Last week was a double-day for you. Chaplain John T. Catrett, III, had a great article about the reality of hell (Bristow News, page 2, June 17, 2021). His quoted statistics are eye opening! Please be sure to read his last week’s column.
There was an article just below his which also included the Bible topic, hell. It states, “The Bible tells us that there will come a great judgement day. Some will be taken into heaven to live with God for all eternity. Others will enter the hell reserved for the devil and his angels...What will you choose?”
God is marvelous. He won’t force you into heaven or hell. The choice is yours, but you’ll have to make that choice before death comes to you.
Personal works are not involved in going to heaven or hell. People who go to heaven have chosen that. Looking at Romans 3:23 and 6:23 we see that understanding the human problem -- sin -- might lead to Jesus Christ, but that alone can’t save you.
“For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, and has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:20-21).
You cannot have hope with out faith in God. If your faith is in what you have done you leave out Jesus, who “has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.”
If these are the “last times” there won’t be any more chances. When you die you’ll have already had all the chances you’ll get. It’s God’s decision time!
The saved person knows how to be saved. God won’t save unless His Word is understood. Only adults qualify (Acts 2:37- 40).
Mentally handicapped and children are not mentioned in Bible salvation. They are already safe! See Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:14: “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children.”
The men and women who heard Peter preach the Good News asked what to do. They responded as Peter had instructed in his answer.
Notice also that the people were instructed, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” We are still living in the perverse generation.
Those who reject Jesus and God’s plan for them cannot live with Him in heaven. Whatever you may think about hell, that makes it no less real.
Please ponder on these words of Jesus (Mark 8:34-36): “If anyone wants to follow me, he must carry his cross and follow me. He must say no to himself. The person who wants to save his life will lose it, but every person who gives his life for me and for the Good News will save it. What good is it if a person gains the whole world, but wrecks his own soul?”