WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HELL?
Did you notice? Have you heard? That hell does not exist anymore? There is nothing to be afraid of because hell has been closed by popular opinion. No more flames, no more eternal torment, no more sulfur and brimstone. At least I must assume this to be true because I cannot remember the last time I heard a hell and damnation sermon. Years ago I remember reading a great sermon from one of the old fire preachers. He said the best deception the old devil has ever come up with was convincing people he really did not exist. He even went further and made them think of him as a harmless Halloween character with his red suit and horns. The old devil has gone even further now to send the delusion that it is politically incorrect to preach about hell and damnation. If we want people to come to our churches let's give away cars, homes etc. Let's not convict them of sin! Oh! there is another politically incorrect term. Today's biggest and most popular preachers tell us they are here to make us feel good. They preach a Santa Claus God whom we can tell what we want and how we want it. Please, someone show me where Jesus said our jobs as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to make people feel good! It is my understanding that my calling as a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to preach the Gospel truth no matter whom I offend. My understanding is that it is better to offend someone and save them from hell than to make them comfortable and condemn them to hell. Oh! Yes I forgot hell has been closed because of lack of interest. Or could it be like we are told in the Bible. Isaiah 5:14-19 (TLB) 14Hell is licking its chops in anticipation of this delicious morsel, Jerusalem. Her great and small shall be swallowed up, and all her drunken throngs. 15In that day the haughty shall be brought down to the dust; the proud shall be humbled; 16but the Lord Almighty is exalted above all, for he alone is holy, just, and good. 17In those days flocks will feed among the ruins. Lambs and calves and kids will pasture there! 18Woe to those who drag their sins behind them like a bullock on a rope 19They even mock the Holy One of Israel and dare the Lord to punish them. "Hurry up and punish us, O Lord, they say. "We want to see what you can do! 20They say that what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right; that black is white and white is black; bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
Hum! Does this sound familiar. The world goes out of its way to prove that verse 20 is true. What was right has now become wrong, what was wrong has now become right. Please take time to note that these words of Isaiah were written 800+/- years before Christ walked the earth and over 2800 years before today. But can't you picture the poor sinner that never accepted Jesus Christ as his or her Savior. He was just a happy church goer listening to the happy gospel while sucking down his Starbucks latte from the mega church store. He dies and goes to hell, but of course hell does not exist and he tries to explain to the devil that he is not real and it is all a mistake. As he is being dragged into eternal torment the old devil is explaining to him how he is only one of many who that pastor has condemned to hell and that he (the devil) is eagerly awaiting his workers arrival. Ezekiel 3:17-18 (NLT) 17"Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, pass it on to the people immediately. 18If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death, but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible, demanding your blood for theirs." Did you get that the false preachers and teachers will be held responsible for ever person they fail to tell the truth to?
I guess my question is how can we Christians win a hurting world to Jesus if Hell does not exist? How can anyone fear a God who "wouldn't dare" punish the evil. If we are so afraid to offend someone that we won't tell them that they will end up in a place of eternal punishment why should they desire to become a Christian and serve Jesus. If there is not a devil trying to drag them into hell for eternal punishment what would make them want to become a Christian and live a holy life? Oh yes, I forgot that Holiness is the other thing that has apparently died and very few have even attended it's funeral. No one can really put their finger on how or when holiness died. It just seems that one day someone noticed it did not show up at church or in a Christians life anymore. But, with the happy gospel being preached along with the Santa Claus God no one cared. What do we need holiness for when we can tell God what to do and how to do it. We don't need to be holy and righteous to get Gods approval if that is the case. When was the last time you heard a minister preach on the necessity of being holy. Didn't God say Leviticus 11:44 (NLT) 44After all, I, the LORD, am your God. You must be holy because I am holy…" Today the average Christian blends into the world so well we cannot tell them apart.
I mean if hell is closed what reason do I have to want to be a Christian living a holy life? Hey, when you're dead, you're dead, right? WRONG! When you're dead your in HELL one moment after if you do not have Jesus. Just the other day I received one of the greatest compliments I have received in a long time. One of our listeners from Africa said they loved to listen to the Radio programs because I was a "hell and damnation preacher"
In the late 1800's the German Philosopher Nietzsche worte "God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we, murderers of all murderers, console ourselves? That which was the holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet possessed has bled to death under our knives. Who will wipe this blood off us? With what water could we purify ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we need to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we not ourselves become gods simply to be worthy of it?" This was a rhetorical question he was speaking of the state of the society he knew. He saw the change the slow decaying change away from God.
Time magazine in the late 1980' asked the question " Is God Dead? I was only 27 years old and a young Christian at the time. But I remember pausing and wondering why. Not why or how God had died but why and how the Christian church had failed so much that such a question would even be thought to be asked. What have we done my fellow followers of Jesus What have we done to our fellow man by not preaching the Gospel of Jesus. By not telling them they are all doomed to an eternity in Hell?
My friends, I can tell you will 100% faith and assurance there is a hell that is alive and well and waiting eagerly for you if you don't have a relationship with Jesus.
A few years back a new saying popped up. " Jesus Don't leave earth with out Him" I love that thought. But, take a moment with this thought. 1 Samuel 2:25 (NLT) 25If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede? If hell is closed and God is dead who will intercede? I could be wrong but denying the existance of hell and failing to preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ is sinning against His Father and who will intercede for you.
I will leave you with the words of my Savior. Revelation 1:17-18 (KJV)
17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Think About it my friend.
God Bless
Pastor A. J.
