The Treasure Hunt

HELL

10/18/2010

8:30 PM

Every year we send out letters to our family and friends and we try to give God's simple plan of salvation in these letters. What follows will be what we will be mailing within the next week. Thankfully, many of our loved ones already know Christ as their Saviour... and for that we are eternally grateful: However, if there is even one out there who has not yet trusted Jesus to save them... then that is the person for whom these letters are intended.

I thought I would put this year's letter on my blog and also reach out to those who have faithfully read many of my posts over the course of the last several years. Even as I always ask my family and friends to do... I also now ask you, all who reads this post, to consider the claims of Jesus the Christ, God's Son! (Now, I will post this year's letter.)

October 7, 2010

Hello,

Believe it or not, it's that time of year again: (fall) when the seasons change and life reminds us that we are all growing older. In addition to it being my favorite time of year, (football season... which always causes me to hearken back to the time when I was a young boy) it is also the time of year when Deb and I send out letters to family and other loved ones in order to be (both) an encouragement to family and a witness for the Lord.

We thought we would do something a little differently this year, and in this particular letter we are going to talk in detail about what happens to those who decline to accept the gift of God, which is Christ Jesus the Lord.

Recently two things happened that (in a sense) sealed the deal and caused me to believe that this letter which is speaking particularly about Hell... was what is right for this year. First: Deb called me at work about ten days ago and said that I wouldn't believe what she had just purchased from a yard-sale... a VHS tape titled: The Burning Hell... now, I hadn't seen that particular tape since the early '80's. This news of the tape was followed just a few days later by our pastor's message this past Sunday morning which was a message on the subject of Hell.

(Approximately 25 years ago I heard a remarkable sermon that was preached by Dr. Jack Hyles. The title to that message was rather simplistic: “Is There A Hell?” I always admired Dr. Hyles for his quick mind and the way he perceived what he saw about him, and that, in turn, gave him some incredible insight which allowed him to be able to preach messages that were both powerful and sublime; however, I always thought he was at his best when the messages were so easy to understand that even the smallest child could grasp what was being preached; “Is There A Hell” is one of those messages: simple, yet sublime in the truths being expressed.)

I am not going to try and necessarily add to any of the truths which were well-stated in the mediums I have already written about. And, neither do I believe that I can say anything better than what has already been said by all of the above: yet, I am going to present certain truths about “eternal life” and the “second death” in a way that you might not have thought about?

There are certain doctrines in the Bible that seem so clear and easy to grasp, that, at least for me, I am stupefied that not everyone understands them the same way. Eternal security of the believer always seemed like one of those easy ones to grasp. I mean, keep in mind who it is that we are trusting for the safe-keeping of our souls: and (at) what cost He paid to redeem mankind! Of course, if any of us had to trust our own works in order to get to Heaven, then (naturally) none would be saved: but, the Good News (Gospel) is that He has done it all... our only part is to accept and trust Him. And for those who are willing to do this... the following verse applies to you, as well as to me: “...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12b)

But, there are other many other doctrines that are not as clear and easy to grasp: that truth will be my segue to lead into the discussion on Hell. (One of the doctrines I am talking about is only this... “when is eternal life bestowed upon human beings?”)

A common teaching is that “eternal life” is conferred upon humans at the very instant of conception: how else could a “lost” sinner spend eternity in Hell? Think about it: a child is conceived in the womb, with nurture... the child continues to grow and develop until their “birth” - day. Then, this baby will continue, with nurture, to grow into adolescence and finally into adulthood. Let us say for the sake of this illustration that before achieving a full life... yet, sometime after reaching an age where they would be accountable for their own sins: they die. Now, isn't it commonly taught that they will spend an eternity in Hell? Therefore... eternal life must have been imputed at conception?

Yet, the Bible teaches: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins...” (Ephesians 2:1) “Dead” in trespasses and sins certainly implies that eternal life has not yet been conferred?

We are also told: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Notice that the “gift” is eternal life. The gift of God is not simply a location: this stated “gift” is a condition (life-eternal) and not a dwelling place: i.e., Heaven. Therefore, living in Heaven is the outcome of having been given eternal life... but nowhere does the Bible state, teach, or even imply that Heaven is the “gift.”

So, knowing the Bible is inerrant I knew it was my understanding that lacked... and not a discrepancy within the Holy Writ. As is my habit to do whenever there is a subject matter within the Bible that seems (at best) paradoxical or (at worst) error... I continued praying about it and kept reading for further understanding.

Several years ago there came a day while reading a verse in Revelation (which I might add was a familiar verse that I had read dozens of times and I had even delivered many messages using this same verse) that I came to understand the teaching quite differently. Finally, I had my clarification.

Revelation 20:14: “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” (this is THE SECOND DEATH!)

Now, there is something that is conferred upon a human being at the very second of conception, but it is not life: rather... it is death! Does that sound improbable... or an impossible dichotomy? It isn't, I assure you: this particular truth is both Biblical and well-accepted within the scientific community. Let me say it another way: the nanosecond you are born (conceived) in the womb... you begin to die!

You see, death, and not life was what mankind inherited from Adam. Read carefully what I am quite certain are familiar verses to you. Romans 5:12-14: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”

Keep in mind that the Bible declares that... “until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Yet, the Bible goes on to state: “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses.” Therefore, what they inherited from Adam and Eve was God's judgement in the Garden of Eden: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:15-17)

Remember, after Adam and Eve fell from grace... all men became sinners: however, the judgement of death was not from their sin, because the law had not yet been given and God did not impute sin to anyone without there being a writing which declared the fact of sin. (In this case I am particularly speaking about the Law of Moses which God handed down on Mt. Sinai.) You see, death came both then, and now to all men because that is what was passed to mankind from Adam and Eve, and this was done... before sin was ever imputed!

Therefore, from Adam to the present time, the state of dying is hard-wired into our very DNA and at that first blush of conception... death is already hard at work. I came to understand that there is a grave difference between being granted the “gift of eternal life” and being under the sentence of “dying forever.”

Remember, you and I (and the rest of the human race) ARE NOT in the land of the living, not while on Earth... no, we are in the land of the dying! And if you doubt that... all that you have to do is recall the last funeral you attended?

While it is true that we have a sin-nature: that is that all men are sinners and because of that we are born with a predisposition to sin: (Psalm 58:3: “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”) however, what we inherited from our first parents is the decree of death! That is why a person needs to be born-again in order to be granted the “gift of eternal life.” Now, with that understanding, I want to particularly talk about Hell.

I want you to imagine the most powerful man on Earth. Let's say that he is also the wealthiest person who ever lived and anything his eyes see... he can have. For the sake of this story, let's say he met a beautiful girl who he learned to love even more than his own self: and because of the great love he felt, he asked her to marry him and she accepted. Now, he decides to build the most beautiful house the world has ever seen and he is going to put everything into the house that is pleasing to his bride: because this house will be an expression of his devotion to her.

What kind of house do you suppose that it would be? If this man, in our story, was both the most powerful and the wealthiest man on Earth... and if this house was to be for the person he loved more than life itself: wouldn't this house be built and furnished with only the finest things the world had to offer? Of course it would.

Now, imagine God for a moment. He is a Being who is so powerful that He only has to speak and worlds and universes come into existence. With that truth fresh in your mind, if God decided to build a place to house His creation throughout eternity... wouldn't this same God (who has all-power and all wealth) build a place that is unimaginable in beauty and majesty? Remember, He has all power and He has created a place where the redeemed of the Lord (His bride) will live throughout eternity!

I haven't forgotten what I intended to write about... Hell. I am only wanting you to briefly imagine Heaven in order to make an important point. God, who is all-powerful created Heaven because of the great love He felt for His creation: therefore, only good and pleasant things will be in Heaven.

In fact, Heaven is so wonderful that Jesus said that we (human beings) couldn't even imagine how wonderful a place that it really is. I Corinthians 2:9: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

It might well be true that in Heaven the streets are gold and the gates are pearl: or it might just be that this description brings to mind a few of the more precious things on Earth which men can imagine; yet, in Heaven the streets might well be something more valuable than pearl and more precious than gold... yet, with our finite minds we can not grasp such things. Either way, though, I think you would agree that Heaven has been prepared by an all-powerful God as both a place where He, and His redeemed will abide. John 14:2-3: “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

If Heaven has been prepared by an all-powerful and loving God who was not holding any good thing back... what do you imagine Hell is like? Hell is a place that was also prepared by an all-powerful God, who, in righteous anger prepared a dwelling place for the devil and the rest of the fallen angels. Matthew 25:41: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels...” (PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS)

As wonderful as Heaven is... Hell is the polar-opposite. The reason for this is quite simple: one place was made by God in love... and the other place was prepared by God in righteous anger! I want you to contemplate some of the differences between the two places: first, I'll begin with light.

Heaven is a place that will not need the sun for light, because the Son is light! Revelation 22:5: “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

Hell, on the other hand, will be forever dark, because Jesus is not there to give His light. Matthew 25:30: “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This next verse helps to clarify what “outer darkness” means. Exodus 10:21: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.”

And, of course, the only reason Heaven is full of light and Hell is an all-consuming darkness: it is merely the presence or absence of God. Notice that when the outer darkness was upon the land of Egypt, the Israelite children were enjoying light in their dwelling places. Why? It is because God had abandoned Egypt and joined Himself to the Hebrew children. Exodus 10:22-23: “And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” You see, it is the presence of God that makes the difference. Next, I'll talk about sorrow, death, and pain.
Revelation 21:4: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Heaven can rightly be described as a land of “no mores” … no more death, pain, tears, etcetera: again, it is because of the presence of God, the Comforter. John 14:26 a: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost...” (God is the Holy Trinity... Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.) For the redeemed it is always the presence of God that alleviates all pain and suffering... and for those who choose to remain lost, it is the absence of God that causes pain, suffering, and death.

In Heaven, there is no sorrow, death, nor pain... now compare that to Hell. Imagine hearing the words of Jesus as He describes what happened to a particular lost man after he entered Hell. Luke 16:22b-24: “...the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And 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.”

Jesus also said, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30)

Isn't it strange... in many so-called “churches” … Hell is rarely discussed: yet, Jesus talked openly and often about Hell, yet almost nothing about Heaven. Why do you think that is true? It's pretty simple really... He was trying to frighten people into trusting Him so that their soul would not be carried there after the physical death of their mortal bodies.

And if you think He wasn't trying to frighten people away from that place... then, you are just not reading your Bible enough!

Mark 9:43: “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:”

Mark 9:45: “And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Mark 9:47: “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”

Yes, the Good Lord... was trying to scare people away from Hell... and for good reason: Jesus, as God... created Hell for the devil and his fallen angels; because of that fact, Jesus knew firsthand what terror awaits an unrepentant soul!

Let me illustrate (with a story) the foolish idea of not being willing to scare someone in order to save their life. Pretend with me for a minute that you live next door to a self-professed Christian. You suppose that you believe he's a Christian... because... he seems nice? Also, every once-in-a-while you see him on his porch with an open Bible... he appears to be actually reading it?

With that brief background... here is the story: At first you think you are dreaming, as you awake coughing and choking... and can barely see... because of the smoke? SMOKE... you come fully awake and with crystal clarity you realize your house is being consumed in flames. You begin to run from room to room screaming at the top of your lungs for everyone in your household to wake up and flee!

Miraculously... everyone escapes. Within minutes, all of you are huddled together on the front lawn as you helplessly watch your house begin to fall apart, because it is fully engulfed in flames! For the tenth time in the last 30 seconds you count heads to be sure that all of your family is safe. No longer wanting to watch your house being destroyed... you turn away from the burning, and across the street you see someone politely waving to you: is that your your neighbour... the “Christian,” who seemed nice?

“Howdy, neighbour,” he calls out from across the street as he throws his hand up in a friendly wave: “looks like you all had a bit of bad luck this morning.”

You are too stunned to think clearly, but you have to ask, “Were you out here all morning?”

“Yeah,” he says, while holding his Bible up... “been out here all morning, just reading my Bible and drinking some coffee.”

“Didn't you see that my house was on fire?”

“Yeah, matter of fact I did... I think it started just when I was finishing my second cup... maybe... thirty minutes ago... nearly that anyway.”

“You mean that you saw my house catch on fire and you didn't rush across the street and scream and beat on my doors and make a lot of noise trying to save me and my family?”

“Well,” he says, in a friendly... neighbourly sort of way, “I thought about it... I surely did. But, I just reckoned that I didn't want to frighten any of you. I just figured if I made a lot of noise and shouted... you might just wake up and be scared... and I just figured you wouldn't want that. I suppose if I'm guilty of anything... it is just that I didn't want to be thought of as a bad neighbour... only trying to scare you out of that burning house... sorry?”

If you were the one in my made-up story whose house was destroyed by fire and your loved ones nearly died... what kind of fool would you now imagine this “Christian” To be? Probably the exact same type of fool I believe you are, or your preacher, teacher, etcetera: that is if you, or they have ever said that we shouldn't try to “scare someone into getting saved by talking about Hell!” Of course you should.... for that is exactly what Jesus did!

Before I give an easy to understand plan of salvation... let me make very clear that there is a grave difference between having “eternal life” and “dying forever.” You see, the reason Jesus told Nicodemus that all men have to be born-again in order to be given the gift of eternal life... is that they are “dead in trespasses and sins.” Therefore, the new-birth (through faith in Christ) grants them this “unspeakable gift” from God: i.e., salvation.

But, for those who won't trust Christ and call upon only Him for their salvation... the “second death” now happens to them. They already have Adam's sentence of death in their mortal bodies, now whenever that body dies.... that is their first death... and the second death: separation from God and an eternity in the “lake of fire”... this is what happens to their soul.

Before I finish this letter with an easy to understand explanation of how lost people can be saved... I want to tell you about two of the most ominous words in the Bible, as they relate to Hell. They are found in Luke 16:25: “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”

I have never read or heard a message on (just) these two words, but I always felt there was a powerful message there to be delivered.

For any lost person reading this I want you to consider well the following two words. “Son, remember...” Son, remember... SON, REMEMBER!!! Can you imagine, for all eternity... REMEMBERING!!! In Hell, here is what the lost might be remembering forever and forever, and into the ages: if God has been so kind to have afforded you any of the following opportunities, then you will have similar thoughts to what follows. “Son, do you remember the Gospel tract one of my servants laid on the wash basin in the public bathroom... you merely glanced at it before sweeping it into the floor, the words inside told you how to be saved.”

“Son, do you remember one of my servants standing on the street-corner and proclaiming my Holy Name and how to be saved... you simply crossed the street and walked well out of your way, just so you wouldn't have to hear him.”

“Son, do you remember a day you went to church... and instead of hearing the preacher's plea to be saved, all you could think about was leaving as quickly as you could because there was a football game on television.”

“Son, do you remember telling a servant of mine who had knocked on your door to “leave and never come back” ... he knew well the plan of salvation and with child-like faith in me, you could have been spared this awful fate.”

“Son, do you remember reading letters that told you how to be saved... and you figured that was for others, and not you.”

I sincerely ask you to consider the following words by the great preacher, Ford Porter. He wrote an easy to understand Bible tract nearly 20 years ago. It was titled: God's Simple Plan of Salvation. Because it is both succinct... and Bible based, I am going to reproduce a lot of it now for you to read.

GOD'S SIMPLE PLAN OF SALVATION

My friend, I am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die?

God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”

In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?

First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. “For the wages [payment] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell.

“ . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
But God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “ . . . He hath made Him [Jesus, Who knew no sin] to be sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus had to shed His blood and die. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon]” (Hebrews 9:22).
“ . . . God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true. God cannot lie.

My friend, “God . . . commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross.

In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: “ . . . ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . . .’ ”

Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior.

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).
Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved.
Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, lift your heart to God in prayer.

In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Just pray: “Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when He died on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen.”

Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it!

God’s simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith.

You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today.

Your soul is worth more than all the world.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let God save you this very moment.

God’s power will save you, keep you saved, and enable you to live a victorious Christian life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God’s promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth:

Pray -- you talk to God.
Read your Bible -- God talks to you.
Witness -- you talk for God.

You should be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . . .” (2 Timothy 1:8)

“Whosoever therefore shall confess [testify of] Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).

That would be our heartfelt prayer for all of our family and friends who receive this letter... that they too, will be saved! Again, nothing in all of this world is as important as this next question. Where will your soul spend eternity?

For all of our family and friends who are already saved, please pray for those who receive this letter and have not yet made that decision. Pray, earnestly that the Lord puts great fear into their heart that they will soon get saved!

With all of our love,

Robin, Debbie, and Family

posted by Robin Johnson @ 8:18 PM