Earth, Heaven and Hell
"In the beginning God ( Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-2, AMP)God created the heavens and the earth and subsequently created man. The first man was Adam and his wife Eve was created from one of his ribs. Given that we are created by God, it makes a lot of sense for us to obey and worship Him. The created being is not greater than the Creator. This is why the Bible clearly stipulates what the whole duty of man is: "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13, ESV)
The Reality of Hell:
"For if God did not [even] spare angels that sinned, but threw them into hell and sent them to pits of gloom to be kept [there] for judgment;" (2 Peter 2:4, AMP). Interestingly, Jesus spoke about hell a lot. Hear what He said:Certain things are clear:
- God has the power to cast one into hell.
- Hell is not a pleasant place. In hell, worms that torment people do not die and the fire does not quench. In other words, in hell there is everlasting and indescribable torment.
- There is a danger of ending up in hell, if one indulges in sin.
It can be said without a shadow of doubt, that earth, Heaven and hell are real. Someone once said, "If you miss heaven, you cannot miss hell". There is no intermediary destination or location. One is on earth when alive and in either Heaven or hell after death. The contrast between Heaven and hell could not be more profound. Heaven is the dwelling place of God although He is omnipresent. How does that work? When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He said, "Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.' " (Matthew 6:9, AMP). On another occasion, Jesus said, "Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven." (Matthew 23:9, CSB)
On the other hand, hell is a place of indescribable suffering, torment, hopelessness and inescapable finality. What that means is that if anyone ends up in hell, the degree of despondency cannot be described or even imagined. It is so dreadful that the utter helplessness is enough to kill the soul except that in that situation the soul lives on for eternity in an environment devoid of God. And that is the key. Where God is absent, utter darkness reigns - darkness that is beyond comprehension but which is the citadel of evil. That is why that place is hell - a place where all who have rejected Jesus deserve to dwell with the devil and his demons. One may ask, why does anyone deserve to be banished to hell?
The truth of the matter is that no one is truly banished to hell. Hell is a choice. Anyone who rejects God in his or her lifetime will be given their heart's desire after their demise - a place without God controlled by the devil and his demons in a state of unparalleled torment and that place is hell. God is loving but also righteous and just. His judgements are flawless. Heaven has no use for people who do not fear God and if anyone has demonstrated a disregard for God while on earth, then hell is the right destination for such an individual after death.
As we ponder on the above statements, it should be clear that we all start our journey here on earth and then go on to spend eternity in either Heaven or hell. To enter Heaven, one has to receive Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). Therefore, the individual without the Son, Jesus, God the Son will perish - spend eternity in hell. Jesus said in John 3:3, "...Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The Bible tells us of what Jesus went through in order to rescue us from the bondage of sin and the devil. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we read, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." ( 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus who was sinless, became sin so that we could be saved and accepted by God. Because punishment for sin had to be exacted and paid for, Jesus lovingly bore the shame, torture, humiliation, deprivation and temporary loss of fellowship with God the Father for us. We should be eternally grateful for His salvation; it's by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8). Will you ignore such a great sacrifice or would you humble yourself before God, repent of your sins and receive Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour?
Do you want to spend eternity in torment OR do you want to spend eternity with Jesus? Eternity is forever - never ending. Eternity would just have started after one billion years. One cannot imagine the hopelessness and despair in hell. Compare that with eternal joy and peace in God's presence in Heaven which is beautiful, pure and without spot or blemish.
For those of you who say you do not believe in God, you know as well as I do that you are engrossed in wishful thinking. All of creation points to God - the complexity of the human anatomy, the intricacies of nature, the plants and animals (different kinds and species), the sun, moon and planets moving in their orbits without any collision, the forces of nature and gravitational constants, the expanse of the universe (thousands of galaxies of mind-boggling size), the oceans and mountains, hills and valleys, etc. Please humble yourself and run to God. Atheism, agnosticism, evolution and other God-refuting ideologies are basically futile efforts to disprove God. In Romans 1:18-21, the Bible says"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
The things mentioned above all point to God, the Creator of the universe. It is unwise and indeed foolish to deny the existence of God - "The fool has said in his heart, “ There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good." (Psalms 14:1). Wherever you are, turn to Jesus today and you will be set free from sin and the bondage of the devil.
"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:10-13)
Today, you can become a true child of God and thereby avoid hell when you pass away from this world. Call upon Jesus today, repent of your sins and receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour and you shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Have a blessed day.
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