by David Brenneman
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." Romans 1:18-32.
Many have heard the phrase "the brutal truth", or "the harsh reality".
In Hell, one minute after people die, they find themselves within both.
In the story in the Gospels of the Rich man and Lazarus, the Rich man knows exactly why he is there. In fact we read that the truth is so profound that he doesn't argue the sentence.
The Bible says that everyone will be without excuse before whom we have to do, who is Jesus Christ.
That every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Daily we face people who are showing exactly what Paul wrote there in Romans. I know that I see it pretty much weekly at work.
People who have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. It's in keeping with the grand deceptions of Satan. Just because the world legalizes something, doesn't matter what it is, it doesn't make it right in the eyes of God.
Humanity is enticed all the day long to compromise in even the smallest of ways, the smallest of things, in order to give in to deception.
The enemy of God knows a great deal more about you than you do yourself. His minions more than himself considering Satan cannot be everywhere like Jesus can. We read in several places in the opening of the book of Job that he is wandering the Earth. So don't give Satan credit where it isn't due.
Satan's minions carefully examine everything about everyone to get as many as possible to sin against God.
Many people are shocked and horrified by the behavior of others in this world. Yet every single person is capable of all the atrocities seen done by mankind.
Truth is this...Hell wasn't designed for you or I. Hell was designed for Satan and his demons as a prison not as a place to rule from as many fiction writers have presented.
Hell has many many demons there that cannot leave because of who they are and what they did towards God when Satan fell.
Those in Hell are not there for their deeds done in their lives save one: they ultimately rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
For thousands of years people have been pouring into Hell.
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14.
Every single person who's of the age of accountability chooses to accept or reject the truth of God concerning Jesus Christ's free gift of salvation.
When Jesus returns...many hundreds of thousands of children will leave with those raptured.
Historical evidence proved the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ...even outside of the Gospel accounts. Over 500 people saw and knew of His return to life personally.
The Angels who proclaimed His birth, also proclaimed that as they saw Jesus go into Heaven, so shall He return to take all who've called upon Him for salvation.
Your decision in life concerning the truth of God in Christ Jesus will determine your eternal address. If you choose to reject Jesus until your dying breath, Hell is where you'll be spending eternity. Your name will not be written in the book of life, a non-negotiable requirement to enter into Heaven.
Jesus spoke to the point of those thinking they can wait until the last minute to come to Christ for salvation. He very pointedly said that people such as this are fools. That you do not even know that your life is not in your own hands. You do not even control your next breath. God does.
The Scriptures say that we should be sure about our salvation in Christ Jesus.
Are you sure? Does your life reflect a life that's showing that Jesus Christ is the leader of your life and the forgiver of your sins?
Are you still pushing to live life your own way?
You choose your eternity. The cross of Jesus Christ brought choice to the world. You decide if Heaven or Hell will be your destination. Jesus showed that there is no party going on in Hell. There's no such thing as Purgatory.
You decide in your here and now whether or not you are mocking God by the life you live or not.
Your choice of music, of your choice of hobbies, your choice of being in God's Word or not. Your choices show the state of your heart before God in the here and now.
Are you saved? Romans 10 shows how you can know for sure.
If you know that you are...are you living it?
Will Jesus welcome you or tell you to depart for He never knew you?
The choice is yours and yours alone.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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