Thank God that you have the opportunity now to do something about heaven or hell. Considering the fact that life will continue after death, we truly need to make understanding our eternal destiny the highest priority. We will be leaving everything behind to go into an infinite future which is so far more important than anything in this world.
God does not want us to be ignorant about these truths. The video below is less than 45 minutes but what is that in comparison to the preparations we need to make in order to be ready for our inevitable departure? Much time is spent on planning our departure from this world – estates, trusts, wills etc.? How much time have we spent listening to what will happen when we leave this world? What is our belief about hell? Are our beliefs based on truth or assumptions?
1. Ignorance – many simply evade the topic of hell for a wide variety of reasons.
2. Annihilation – some believe that there is no life after death and we will simply cease to exist.
2. Recognition – 58% believe that hell exists and therefore can act to avoid it but most don’t act.
3. Reconciliation – hell is a consequence that separates us from God but can be resolved if we respond to God’s invitation.
Most preachers would rather speak about subjects that bring smiles and warm feelings. Let’s face it, we like the feel good messages too. Hell, on the other hand, is a very serious and sobering subject. Not fun at all perhaps. But we need to teach it and understand it in order to receive the benefits of God’s gift of heaven to us. You really cannot talk about the bright beauty of heaven without appreciating the black background of hell. They are two sides of a coin, there are no other options for our eternity. Heaven is acceptance by God dependent on our relationship to Jesus Christ. Hell is the broad way chosen by many who want independence from Christ.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13
Pastor Alan asks this question in the video below, if we are all sinners and all sinners go to hell, why are we not in hell? Answer: God’s kindness. God is good and He gives blessings to even the worst of us so that we would turn to Him. This message is truly one of hope. We can receive the most abundant blessings because Christ took our sin and punishment. Hell teaches us that God really loves us. What happened at the cross far exceeds our ability to comprehend the magnitude of the love of God.
