Jesus was not a threatening man, but he was a man of warning. He promised his followers that in his Father's house was many mansions. He promised an eternity of life to those who would deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Him. A paradise is promised to those who submit themselves to God and resist the devil.
Jesus preached more on hell than anyone in the Bible. Hell is not a popular Subject; even in the church today. But there are many warnings of a place so Awful, so tormenting, so removed from God, that once there a person has no choice but to abandon all hope. Jesus described hell in the book of Matthew as a furnace of fire, everlasting punishment, unquenchable outer darkness, everlasting destruction, weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth, where the worm dies not. Being separated from God and hope and love through eternity. There is no end. No one could ever describe the length of eternity or the torments of hell with words or pictures. The Lake of Fire is indescribable. Jesus however said He did not want any to perish but that everyone would have eternal life. When you have been there 10,000 years you will have no less time to spend there because hell, like eternity, is timeless.
Some do not believe that there is a place called hell. Others believe that hell is the grave where you just sleep and others believe that a person who is sentenced there will not spend eternity there. In the Book of Revelation the Bible paints a different picture. Chapter 14:11 says "the smoke from their torment rises up forever."
Hell will be a place of sorrows. A place where a person will reflect on their past life and be haunted by the thoughts of missed opportunities to be saved and to avoid this place. Every time they were at church and bypassed Calvary; every time they drove past the church and never stopped; every time they blocked the prayers of your parents or a loved one who was praying for your mother from your mind.
Luke, chapter 16, tells a real life story of a man who goes to hell. The first thing we hear him say is "Have mercy on me for I am tormented in this flame." The last thing which is recorded is "I have five brothers, send someone to warn them of this place, tell them DON'T COME TO THIS PLACE!" This story is over 4000 years old, however. That rich man who begged for mercy for a drop of water on his tongue is still crying today. Job said the womb shall forget you and the worm shall feed on you and you will be remembered no more. In other words no one in heaven will remember you. You will be a forgotten soul to suffer in hell throughout eternity. Once a person spends a million years there they will not have one last day to spend because there is no end to their torment. Heaven is a token of God's love, hell is justice. Hell is out of the reach of God. There will be no hope. There will be no sign of God anywhere in hell. There is no bottom, no walls, and no way to escape.
Some say, I can't get saved now because I am in a situation in my life that church and Jesus just wouldn't work. Let me tell you that Death is on your trail. It stalks and follows you, waiting for the opportunity to unleash. A person's flesh begs for sin and sin produces death. After death there is the judgement and after judgement there is eternity. If we had only known that death was at the door of a loved one, we would do all we could to warn this person to turn from their wicked ways and accept Jesus.
Prov 27:20 Hell is never full.
Isaiah 5:14 Hell has enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure.
Habakkuk 2:5 Hell is never satisfied.
A mother would wade through the flames if she would to save her child, But there is no way to get anyone out of hell.
Job said, "the light of the wicked shall be put out."
"I pray thee father send to my fathers house and warn them." The last message from hell is "don't come to this place."
Revelations 21:8 Tells us who are going to hell. "cowardly, unfaithful, detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars."
2 Timothy 3:1-5 speaks of today's society. It calls it the "last days." This scripture paints a picture of any newspaper headline in America. "You must understand this, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, they will be slanderous, lack self control, be brutal, despisers of those that are good, traitors, reckless conceited, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof."
Since we cannot even understand God's mercy, there is no way we can comprehend the length of eternity. God will give us opportunity time and time again to repent. Death is a reality and one day everyone will have to face death. Time for many is running out.
Hell is a terrible place that actually exists just the way the Bible describes it. God has made a way of escape through his Son Jesus Christ. God does not want any to perish but that all would believe on the name of Jesus Christ and be saved.
We also do not give to be seen by others. Matthew 6:1 warns us "Take heed that ye do
not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of
your Father which is in heaven." There are a few people who send us gifts
and honor God's work here with their substance. Many of them are anonymous
because they do not want my recognition but rather they do it out of love to
be seen only by God. The unsolicited monetary donations for the ongoing
support of the ministry is always welcomed and is met with gratefulness to
God for the generosity shown but remember that it is really God to whom you
give.
Ecclesiastes 5:13 "There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun,
namely, riches kept for the owners, therefore to their hurt." It is wrong to
hold back that which belongs to God. If we do not yield ourselves to God and
resist the devil and give out of the abundance of our heart then it is to
our hurt!
