MAN IS POWERLESS

TO SAVE HIMSELF

“For the wages of sin is death…” Rom. 5:23

Fans of Star Trek know that the show frequently comments on how the people on planet earth have finally learned to live complete harmony and peace.  This notion that mankind is making great progress toward the elimination of hate, greed and violence in the world suggests we don’t really need to be “saved” from anything.  Hmm…   
The fact is the true nature of man’s sinfulness has never been more apparent than it is today.  God says that the wages of sin is death – not just physical death, but an eternal “death” in a real place call Hell.  Now there’s a topic we don’t want to talk about much.  In fact, many try to deny or play down its existence.

The truth? – Hell does exist, and it is not something anyone would want if they really knew what it was like.  The Bible speaks frankly about the horrors of Hell so that there can be no misunderstanding. Jesus said it would be a place of “darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Many would deceive us into thinking that if it exists, it’s no big deal.  The story of the rich man and Lazarus paints a very different picture of the torment of Hell and the rich man’s plea to warn others.  Let’s not be deceived – if anyone could stand at the threshold of Hell and see what it really is for even a brief moment, no one would want it – no one!

The reality of Hell is why the message of the cross is “Good News”.  Next week — the rest of the story… which is good news indeed!

FANNING THE FLAME
We seem reluctant to talk with our children and grandchildren about the horrors of hell for fear of scaring them.  However, Hell is not a fictional story – it is reality, and our children need to know that it exists and it is horrible.  There are appropriate ways of discussing this at various ages, but it does need to be discussed honestly in the same way we warn our children about the dangers of playing with fire.  Ask God to give you wisdom to know how to discuss it truthfully and always with the “good news” message of hope.

GRANDPAUSE: “Salvation is not deliverance from hell alone, it is deliverance from sin.”  – Charles H. Spurgeon