II Peter 3:8-9: “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
God’s word says that for the Christ-follower death is not something to be feared or worried about. In fact, each of us will experience it and there is no getting around that. When a Christian dies he or she is in the presence of Jesus. God, in His divine wisdom and greatness has made a place for the evil that roams this earth, the devil and his demons. That place is the place we call hell. It is the eternal place of punishment and judgment. God is not a mean God. He is however, a just God. His rule must be followed or there are consequences. The devil, a once beautiful angelic creature, broke God’s law. His consequence for that is an eternal judgment separate from the holy Almighty God.
Hell is not a place for people. In fact, God did not make hell for humankind; it is meant for demon-kind. Then why do people end up there? God’s word says, “[God is] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” That is what God wants for you and for me. That we will avoid perishing, like the demons. However, the choice is not God’s, it is ours. God is just being the good and fair judge. We are given the choice. If we choose not to repent and turn from our sins then we choose a fiery hell. Because, hell is never described as a place of lust, enjoyment, and pleasure, we should speak of hell with the utmost seriousness. The only description of hell we see is a place of torment and eternal judgment. That is the reason why we preach Jesus, and his redeeming grace. That is the reason why Christ-followers do things like share Jesus with their friends, or if they do not feel comfortable speaking one on one they hand out pamphlets. It is why preachers preach, and why missionaries go around the world to share this message of hope to a perishing world.
As we prepare for the Christmas season, remember why Jesus came to this world. It was to give us hope and a future. God wants to get to know you and spend eternity with you. He does not want to see you sent to a place that was not made for you in the first place. Won’t you respond to His call. Revelation 3:20 says, “"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” God is knocking at the door of your heart. What are you going to do?
For the Christ-follower, it is your charge to spread this message of hope to a blind world. They are dying and going to hell, how else are they going to hear the message unless we tell them.
Tomorrows Readings:
Old Testament: Ezek. 47-48 New Testament I John 1
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