Hell is real

Chapter 2- Sheep and Son

    Let’s talk about a story. A story in the Bible, which by the way is my all time favorite book. When I say that I get a  lot of eye rolls and dramatic pauses. Yes, we get it- you love Jesus and your favorite book is the Bible. But here is the thing. If you know anything about me you know I am a literary snob. I am a huge reader. I have read thousands of books from childrens to full blown 800 page series wrap up novels. I don’t like books with any kind of plot holes. I do not like books without character development.  If I can figure out the whole story line 20 pages in it is a no go. You see I have read so many books I recognize literary themes, character directions, and ultimate endings before we even get halfway there. Plus uses of foreshadowing, light vs dark,  and setting up characters always in the same way.  I used to force myself to read every book I started, but have since   have abandoned that idea. Because there are just too many wonderful books to be read, and why am I wasting time on junk.

    The Bible is my favorite book for so many, many reasons. I could name you symbolism, realness for the period, unbelievable conclusions, the morality lessons which  are sometimes quite gruesome have to catch your attention. From a literary standpoint, the Bible is a homerun.  Then of course spiritually. If you read the bible 750 times you would learn something new every time.. The Bible is living and active, The Word is available to us. 

Luke 15:3-7 The Message (MSG)

 1-3 By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story.

4-7 “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.

What triggered this story?   _________________________

Ah, yes. The classic who gets in and does not. And some people believe that we all get in in the end so what does it matter? I’ll be honest, if Jesus was showing up in my town I would like him to want to have dinner with me. I used to think this way all the time. I honestly was disappointed that all the “good” people were getting slighted in the Bible. Embarrassing and humbling but truly. The one is lost and you go to find it. What about us 99 who stayed? Why couldn’t Mary get up and go help serve dinner? Who gets chastised? Martha! The one cooking. My all time story that Jesus has just recently softened my heart about. The Prodigal Son.

Again, even if you never hear the story you probably hear the phrase the “prodigal son.” Let me give you the quick run down. Younger brother is bored and selfish and wants to go and live wild. So he asks his father for his half of the inheritance and leaves. Did I mention there is a big brother here working and working and working every day for dear old dad. Well, young son does a lot of stupid stuff ends up broke and working for people who were treating him poorly. He decides to go home and at least ask dad for a job. Prodigal son shows up. Father is ecstatic. Gives him a robe, sandals, and a ring on his finger. He also throws a party. You know who didn’t want to come? The older brother. The father goes out and tries to get him to go in. I used to side with that brother. Nope! This is not FAIR. He is the one who went and gambled everything on filthy living and we gave him a party.  The Father says, “But your brother was lost and now found.” 

My thoughts- leave the sheep and leave the son. I am the pharisees. I believed that in order to get into heaven you had to earn it or do your part. Just stay on the fence! Is it so hard?

Ephesians 2:8-9 New International Version

8 For it is by _______   you have been_______, through ______—and this is not from yourselves, it is the _______  ___   _______— 9 not by______, so that no one can boast.

 

    I have one word that set my own theology sideways when I finally figured it out. MISSION. Jesus was on a mission. Mission is a strongly felt aim, ambition, or calling. Goal, undertaking, purpose. His aim was to bring people home. To show anyone He could that God’s love is beyond measure and you deserve it too.  His goal wasn’t to come and pat us on the back and say “just came down to say good job.” No! We get the promise of His living Spirit in us right now, and we even get another “good job” when we finally make it home. 

Fill in these verses

Acts 4:12

___________  is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to ___________by which we must be__________ 

Psalm 62:1

Truly my ______ finds rest in _______;

my _________ comes from him.

Luke 19:10

For the _______ ____ ______came to ______ and to save the________.

Here is where my heart opened- 

Ezekiel 36:26

I will give you a new _______and put a new ______ in you; I will remove from you your heart of _________ and give you a heart of ________.

    When I finally realized that “one sheep” and that “one brother” were people I loved and cared about, I was in case Jesus. “Go get them!” and He said, “No. You go get them.”  When the Son of God left this world he gave us a mission in Matthew 28:19

Therefore,  _______ and ________ __________of all the nations, ________

Then in the name of the ____________ the _______ and the __________ _______. 

 I believe Romans 10:10 that says” For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. This is not to earn your salvation. Let me say it louder for those in the back. The way we live will not get you into heaven. We live this way because it is our mission to bring people into this relationship with the Father that we have found. I don’t live by a set of do’s and don'ts so hopefully St. Peter writes my name in the book. The Bible says once I have truly- in my spirit and my heart come to Christ- nothing, I repeat nothing can snatch me from the palm of His hand. 

    Here comes the truth of it. The hard part. The part where I want to run after that sheep and go find that brother. 

Luke 10:10

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrows the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Revelation 3:20

 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

    Not everyone is coming. Not everyone finds the narrow gate and not everyone opens the door. I know that this is not politically correct and some think if you are just a good enough person you will receive the eternal reward. You will never be good enough to cover all your sins. You can’t do enough good deeds. You can’t say enough prayers. Why? Because in order to enter into God’s kingdom, He demands perfection. “Well, then I’m out.” Me too! Times a thousand! But the Bible tells us when we put our faith and trust in Jesus and ask his blood to cover us, God will see you as He sees His Son- perfect. 

 

Hebrews 9:28

So _________   was sacrificed once to take away the _____ of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring _______to those who are ________for him. 

