Hi everyone! Almost a year ago I wrote a blog on the Bible verse Matthew 7: 13-14. It was about which road will you go down the wide gate that leads to destruction (hell) or the narrow gate that leads to eternal life (heaven). Yesterday, (January 22, 2012) I went to church and Pastor John spoke about "One Second After You Die". Wow, something to think about. If you go to www.northcreek.org and then click on to the link for the sermons you can hear Pastor John for yourself.
The Bible passage he used was Luke 16:19-31, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury everyday. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire. But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house. For I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets: let them listen to them.' No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
The rich man has lots of wealth and lots of stuff. He ate expensive food and enjoyed it all. The rich man was cold hearted and never used his wealth to help anyone. The poor man, Lazarus, was suffering with illness that covered his body with sores. Lazarus couldn't take care of himself. Even through this suffering Lazarus obviously loved the Lord and had faith in Jesus. God kept quiet about the rich man's name, but God knew the poor man's name. The rich man had a fancy earthly funeral. The poor man, Lazarus did not have a fancy funeral, but the angels came and carried him to heaven.
After the rich man died he went into hell. What does the Bible teach us about hell?
A. It is a place of torment
B. Spiritual torment, no escape EVER
C. Emotional torment, knowing your family is headed there too (like the rich man stated)
D. Torment is continuous
E. No second chances once you get to hell
F. Your plea for mercy will not be answered
G. In hell you retain your identity and awarness
Does God know your name? Which road will you choose? You can prevent choosing to go to hell by trusting in God's Word (Bible). The only book that shows us how to know who God is, how to know God and how He came to save us is the Bible, (John 3:16). You cannot trust any other book. You cannot trust your feelings for feelings can deceive us. So, if you have not yet asked the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart to forgive you for your sins and be Lord and Savior of your life, then please do not delay. One second after you die, YOU will have determined your forever home.
Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for the unsaved. I pray that they will open their hearts to love You and ask You, Jesus to save them. I ask that Your favor and wisdom will be upon us and please protect us, comfort us and thank You for Your saving grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
www.karenejklein.com
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