It is always amazing to me what people believe, and what they refuse to believe. For example, concerned people all over the world are very worried about the effects
of global warming, but they pay no thought to the lake of fire the Bible warns is reserved for all whose names are not written in the Book of Life. They believe
scientists, activists, and politicians; they believe everything they read in the newspapers and see on television, but refuse to believe God's own Holy Word.
The Bible says:
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whoever was not found written in the Book of Life was
cast into the lake of fire. (Rev.20:14-15)
And the devil who DECEIVED them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev.20:10)
Many people say they believe in heaven, and certainly believe that they and everyone they know will be going there, but find it hard to believe
in hell. It only stands to reason that if there is in fact the one, there must also be the other. Doesn't even secular science teach that for every action there
is an equal and opposite reaction?
These people often question how a loving God could possibly send anyone to a fiery torment. God does not SEND anyone to hell; they choose the
pathway they take, whether heaven or hell. He gives each and every one of us freedom to choose. The Bible says:
Enter in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in there;
but straight is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to Life, and there are few who find it. (Matt. 7:14)
While it is true that God loves all people, the only ones who will be going to heaven are those who have accepted the freely offered gift of
salvation made possible by Christ's death on the cross. These are God's children, and He loves them so much that He cannot allow sin, or sinners, a place in
heaven with them. God always wants only the best for His children, and He knows how sin harms them, even to the loss of their souls. Although He is truly a
God of love, do not be misled-----God hates sin.
There are many who say they believe in God, but they don't believe in the devil. They do not believe that Satan has power, or that he seeks
to destroy everything and anything good. They don't believe in the power of Satan's evil influence, except as a joke---"The devil made me do it!" Yet the
Bible says:
Be sober and vigilant, because your enemy, the devil, walks about
like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)
The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10)
We all need to realize that there is a hell, just as surely as there is a heaven. And we need to realize the devil is alive, and is among us
at all times, and continues to deceive the world with his lies. The Bible says,
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6:12)
However, even as we acknowlege the presence of Satan in this world, as Christians, we do not have to live in fear of Satan. The only real
power he has is the lie--- in fact, he's known as "the Father of lies". Satan is a defeated enemy--- he was defeated at the cross, by Jesus Christ's death
and resurrection. We do not have to defeat the devil---Jesus already did! We just have to claim our rightful place as children of God, and refuse to allow
Satan to deceive us with his cunning and evil lies! He has no power over us but what we allow him to have, because:
"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because
greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. (I John 4:4)
The truth is the truth, whether we choose to believe it or not. God's word is just as true today as it was then. His word is unchanging and eternal.
The Bible says that as born again believers, we have victory in Jesus Christ. We have both authority and power over Satan and his demons, the powers of this world, and
He has given us the wisdom to weild our power effectively.
"Then He called the twelve disciples together, and gave them POWER
and AUTHORITY over all devils, and to cure diseases.(Luke 9:1)
"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind." (II Tim. 1:7)
Did you catch that? He has not only given us power and authority, but a sound mind: the ability to reason and think wisely. God's word is always true, it never changes.
Do you believe it? Are you walking in the power and authority we have in Christ Jesus?
To the lost and dying world around us, God's word is also true, even though they don't believe it. They are condemned already to an eternity of hellfire and
damnation by their very unbelief, for the Bible says:
"He that believes on Him is not condemned, but he that believes not is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God." (John 3:18)
What do YOU believe? Do you believe any of the lies that the devil uses to deceive the world? Or do you believe the truths of God's word, and
claim them for your own? Do you believe you have the power and authority to boldly preach the gospel of Jesus? Or have you allowed Satan to defeat you with
his lies? Have you allowed him to steal your witness; allowed him to deceive your friends and loved ones because you don't believe you have the power to
preach to others?
Let's not live our lives like defeated Christians. Let's not let Satan continue to deceive our loved ones. Let us boldly claim the power and
authority that we have in Jesus Christ to free all of those whom Satan has enslaved with his lies. Let us boldly preach the Truth and the Light, and bring
our lost and deceived loved ones to victory in Jesus Christ.
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)
|
