Will You Choose Hell?
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, let us plainly state, as Paul did: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ,” (I Corinthians 11:1, NIV). “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps,” (I Peter 2:21, NIV). We pray that all people would choose to follow you Lord.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” I John 2:15-17
REFLECT:
A few years ago, I had a dream that continues to challenge me and shake me at the same time. I dreamt that I was walking around my neighborhood and seeing people walking all over. It was as if it was a spring day and everyone was outside their homes doing something. It was a festive time, people laughing, smiling, enjoying life…not a care in the world. The absolute mind-blowing thing was, I saw some people colored in red and others not. For some reason, I was the only one who could see everyone as being totally red or not – no one else could. The Lord impressed upon me this fact – that every person in red had not yet decided to follow Jesus Christ as their savior. It was plain as day – to me. I knew the eternal outcome for everyone around me, should they have died that day. Everyone was enjoying life and there was no strife, no anger between neighbors – none of that and I was the only one who could see whether they believed in God or not. The big question for me was, now that I had that information…what was I going to do about it? Then I woke up.
We all must make that choice to follow Jesus on our own. But could I do more to facilitate that decision? When we “choose” to follow Christ, we reserve our eternal destination. Jesus said to Martha, in John 11:25-26, NIV, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” There are no “do-overs” in deciding where we spend eternity. There is no guarantee that, before we die, we may have a long slow illness that gives us time to reflect and make our peace with God. We may die in our sleep and have made our home for eternity then. Hebrews 9:27, NIV, says “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”
APPLY:
How can we impact non-believers’ decisions to follow Christ and spend eternity with him? What can we do to ensure people make their “eternal destination” reservations in heaven? There are a few things: 1. Always start with and bathe your efforts in prayer. Whatever you plan, if its apart from the Holy Spirit…you will run into trouble. 2. Invite people to church. It’s a way to begin conversations that may lead to decisions for Christ. And 3. Practice random acts of kindness. Jesus said, they will know us by our love. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. (John 13:34-35, NIV). So, plant seeds of prayer, of concern, and of love and watch them grow!!
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, Help us this day, and every day, to have a heart for those who don’t know you and to love them as you commanded – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,” (Luke 10:27, NIV). Help us to love others, all the way, to heaven. One day we will celebrate together, in our eternal home with you. Amen.