Your Choice
by PJ
It is perfectly normal to oppose the idea of hell and eternal separation from G-d. No one wants to consider such a destiny for themselves or their loved ones. But just because we don't like the idea doesn't mean we should shrink from it's reality. You see, to deny the reality of hell and eternal separation is to refuse to acknowledge the lawlessness of sin or the holiness of a just G-d.
The whole counsel of the Almighty G-d demands that His creation understand that He is Just. He is Fair. He does have righteous indignation about sin. He will judge each of us.
There is a place of separation and punishment prepared for those who reject G-d's mercy and grace offered through His Son, Yeshua. G-d has given man full choice to follow His Son or not, so men, not G-d, choose their eternal destinies. G-d does not send people to eternal separation from Himself; people choose eternal separation from G-d.
Yeshua spoke about eternal separation on several occasions:
Matityahu/Matthew 7:21-23 AMP, "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]."
We must take heed and understand that religiosity is not a ticket for entrance to heaven and eternal life. Everyone, including those in His service, must take deep inventory of themselves and make sure they have built their journey to an eternity with G-d on basic truths and realities, not wishes and hopes. Only the Word of G-d in it's full counsel can be a strong enough foundation to base eternity.
Matityahu/Matthew 25:41-46 AMP, "Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me with help and ministering care. Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least [in the estimation of men] of these, you failed to do it for Me. Then they will go away into eternal punishment, but those who are just and upright and in right standing with God into eternal life."
We must live the life of a Believer, not just speak as though we are one. Faith without action is dead. How many times do we fail to stop and notice those in need and lack around us and have the ability to change it and don't and still believe we are worthy of going to heaven? How many times have our failures pushed those in need to the point of abandoning their faith in G-d? How many times have we even failed to support the servants of the Most High G-d while we went on our merry way eating, drinking and having a great time in life? How many times have we turned up our noses at the unlovely? G-d is holding us responsible for these things.
Ephesians 5:5 AMP "For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous (who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain) for he (in effect) is an idolator -- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. " What is your idol? A religion? An educational title? A man? A woman? Children? Money? Wealth? Prestige? Football? Baseball? Golf? TV? PC? Car? House? What do you put in front of G-d? Perhaps this one is the most difficult of all because the way of the world is lined with idolatry of one kind or another. Anything that takes G-d's place in our lives, no matter how subtle it is, is an idol.
Most people would dispute that they probably have an idol before G-d in their lives. I see it daily in the lives of people to whom I minister. They don't even recognize what they have placed above G-d in their lives many times. For some it's secular music, for others it's fishing on G-d's time, for others it's "I'm too busy to read the Word and pray." It's time to tear those idols down and give G-d our full hearts.
In Revelation 21 there's a description of heaven. Verse 27 AMP says "But nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed shall ever enter it, nor anyone who commits abominations (unclean, detestable, morally repugnant things) or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life."
Yeshua used the term "Gei-Hinnom" to describe eternal separation and punishment. This term originated from the valley of Hinnom right outside of Yerushalaim where the Canaanites burned sacrifices to Moloch. When the Hebrews returned from captivity it became a place where refuse was burned. Today it's just a nice green valley and difficult for us to see the point Yeshua was making. But I do believe most of us have seen garbage burning at some point in our lives and probably can grasp the concept.
Matityahu/Matthew 5:21-22 and 29-30 AMP says, "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court. But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposbed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You cursed fool! (You emptyheaded idiot)! shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire. If your right eye serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better than you lose one of your members than your whole body be cast into hell. (Gehenna). And if your right hand serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your entire body should be cast into hell (Gehenna)."
We know from Matityah ha-Levi / Matthew 25:41 that hell was never designed for man. It's a place where the beast and false prophet of Revelation are to be cast. It's a place ha'satan will himself be cast. It's a place where death and Hades shall be cast. The residents of this place don't sound so enticing. But what could possibly be worse than suffering in non-stop fire unable to die in a place with all these evil entities forever? I shall tell you. Separation from G-d.
How can anyone possibly know what separation from G-d would be like? Everyone in this life experiences a degree of G-d's presence at all times. The good things in this life, the sun, the rain, the joys of love are all manifestations of G-d's presence. I think the only thing that can possibly give us a small clue is the loss of a loved one to death. I believe the death separation teaches us just a tiny bit of what it might be like to be separated from G-d.
I try to imagine what it must be like to exist in a state of ruin in non-stop suffering in a place where there is no goodness at all with entities who never did anything but hate me. Everlasting punishment and everlasting separation. Can you imagine a fire of indignation of G-d's wrath that devours souls but does not destroy them?
The past few years on the internet I have run into many young people out preaching the gospel with little knowledge, just a lot of zeal. They have such on-again and off-again relationships with G-d because they've not been grounded in the Word. They don't understand the eternal significance of some of the things they do.
I do not wish to discourage any youth from taking the gospel.....but I would be remiss if I did not give the warning of the scriptures. Make sure you are grounded in the Word of G-d and living a faithful life in His service.
What should we do with the knowledge of eternal separation from G-d? Hopefully use our heads and make good decisions. But a decision is only the first step. Decision requires action, even if that action is inaction, and the way to escape eternal separation and eternal suffering is to accept the gracious salvation offered through Yeshua.
Today I present to you the way to eternal life with G-d. The way is through the salvation of the blood of G-d's Son, Yeshua. With G-d forever or separated from G-d forever; your choice.
“Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible."
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