Last week a
cleaning lady came by our house. We usually get the same lady each month, but
this time the company sent a different woman. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to always be ready to have a reason for the
hope we have in Jesus, and that day I was provided with many opportunities to
share.
From almost
the moment she walked in, the lady (we’ll call her Shelby from now on) was
asking me philosophical, psychological and spiritual questions. Shelby didn’t
really get much work done that first 45 minutes, but it was fine with me; we covered a lot of
ground. It seemed clear that she subscribed to the New Age movement, because
she appeared to subscribe to various beliefs from an assortment of religions.
Two prominent
New Age beliefs Shelby ascribed to included: 1) Discovering one’s inherent divinity
and 2) Reincarnation. Both of those teachings are attempts to deal with sin,
death, judgment and salvation through one’s own strength and merit. Also, both
of those teachings seek to completely dismiss Jesus’ clear teaching about hell.
If your hand causes you to stumble,
cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two
hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where their worm does not
die, and the fire is not quenched.] If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it
off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be
cast into hell, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.]
If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter
the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. – Mark 9:43-48
The main
problem in this world is not disunity. It is not a lack of understanding. It is
not that the two main candidates running for office are narcissistic, sociopathic,
idolatrous, pathological liars who will literally say or do anything to gain
more power (even though that's true).
The main
problem in this world is that humanity is at war with God. We are in rebellion
against the King of kings, and that insurrection is called sin. Sin leads to
bondage and death. And for those who reject the forgiveness, redemption and
regeneration offered by Jesus Christ, the ultimate just judgment of hell’s eternal
fire awaits.
Many preachers today
do not want to preach about hell, and they do this at their own peril.
Not only do they endanger their souls, but is it possible that these American pastors carry a large portion of the blame for the breakdown of our society? Is it possible that their reluctance to regularly paint an accurate picture of both heaven and hell has led millions of Americans to not fear suffering the consequences of their actions? If so, it would probably be good practice for all pastors to read Malachi 2 once every month.
Unlike modern pastors, the early Christians were neither ashamed of Jesus nor His words about hell.
Not only do they endanger their souls, but is it possible that these American pastors carry a large portion of the blame for the breakdown of our society? Is it possible that their reluctance to regularly paint an accurate picture of both heaven and hell has led millions of Americans to not fear suffering the consequences of their actions? If so, it would probably be good practice for all pastors to read Malachi 2 once every month.
Unlike modern pastors, the early Christians were neither ashamed of Jesus nor His words about hell.
For all, the righteous and the
unrighteous alike, shall be brought before God the Word. … He comes as Judge
whom we call Christ. … Those who have done well shall be assigned righteously
eternal bliss, and to the lovers of iniquity shall be given eternal punishment.
And the fire which is unquenchable and without end awaits these latter, and a
certain fiery worm which does not die, and which does not waste the body, but
continues bursting forth from the body with unending pain. No sleep will give
them rest; no night will soothe them; no death will deliver them from
punishment; no voice of interceding friends will profit them. – Hippolytus 225CE, Volume 5, p.
397 [CD-ROM]
God’s
judgment comes to the righteous and the unrighteous. Everything we’ve ever
thought, said or done will be held up against the standard of Christ. And though
non-Christians are capable of doing good things, that’s not good enough. Therefore, even though Cornelius the Roman Centurion was called a righteous and just man in Acts 10, he still needed to repent of
his sins and receive forgiveness and newness of life through Jesus Christ.
Over the 36 years I've been alive, my eyes
and hands have willfully engaged in sin more times than I can imagine. I’ve
valued countless things above God and hurt countless others for the sake of
those idols. My eyes deserve to be plucked out and my hands cut off. Worse still, I deserve to spend eternity where their worm doesn't die and the fire is never quenched.
Though the
Gospels don’t show Jesus demanding His disciples to cut off their hands or
pluck out their eyes when they sin, His words in Mark 9 demonstrate how serious He is about sin. In one sense, Jesus
wasn’t using hyperbole. It actually would be better for us to enter life maimed
or with one eye than to have an amazing body, not take Jesus seriously, and end
up in the unquenchable fire of hell.
There are
no second chances after we die. Reincarnation doesn’t exist anymore than
purgatory does. Fortunately, there is rebirth and regeneration through the Holy
Spirit offered to everyone who will receive Jesus.
Jesus is
more gracious, merciful, and patient than you can comprehend. He gave His
entire life for you. When you repent of your sins and give your life to Him, He
gives His life back into you through the Holy Spirit. As you walk with Him each
day, He begins to transform you into a new person and make you more like Him.
That is
really good news! The gospel is not just about keeping us out of hell, it’s
also about bringing God’s kingdom into our lives. It’s about transformation
into God’s image by God’s power. And that means God is writing a tremendous testimony
in you, filled with story after story of how your hope in Christ triumphs over
the hellish situations you face.
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