Hell Is Real

 Happy Sunday!

"Wise [Insightful] people’s lives [way] get better and better [move upward]. They avoid whatever would cause their death [turn aside from Sheol/the grave below]."(Proverbs 15:24 EXB).

Proverbs is packed full of wisdom about things to avoid.  The young man is urged to avoid getting involved with evil friends, and loose women.(Proverbs 4:14, Proverbs 2:16).  We are told to avoid co-signing on a loan for a family member or friend.(Proverbs 17:18). We are urged to avoid laziness.(Proverbs 21:25).  All of the things we are encouraged to avoid could lead us to Hell.  We don't hear much about Hell these days, but Hell is real.  Bishop Henry Phillips used to say, "If you know Jesus, this life is the only hell you will ever experience. If you don't know Jesus, this life is the only heaven you will ever experience."  Who really wants to go through hell on earth, only to go to Hell in eternity?

Jesus said, "Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."(Matthew 7:13-14 Message).  The Good News Translation says it this way, "Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to HELL is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it."

The Apostle Paul said, "I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself."(1 Corinthians 9:26-27 Message).   The Apostle Peter said, "Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you KNOW about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. But if you don’t GROW, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven. My friends, you must do all you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won’t stumble and fall."(2 Peter 1:5-10 CEV).

My Aunt, Pastor Theaha McClendon always said, "You have to know that you know that you know you are saved."  You can be sure of your final destination, and Jesus came to make a way for you to spend eternity with Him.  John 3:16 says, "Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life."(Easy-to-Read Version).

Love and prayers, Cynthia