At my last church, we were on a busy road and we had a sign in which we advertised our service times on one side and sayings or quotes on the other. To be totally transparent, very few of the sayings that were put on the sign were original with us or me but were taken from other sayings that were listed or mentioned in various places, including Google images. One of the ones we used (pictured here) is appropriate for today and for the past several weeks. There are other signs that get the same point across. “Satan called. He wants his weather back.” “Whoever stole our AC units, keep one. It is hot where you are going.”
As Christ-followers, who believe in the authority of the Bible, we preach that there is a literal heaven and a literal hell. Not everyone in society believes in both and not everyone in the church even, believe in hell.
Heaven is the place for all of those who believe and follow Christ in their lives. We can read wonderful descriptions of heaven in places like Revelation 21.3-5, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the thrones said, “I am making everything new!”
But hell, also has its descriptions. Matthew 25.41,46 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 13.41-42 “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
God never intended people to go to hell. It was created for the Satan and the angels of the rebellion. But those who follow Satan and not Christ will end up there. And so, as we endure the heat that is upon us, let us use it as reminder about those we know who are not Christ-followers and ask God to give us wisdom about how to share the Gospel with them.
In Christ Alone
No responses yet