Saviour! Will you believe today?
Acts 16:31, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
SCARY DAYS
The greatest fear one should have is opening their eyes in Hell when they die.
Hebrews 10:31, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
I remember growing up in a big old house that was built in the early 1900’s. That house had more creaks than I care to talk about. I was so far away from my parents when I went to bed I thought, “If I screamed, they wouldn’t hear me!” There were literally times I went to bed thinking I wasn’t going to make it to morning. The Boogey Man didn’t have anything on what was living in my attic. However, the older I got, the more I understood there was something even scarier than what was living in my attic.
Friend, dying without Jesus as my Saviour is the scariest thing I can think of now. Total separation from God forever. Total separation of friends and loved ones forever. That’s pretty scary to this big ole guy!
Hell is real! Hell is awful! Hell is awaiting you if you have not called out to Jesus to save you! Why not GET UP, GET REAY, and GO TO CHURCH this morning? He knows what you’re going through! He can calm your heart and you too can have the peace of God—forever!
AND THEN, THEY WERE GONE
It matters not how long we live, but how. -Bailey
James 4:14, Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Yesterday, we had a funeral service for a longtime friend and sister in Christ. As I was reflecting this morning about the brevity of life, I was reminded of how short life really is. It’s as if yesterday I was in high school, chasing girls, working, and enjoying my youth. How much time have I wasted? How much time has gone by without thinking about eternity? How much time have I been spinning my wheels but going no where or doing anything for the Lord?
Friend, you and I have had many friends and family members to go on before us. We shared a meal with them at the kitchen table, went fishing, took vacations, played cards, spent quality time together and then, they were gone. C.T Studd wrote, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Life is not guaranteed, how are you living this life?
YOU’RE NOT OKAY
The greatest of all miracles is the salvation of a soul. -Spurgeon
Proverbs 16:25, There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Have you ever been around one of those people who know it all? The guy that knows how to work on everything sitting at the shop but when you get to a piece of equipment that isn’t working, they conveniently have something else to do. The mother that knows exactly what YOUR kid needs but her kids are disrespectful, disobedient, and dysfunctional. The fisherman that can out fish you at the table but not on the water. Even the guy that knows exactly what you are doing wrong in ministry but hasn’t done anything for the Lord himself.
Yes, there are a lot of people who proclaim they know this and that about everything but sooner or later the truth will come out. Some proclaim they are saved because they had some religious experience. Some proclaim they are saved because their Dad was a deacon or their Mom serves in the nursery and sings in the choir. Some think because they do some good things such as; giving money to the church, visiting a nursing home, or giving to a local charity God will let them into Heaven. Friend, that is about as far from the truth as one can get.
If you believe something like that above, You’re not okay! If you have never repented of your sins and trusted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you’re on your way to Hell. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” So, are you really okay or are you on the way to hell?
I’M NOT GOING TO HELL
It is shocking to reflect that a change in the weather has more effect on some men's lives than the dread alternative of heaven or hell. -Spurgeon
Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Here are some interesting questions concerning getting into Heaven- How much is enough when it comes to giving? How much do I need to give to get a ticket into Heaven? What if I cheat a little on what I owe for taxes? How much good would I have to do in order for God to be please enough to open the gates of Heaven for me?
Guess what, we will not get into Heaven by giving to the church, paying our taxes, or by being a good person. There are no tickets into Heaven! When the Ethiopian Eunuch ask Peter, “What doth hinder me to be baptized?” Peter answered, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” The Eunuch’s response was how I got saved and it’s the same way any lost person will get saved, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Are you saved? Do you know Jesus as your personal Saviour? If you died today, do you know where you’ll spend eternity? I know this, you don’t have to go to Hell! If you trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour you’ll go to Heaven! Have you done that? Will you do that? If so, let me know! I would love to pray with you and give you something for your New Life in Christ!
JUST GIVE ME JESUS!
Jesus Christ is light to the eye, honey to the taste, music to the ear, joy to the heart. –Spurgeon
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4
In this world we are living in it is easy to lose hope. It’s easy to get your eyes off of what’s important forgetting Who your Saviour is. Friend, as this world is going to Hell in a hand basket, cling to Jesus! Cling to the One who holds tomorrow! Cling to the only real Hope any of us have! Let those who love the world have the world! As for me, just give me Jesus!
ARE YOU RELIGIOUS OR REDEEMED?
It is natural to be religious; it is supernatural to follow Christ. –Unknown
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
Religion has a person trying to obtain salvation by some service or sacrifice. Christianity says salvation was provided when Jesus died on the Cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and when He rose again the third day. Religion will send a person straight to hell! Christianity will set you free from sin, Satan, and self destruction!
What you believe about Jesus is important, what you have done with Jesus is the difference between Heaven and Hell- literally! Are you religious or have you been redeemed?
GOOD INTENTIONS
If you can earn it, why did Jesus die?
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. Acts 10:1-2
At a first look, one would think Cornelius was a saved man on his way to Heaven. He was a religious man who feared God, gave financially to the ministry, and prayed. But if you continue reading in Acts you will come to the understanding Cornelius did not know who Jesus was. Even with all of His works he was still dead in his sin and trespasses.
Is that what you are doing in this life for Jesus? Are you trying to work your way to Heaven? You have good intentions in working for the Lord but it won’t work, ye must repent and be born again. No one gets to Heaven, by their works! Consider with me Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
YES, HELL IS REAL!