In Acts chapter 5 a certain man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied to
the Holy Spirit about their giving. Upon being found out by Peter both fell
dead because they had attempted to deceive and rob the Holy Spirit.
The world gives unto their own through relief programs for other countries,
benefits, charities, etc. How much more should God's people give who are
filled with the Holy Spirit and with love to those who are needy? Give of
your substance, of your increase, of your time, give your love to others
that Christ may be magnified. God will reward those who represent His kingdom.
If you are able, support the work of God in all areas and become a laborer
for the harvest. God may lay it upon your heart to give more to your local
church, to a poor family in need, to a far away ministry. Allow the Holy
Spirit to move you in God's direction of giving and you will be blessed.
Jesus was bringing good news of freedom. Jesus was not speaking like a
religious person; however, He was walking without fault in complete
holiness. In His day, the priests wore brilliantly made robes and the
scribes and Pharisees were known for their outward appearance. No one could
tell by looking that Jesus was a holy man, the Son of God who came to
liberate. It wasn't in His appearance but in the way He simply lived His
life which made Him different than the organized religion around Him. He
was just ordinary. Jesus also was seen with sinners more than He was seen
with so-called saints of the day. His first recorded miracle was at a
wedding where they ran out of wine. Jesus simply turned the water into
wine. Not to demonstrate or prove a point that wine was good, but to show
how common He was and how He could relate to people. The example of the
water into wine also has major spiritual significance in that it shows how
He came to bring something new into the world that was not the same old
thing that people had conformed to.
Jesus also spoke simplistically with all compassion. The scribes and
Pharisees did not appear human to the people. The religious order for that
day was unapproachable in its traditions because they had elevated
themselves above the people. Jesus was every bit human and wanted everyone
to know it. God was visiting the people in the flesh. Matthew 11:28 "Come
unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Jesus was beckoning people to have a relationship with Him. When people came
to Jesus with problems and trouble He never turned them away. Through
understanding, patience and gentleness He always heard them out, and found a
solution. Many times Jesus was tired and needed sleep but yet He put His
needs aside to help others.
In today's society, many of the lost people do not feel comfortable around
Christians. Christians seem to always be saying how bad the sinner is and
how if they do not repent, they will spend eternity in hell. This is a true
statement, yet Jesus went about things a bit differently. The lost people
enjoyed His company and He seemed to genuinely enjoy their company as well.
He came to seek and save those who were lost.
I will make a point however……Jesus never condoned nor did He ever endorse
sin. He never condemned the sinner either. Those He had the most trouble
with were the religious people. Instead of their eyes being open and
understanding that Jesus was God's Son, they denounced Him and even accused
Him of performing works in the name of the devil. The religious people who
prided themselves upon the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and customs were
too blinded by their own self-righteousness to see that prophecy was being
fulfilled before their very eyes. Jesus did not act piously or preach
religion. Everything He did was for His Father in heaven. People were
drawn to this because it was truth that they had never heard before. He was
a friend of sinners and was proud of this association. It was for them He
came into the world and for them He died and rose from the dead.
During His life, Jesus remained a gentleman, gracious, caring, compassionate
full of understanding and Godly wisdom. He never once appeared to be
religious and He belonged to no religious denomination. He was free and He
gave His life in sharing this freedom with everyone He came in contact with.
The sinners loved Him and the religious plotted to kill Him. I would
encourage every one who has taken the time to read this to lay aside your
religious opinions of Jesus and what the church has taught you about His
character. Go back to the scriptures and study His life. Examine who He
was and the example He left for us to follow. Then ask yourself if you are
following His example or are you one of the religious folk.
Religion in Jesus' day was oppressive. Paul described the law as the
"unbearable burden that no human being could carry." There were not just 10
commandments, as some would suppose. There were in fact 613 commandments
and 365 prohibitions. It was not the Roman domination which oppressed the
people; it was religion. Jesus states emphatically by reading from a scroll,
which was handed to Him, His purpose for coming into this world. Isaiah 61:1
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me
to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to [them that are] bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the
LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn."
Dale Thompson is the vocalist and frontman
for the legendary Christian metal band BRIDE
Click Dale to go to The Official Bride Website
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This portion of The Jesus Experience was updated March 25, 1999
