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It is of the utmost importance to hear of..."The Way, the Truth and the Light."
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 give us this insight..."For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart."
The Bible presents mankind as spiritually dead. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians...
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."
All who believe that message will be brought to an awakening that they are lost!
Isaiah writes..."Your iniquities have separated between you and your God."
In his sinful state mankind has no reality of the invisible God that created him.
(Romans 3:10-18)
A death warrant has been issued from God. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." This desperate state of man must be made known, if an awakening would come. God is a God of Love, mercy and grace. However! He is also a God of justice and judgement. We are admonished to "Behold the goodness and the severity of God." The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
Jesus spoke these solemn words as He walked among us..."But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He has killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear HIM." (Luke 12:5)
Yes! There is a Heaven to gain
and a Hell to shun!
The psalmist wrote: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that forget God." Hell is a real place! Our Lord actually said more about the place called hell than He did about the place called Heaven. He even took the time to tell of the experience of a man called Lazarus.
Just listen to these desperate words of warning..." There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain man named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: The rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried 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. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, least they also come to this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him. They have Mosses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they hear not Mosses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:19-31)
John 3:16-17..."For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
As surely as there is a "Hell" to shun, there is a "Heaven" to gain. Both of these subjects need to be declared in order for the soul to be convinced! A proper balance of the preaching of the Word of God enables the Spirit of God to will and work in a person's heart to bring conviction for sin and hope for eternal life.
When these exceeding great and precious promises are heard by an unbeliever, God begins to bring a Spiritual awakening. These Words that Jesus spoke bring hope beyond our imaginations...if we believe!
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:1-6)
This "Place" where Jesus has gone to prepare is described more fully in the last book of the Bible. John, the Revelator was given this vision to let us know about the promised Eternal heavenly home for all who believe...
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Rev. 21:1-7)
The contrast between Heaven and Hell is again presented graphically in the following verse of this same chapter...Listen! "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."(Rev.21:8)
This "Second death" spoken of here is that eternal separation from God! One can hardly comprehend a PERMANENT separation, or ETERNAL SEPARATION. No matter how desperate things may be in this life, there is always a "HOPE" for another opportunity. Not so, when the final books are closed! How important it is for ALL to hear the truth of the gospel that this Spiritual awakening may come, and that NONE be lost eternally.
Remember! God is not willing that one should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance and faith in His salvation.
Have "YOU" had this Spiritual awakening?
If not...Why not NOW?
- Art work by: Danny Hahlbohm...Click picture to visit his beautiful Web Site