It is shocking to reflect that a change in the weather has more effect on some men's lives than the dread alternative of heaven or hell. –Spurgeon
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16:23
One question that lingers in everyone’s mind is, “What’s after this life?” But those same people don’t believe it when you tell them about Heaven or Hell. They don’t believe God would send someone to a place of everlasting punishment. They don’t believe there is only One way to Heaven. Well, when the rich man lifted his eyes in Hell…he began to believe. Don’t be like the rich man—“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
WHERE WILL YOU LIVE ETERNALLY?
Yes, in Heaven or Hell you will lift your eyes for all of eternity, which shall it be?
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:12
You will live eternally either in Heaven or hell. You will either have eternal life or eternal death. The choice is yours. You have not been pre-ordained to die and go to hell. God has given each of us an opportunity to be saved and redeemed from hell. To go to hell, you don’t have to do a thing—you’re already headed that way! But to get to Heaven, “Ye must be born again!” You must receive Jesus as Saviour, repent, confess known sin, and trust Him with your life.
That is why I am more convinced today there must be a clear presentation of the Gospel not only on our death bed but in everyday life! Have you heard it? Have you believed it? IF not now, when? The Bible says, Today is the day of salvation, don’t let it pass you by friend!
WILL YOU LIVE FOREVER…IN HEAVEN OR HELL?
This world is the land of the dying; the next is the land of the living. -Tryon Edwards
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:12
There is a misconception sometimes when it comes to Heaven and hell; some people believe hell isn’t real. For some where not to be real, the Bible has a lot to say about it. As a matter of fact, it says more about hell than it does Heaven. So God in His wisdom knew it was important to convey a simple but true message that hell is hot and Heaven is sweet.
Have you ever stopped to think about tomorrow? Have you ever given a thought of what’s after this life? Friend, life isn’t as long as what you think it is. The older I get, the more I see the days fleeting away. Stop for a moment today and ask yourself this question, “Will I live forever…in Heaven or hell?” When you can’t answer, shoot me a message, I would love to help you see what the answer is.
ARE YOU GOING TO HEAVEN?...
How do you know?
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
Many people, if asked, say they are going to Heaven. But when you ask them how they know, they can’t really answer the question. When they do answer it goes something like, “Well I’ve been a member of such and such church all of my life.” “My Mom and Dad were founding members of ABC Church.” My Dad is a Deacon at the First Pentecostal Methodist Baptist Church.” “My Mama plays the piano at the Lutheran Holiness Presbyterian Fellowship.” "I'm a pretty good person."
What people leave out is repentance. They say they are saved based on some untruth they have been told since their youth. What they hardly ever do is pick up the Bible and read it to see what God says about who we are and where we are going. He says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” He says, “For the wages of sin is death;” Praise God He doesn’t stop there….. He finishes out that same verse by saying, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Are you going to heaven? How do you know? A good evidence of salvation is found in your works. James 2:20 says, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” So friend, what are you doing for the Lord these days?
Out of peanut butter...again?
An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie; for an excuse is a lie guarded.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20
How many lies have we told in our lives? Sometimes the lies we tell are over stupid things that really don’t make a difference. We may as well say, "I'm out of peanut butter." Why? Because one excuse is as good as another. But, For some people lying is a habit; a habit that has transformed their entire lives into one big excuse, one big lie. A habit that will one day lead them to hell.
Are you living a lie? Do the people around you think you are a Christian but in fact you have never confessed, repented and asked the Lord to save you? While you may get away with that lie here on Earth when you stand before the Lord on judgment day He will see right through it. He will say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:23
Hell is Hot and Heaven is Sweet!
Don't let scoffers laugh you into hell; they cannot laugh you out of it. -D.L. Moody
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:18
People are being deceived by the millions. They sit back and laugh at the Christian who will not smoke, drink, chew, or run with those that do. They mock at their stand against abortion and homosexuality. They ridicule those who take a stance that there is only one way into Heaven.
I’ve got one thing to say…STAND THEREFORE! For those who laugh, mock, and ridicule will be the last ones laughing come judgment day!
Decisions...Decisions!
It is a wicked thing to be neutral between right and wrong. --Theodore Roosevelt
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21
No one likes someone that cannot make decisions for themselves. They stand in the line at McDonald’s and they look like a deer in the headlights of a car. I am like, “Can you make a decision on those chicken nuggets and get out of my way…Please?”
But fortunately to have life is a bigger decision than that of nuggets or a burger. It is Heaven or hell. It’s life or death. It’s peace to turmoil. I believe I will echo Joshua when he said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”
Jesus knows all about our struggles!
When I consider my crosses, tribulations, and temptations, I shame myself almost to death, thinking what are they in comparison to the suffering of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. --Martin Luther
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18
No matter what we go through in this life nothing will ever compare to the suffering that the Lord Jesus went through to redeem mankind. From Him leaving Heaven to come to Earth, to Him going to Hell for your and my sins…what could ever compare? Nothing, absolutely nothing! Don’t ever think He doesn’t know what you are going through. He has been right where you are at. He can empathize with you. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
Death is coming...are you ready?
As men, we are all equal in death. -Publilius Syrus
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Hebrews 9:27
One thing is for sure; death is coming. It will come to every man, woman, boy and girl. It doesn’t matter how rich or poor, how old or young, how beautiful or ugly, how famous or recluse. When death comes knocking at your door there is nothing you can do about it. But what you can do right now is be prepared for it. Do you know Jesus as Saviour? He is the only one that can save us from an eternity in Hell. Consider with me Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”