I have often thought about what happens when we shed these dirt suits and rejoin Jesus. To be apart from the body is to be with God is what the scriptures tell in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 which states, “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and be at home with the Lord” (ESV). The scriptures also talk of places called Heaven and Hell and what it takes to live an eternity in these places.
Mathew 13:44 explains Heaven this way, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (ESV). Heaven is the most precious gift a person will ever receive, but to receive this gift you need to believe in the One who paid the price for your life. Jesus Christ, God's only Son was born into this world to do just that, to pay the price for our eternal life in Heaven. God Loved you and me that much. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will have eternal Life” (NIV). This is the best news for those of us who have made that decision to stop trying to live life in a fallen world and give it back to the one who created us and loves us. But for those who ignore the facts of an afterlife and chose to live life on their own terms away from the Creator another place has been prepared, a place called Hell.
The bible seems very clear about the subject of Hell. Hell is as real as Heaven and as wonderful as Heaven is, Hell is the polar opposite, to paraphrase, it is a lake of fire that never goes out. In Mathew 13:49-50 Jesus explains Hell in a parable, “This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, and throw the wicked or unrighteous into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (ESV). I want to be found righteous when the time comes, don't you?
To be righteous is to be under to authority of the Father, to be set apart from the world and to be Holy. Not saying the righteous don't sin, we do. But our wrongdoings are covered by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ when we repent or ask for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 puts it like this, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful the just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (ESV). Our names are written in the Book of Life when we make the choice to live for Christ Jesus. In Revelation 20:15 Jesus proclaimed, “If anyone's name was not found in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Hell)” (ESV). 1 Corinthians 6:9 also states, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous (not saved) will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Heaven)” (ESV). There is no gray area here, its black and white, Heaven or hell, no in between. The saved go to Heaven the unsaved end up in Hell.
Apart from the Creator, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit there is no love, Joy, or Peace. Apart from God, there is only evil, pain, rejection, hatred, and misery. Hell is real my friends. So today why don't you make the choice to let Jesus Christ become your salvation through faith and acceptance of Him as God's Son. The One who paid the price by dying on that cross and defeating death by coming back to life just so we could spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Don't be the one who Jesus says, “I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Mathew 7:23, NKJV). To be apart from God is not a good choice to make. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 explains, “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might”(ESV).
I will leave you this week with some verses that may help you make the right choice. Revelation 21:3-8 states, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away”. And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold I am making all things new”. Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true...” (ESV).
Have a blessed week.
Your Sister in Christ,
Jacque Barnes
