Escaping the Torment of Hell - Christ's Ultimate Gift

24"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

28"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

(John 5:24,28-29)

In churches these days we hear a lot about living the Christian life. Mostly, it's because we as a society are most curious about how to live since it's the most applicable part of the Bible for us on a day to day basis. However, the larger point of the coming of Jesus revolves around our salvation from a life of impending death, to life everlasting.

We are all moving along in the world toward death. It is a certainty that we will all die - no matter who we are in the world and no matter what we might accomplish; death awaits. In the beginning of the world, God created us for eternal life, but because of the disobedience of Adam, death entered into the world and our life became a cycle with a certain impending ending.

But we are still eternal creatures because we have a spirit given to us from God. Where will that spirit go? Christ has restored us to eternal life in God's presence because He died in our place (and rose again to show that His redemption really works). God is the only one who can create and give life; when we are with Him in eternity, we will have life coursing through us eternally.

However, what happens to us when we choose not to come to Christ and reject God? We are given precisely what we ask for -- an eternity without God. Unfortunately, that will result in condemnation with Satan and his demons because they have also rejected God. Now, it may be fine for a person to want to be left alone in eternity (or at least that would be what they think is fine), but would they really want to be in a place where Satan and demons reign over them -- hating them because they bear the image of God?

It is at that point that the loneliness and depression of being away from God the life-giver is multiplied into torment from powerful demons. There are deep implications that come with the rejection of Christ.

Sometimes I wish that Hell was made clear from the pulpit on a regular basis. Without knowing what God says about Hell, we don't know the deep extent of His great love for us and for our fellow man. I must admit that while I have the confidence and peace that comes from knowing Christ, assuredly knowing that my eternity will be with Him - I lose focus about what that means for those who do not choose Christ.

It is not a political argument or simply a religious discussion. Helping people to know Christ and receive Him as Lord and Saviour brings souls to eternal life - while allowing non-Christians to make a choice to reject God without the facts brings them condemnation...

Lord Jesus, I am having some difficulty with today's lesson because I know that I'm not sure how to help those around me in the best way. I know that the power to save does not come from my hands, so I do not worry about that, but what is it that I should do today? Whatever it is, please help me to know it and have the courage to do it. In the name of my Saviour and Lord, Christ Jesus, AMEN.