HELL

There is a growing movement in the world today. I’m not talking about the Democratic or Republican Party. Nor am I speaking of Greenpeace or the conservationist movements. I am talking about the large mass of people who deny the existence of hell.

Good and evil, God and satan, Heaven and hell…..

Not only does it seem logical to accept hell’s existence because of the opposites that we see all around us, but it is also talked about in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible.

⁷And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, ⁸in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. ⁹They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. ¹⁰When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 - 10 (NLT)

Some of you are saying, “I didn’t see the word ‘hell’ anywhere in that passage.” You’re right, it wasn’t there…but “hell” was. Look at verse nine:

⁹They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated

from the Lord and from his glorious power.

Hell is separation from God. Whether you want to believe in a physical location or not is irrelevant. HELL is being separated from the One who made us, loves us and gave His only Son to die in our place so that we could be with Him.

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ABANDONED

“Why did God let this happen to me?” “He can’t be a loving God since He allows evil to exist.”

Do statements like these sound familiar to you? When you have accepted Christ as your Savior, you understand that things happen to you to grow your character, to make you more Christ-like and less self and world centered. Evil exists because God’s way (the opposite of evil) has been rejected.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Romans 1:28 (NLT)

Evil would not exist if man and other created beings had not abandoned God. He is the Creator and deserves our respect, love and obedience. When we ignore His ways, evil is allowed to thrive. God is good. Evil is the absence of good.

God will not force us to do the right thing. He desires us to willing follow Him.

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OVERFLOW

Do you think that people naturally love each other? Perhaps we might find in ourselves the capacity to love one or two others as long as they are like us. To go beyond that point to loving others as ourselves I propose that it takes the power of God…

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NLT)

Paul knew that it took the Lord to “make” our love for each other and for “all” people grow and even overflow. To allow God to work like that in our lives requires surrender to His will and ways and a close, daily commune with Him.

Try it and see if your love for others doesn’t begin to overflow far beyond your human capabilities.

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SUPERFICIAL

Have you ever given “lip service” to someone or some particular topic? You know, when you say something but don’t really mean it. You’re basically saying it to get that person to go away.

News Flash! God is not going to go away. He is the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Hear the word of the Lord:

² You planted them, and they have taken root.

They have grown and produced fruit.

You are ever on their lips,

but far from their conscience.

¹⁵ Listen and pay attention. Do not be proud,

for the LORD has spoken.

¹⁶ Give glory to the LORD your God

before He brings darkness,

before your feet stumble

on the mountains at dusk.

Jeremiah 12:2, 13:15-16a (HCSB)

God has given you life. Thank Him. Heed His word to you today. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for your sins.

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OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities present themselves all the time to be a good example to others. Of course, we also have the opportunity to be a bad example just so we can “fit in” with the crowd.

For those of us that claim Christ as Savior we have not only opportunity, but a responsibility to set forth a good example.

⁵Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. ⁶Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5 - 6 (NLT)

If we consider ahead of time how we will respond in certain circumstances and purpose in our hearts to model Christ, many may be won over to the Lord Jesus by a kind word or act of love.

The United States Army used to have a slogan, “Be all you can be.” That would be a great slogan for Christians with the addition of “for Christ.”

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SUPREME

If you had the opportunity to be the smartest, richest person in the world and best friends with the king of all the earth, would you jump at the chance?

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. ¹⁰So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:9 - 10 (NLT)

The head over every ruler and authority….the president, the congress, the senate, the governor, the United Nations, the Queen of England, demons, satan…Jesus Christ is SUPREME…and

He died for you and me. Accept Him, trust Him, listen to Him today.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD