Time Out for God
Devotional Ministry
By Danna Appleby
www.timeoutforgod.com
Who Is Jesus?
(Part 7)
Come Just As You Are by Crystal Lewis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MqNV5NvtUQ
[Good News vs. Bad News]
Imagine your son spending the day
looking for a job. When he finally
returns, he smiles and says, “I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news.”
Naturally, you have to say, “Son, let’s hear the good news!” Everybody wants
good news but no one really likes the bad. But as the old adage goes, we must take the bitter with the sweet.
Jesus gave Good News about the
Kingdom
of
God when He preached
and spoke to the people in parables. His stories were filled with promise
about eternal life and what the
Kingdom
of
Heaven was
like. These truths inspired His
listeners to believe in Him. When
Jesus preached His dynamic Sermon on the Mount, people were given hope. If Jesus gave Good News, are we to assume
He never had any bad news? We must
consider that Jesus didn’t sugar coat the Gospel and sometimes His Words cut
like a knife so His listeners would believe on Him.
Some think of the following account
as a parable, but that’s a conflicting theory. I believe it to be an actual event Jesus
needed His listeners to contemplate because He wanted them to search their
hearts. Let us do the same so we will be ready to meet the Lord.
Jesus told of a rich man clothed in
purple and fine linen. The man lacked
for nothing and had plenty to eat. Every day a beggar named Lazarus, whose body was full of sores, laid
at the rich man’s gate. The starving man desired to at least be fed the
crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Finally, the beggar died and was carried away by the angels into
Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also
died and was buried.
In hell, the rich man lifted up his
eyes and being in torment saw Abraham far off and Lazarus was with him. The
man called to Abraham 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.” Abraham answered the desperate man and said, “Son, remember in your
lifetime you received good things, and likewise, Lazarus received evil
things, but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. Besides all of this, there is a great gulf
between us and you. No one can pass
from here to there.”
With great determination the man
cried, “I pray you will send Lazarus to my father’s house. I have five brothers that he can testify
to, lest they come to this place of torment.” Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them.” (This meant that the people of
that time had the books of Moses and the prophets and could hear the Word of
the Lord being read in the synagogues.)
In desperation, the man cried out
again, “No, Father Abraham, if one were to go to them from the dead, they
will repent.” Abraham finalized the conversation, “If they will not hear
Moses and the prophets, neither will they listen if someone is raised from
the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31)
There are some things here to
consider: The rich man died but still
had all of his faculties. He knew
thirst like he had never known. He felt
pain as much as if he were still alive. He remembered his family. He
still felt love for them so his mind was very much aware of his surroundings
and what was happening. He was in the
flames but did not burn up. And
finally, consider that there was no chance to make a change for it was too
late; the man would spend eternity in the flames.
Abraham said, “Son, remember.” It
would be terrifying to be in the bowels of hell remembering your life and the
times you sat on the pew at church as the minister pleaded with you to come forward
to accept Jesus as your Savior. Remembering every opportunity you had and the
church doors you walked through as you hurriedly made an exit. Remembering the times you said, “No,” to
the Holy Spirit’s conviction upon your heart.
I’ve heard people jokingly say they
would get together with their friends and have a big party once they arrive
in hell. Let’s take a look at what
Jesus had to say and if He gave any indication that hell would be a fun place
to go.
“As therefore the
tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be at the end
of this world. The Son of man shall
send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things
that offend, and them which do iniquity. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing
and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in
the kingdom of their Father. Who hath
ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mt. 13:40-43)
In another passage, Jesus said the
fire of hell cannot be quenched and the worm does not die. (Mk.
9:43-46) He called hell a
place of everlasting punishment to the wicked. (Matt.
25:46) In another, He
referred to hell as eternal damnation. (Mk.
3:29) It is evident
that hell is a place of endless terror, endless torment, endless heartache,
endless sorrow, endless remorse, endless pain, endless shame. Hell doesn’t sound like a fun place to go.
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they
have no rest day nor night . . . . (Rev. 14:11)
On the other hand, it is evident from
Scripture that heaven is a place of endless bliss; endless beauty; endless
peace; endless joy, endless celebration, endless singing, endless
rejoicing. I don’t want to miss it! How about you?
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I
will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his
name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Rev. 3:5)
If you have not received Jesus as
your Savior, now is the time while you have life; tomorrow may be too late.
Jesus Christ is the true escape plan and the way of salvation. (Jn. 14:6) I want
everyone reading this message to go to heaven and that is why it is so
important. It has been a difficult one
to write, but it’s one that touches the very heart of God because He does not
desire for anyone to perish, but to have eternal life through His Son. That
is the reason why His Son had to die on the cross . . . for you and for me.
“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jn. 3:16)
Since the beginning, people have
been given a free choice on whether or not to accept the Lord. No one is forced. No arm is twisted. When
we were created, God did not make us into robots, but we were given a choice
to either accept Jesus as our Savior and live forever, or never confess them
and go the other direction. There is
no grey area. It’s either black or
white. It’s either dark or light. It’s either right or left. There is no in between state of being. There is no way to straddle the fence. The choice is ours.
Jesus told Nicodemus the way: “Most
assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter the
Kingdom
of
God. (John 3:5) This
water He spoke of is the Living Water and springs forth unto eternal life.
The Spirit of the Lord is giving an
open invitation for all to come to Him. He opens His arms of love and mercy for all. He is beckoning now and asking you not to
turn Him away. If you will open your
heart to Jesus, when you leave this world you will hear Him say:
“Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a
few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy
of thy Lord.” (Mt. 25:21)
If you don’t know Jesus as your
Savior, here is a sample prayer of repentance, but I ask you to please pray
from your heart and believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
Prayer: Lord, I come to You a
sinner. I come asking for forgiveness
and believe that I will be cleaned by the blood of Jesus who died on the
cross for me. I know that Jesus is the
Son of God. I know that He arose from
the dead after three days. I know that His precious blood was poured out for
me. I ask You to be the Lord of my
life. With Your help I will live for
You from this point on. I believe that
I will live eternally in heaven with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for the price Jesus paid on the
cross for my sins. I believe I am
saved. I believe I am ready to meet my Savior if He were to call me
Home. I know You are welcoming me into
your arms of mercy right now. Thank
You, Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