This is why  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16) Do I make mistakes? Of course. Do I treat people the way they should be treated all the time?  No. Does my mouth always glorify the Lord and come out with kindness and gentleness? No. am perfect? No. Therefore the law says I deserve separation from God and death eternal.   For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.(1 Cor. 15:22)

AND YET

 

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.- Hebrews 7:25

 

    There is an unseen battle going on daily all around you. A battle of good versus evil and light versus dark. There is no middle ground. The Bible tells us again and again about a former citizen of heaven who fell from Glory because he thought he could become like God. He is a liar, thief, and he wants your soul simply to torment the Father. “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full.”- John 10:10

    This is where if you are a Christian, a follower of Christ, you are secure in your salvation. Then your mission is clear. You bring as many with you as you can. That is why we try to live good, solid, honest, God fearing lives. Not to earn my salvation. Christ did that! Our lives should be different than others see it and want to know what you got. One word, one action, one thing could make all the difference. 

If you are not secure in your citizenship  in heaven, time waits for no one. The Bible is also clear about being separated from God for all eternity is very real place called hell. Some people would say that if God loves us all so much He would never send us to such a place. True. He would never send you there. That is why He sent His Son to make a way. The only way. 

If you know Jesus, let’s take this time and journey to get to know Him better and become better for it. If you are not sure if you know Jesus, here is where we pray. I can’t pray for you. Lots of cookie cutter prayers can be found, but this is a heart to heart thing. I can give you an example, but you need to make it yours. You have to mean it. This is why some people pray and think “I’m good,” but they are not. This is a heart to heart communication with the Maker of the World. If your life doesn’t change, it is unlikely your heart has. First, tell God how thankful you are that He sent his Son to die for us when we didn’t deserve it. Thank God that there is forgiveness of sin. That He will toss those sins as far as the east is to the west.  Tell Him you want things to be different and you need Him in your life. Ask the blood of Jesus to cover you and show you the next steps to take. You are my Lord and my Savior. I want to live your mission helping others make it to Glory. 

    Paul Demi, ,my father in law, pastor, youth group leader-man has worn a lot of hats-had a couple of phrases that would throw us all into the ball of terror. He was not mean  and condemning and actually carried more wisdom then we were ready to receive honestly. When you got through with that conversation you know where he stood on something. One of these sayings was “But here’s the thing…” It was always a point to think on and understand. To get that you make the choice. BUT...here’s the thing. People are praying that prayer and going to hell. People are living good  lives and will spend eternity in damnation. Here is what the bible says.

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

    I have read a fantastic article called  The Uncomfortable Subject Jesus Addressed More than Anyone Else by Leslie Schmucker that was published on May 11, 2017 in Christian living. It is fantastic and I suggest googling it and reading the whole thing but I have highlighted some important points she makes. 

“In fact, Jesus talked about hell more than any other person in the Bible. In Luke 16, he describes a great chasm over which “none may cross from there to us.” In Matthew 25, Jesus tells of a time when people will be separated into two groups, one entering into his presence, the other banished to “eternal fire.”- Schmucker

“Jesus doesn’t only reference hell, he describes it in great detail. He says it is a place of eternal torment (Luke 16:23), of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43), where the worm does not die (Mark 9:48), where people will gnash their teeth in anguish and regret (Matt. 13:42), and from which there is no return, even to warn loved ones (Luke 16:19–31). He calls hell a place of “outer darkness” (Matt. 25:30), comparing it to “Gehenna” (Matt. 10:28), which was a trash dump outside the walls of Jerusalem where rubbish was burned and maggots abounded. Jesus talks about hell more than he talks about heaven, and ;describes it more vividly. There’s no denying that Jesus knew, believed, and warned against the absolute reality of hell.”- Schmucker

    I first wrote about my salvation story (see chapter 1 for reference), because I love to hear others stories. Sometimes they are long and complex. Sometimes so simple and beautiful.  But I think every story should be told. Get a piece of paper or grab your laptop, and just start to write. It can be just for you, or maybe for generations down the line to see it. We all come to the Truth in different ways, and the bible tells us to rejoice when that one sheep is found. When that one son comes home. I would LOVE to hear your story. Feel free to email or mail it to me. Also, if you just prayed that pray of asking God into your life, you need to tell someone. Anyone. (again my email is open) then is it essential that you find a church that preaches the Bible, Worships God in spirit and in truth, and people you can connect to. I know this can seem scary. Maybe ask some friends you know are Christians and ask where they go. The important part is that you can grow in this new relationship with Christ, 

AND YET

    Through Holy Spirit intervention and plenty of prayer, and studying these Bible characters we are about to engage in, I believe that no matter where you are in your journey, we all have more to learn. I have a new allegiance. A new citizenship. Those words sound super pretty on plaques and painted on our walls. Jesus never said here, come with me and say this salvation prayer. He said here I am. If you want to follow me you have to GIVE up yourself. You have to change your life. It is not easy. That’s why Jesus said narrow the gate. So many are being deceived! 

    I had a friend going through a very significant substance abuse problem. We would pray and read scriptures. The person talked about how he/she was close to God but that fell away. As much as it hurt me, I had to say “I can not be your Jesus.” Lasting, lifetime impact is a relationship with Jesus that causes repenting and reorganization. 

James 4:14

“yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

Don’t wait

When Jesus shows up, everything changes

When Jesus showed up how did everything change for you?

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