Ring of Fire

Remember Johnny Cash's song Ring of Fire. That's been going through my head all day today. Which got me to thinking about fire which, in turn, got me to thinking about Hell.

I have heard people say that we shouldn't talk about Hell. It's scary. Just like preachers don't like talking about the End Times because it's too derisive. But you know what? Both are real. Jesus talked about both.

¹⁹ “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. ²⁰ But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, ²¹ desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. ²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ ²⁷ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31 (NKJV)

We know that this isn't a parable, because Jesus was using an actual name. Hell is a very real place. It is worse that just unpleasant. It is eternal torment and you will know who you are, where you're at, and why you're there. You will also know that you will never leave.

I see so many cartoons that make a joke about Hell, but I'm telling you, it won't be one big party with all of your friends. It will be dark and you will be all alone, with no more chance of redemption.

Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 22:13 (NKJV)

Now, I don't know how many people will read this and I don't know how many of those reading will just dismiss this. But I pray you will at least consider what I am saying, because you might not have another chance tomorrow.

Two things could happen tomorrow: 1) you could die, with in an accident or maybe a heart attack. I have read too many obituaries and been to too many funerals from people who were gone too soon.

whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14 (NKJV)

Or 2), the rapture of the Church will happen. The Church Age, the Age of Grace will be over.

⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NKJV)

Will you have another chance then? When millions of people suddenly disappear, will you be able to change your mind? Imagine - there will be mass chaos. Then there is the deception that you could fall prey to.

And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
2 Thessalonians 2:11 (NKJV)

People are being deceived every day now. What makes you think you won't be deceived then? Everything will be in mass confusion and life will not be pleasant. And why would you want to take that chance?

How can you avoid all of this? How can you be assured of where you will be when the time comes?

I know that many people think that they will go to Heaven because they have lived a good life, treated their neighbors kindly, volunteered for charity work, or maybe they have never broken the law. Or, maybe you go to church and you might have even been baptised. But the one thing you have to remember is: NO ONE can live up to God's idea of righteousness.

There is none righteous, no, not one; Romans 3:10 (NKJV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

That means that all of us deserve Hell. Even me. Salvation cannot be earned by good works. We will never be good enough in God's eyes.

So what's the answer?

⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5:8-9 (NKJV)

We can be saved from the wrath of God, because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. He paid the price for all of us so we can be justified in God's eyes through our faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

Once we believe, I mean really believe, deep down inside, we repent of our sins, and we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins, we are sealed with God's Holy Spirit, which is God's deposit, that guarantees he will redeem us.

²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, ²² who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 1 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NKJV)

Now, I'll go back to the question I asked earlier. Do you really want to wait? Do you really want to gamble with your eternal life?

My prayer for all of you is that you don't wait. Time is too short and none of us have the promise of tomorrow.

God willing, until next time

Maranatha