by Rev. Joda Collins.
God does not send anyone to hell. People go to hell because they choose to spend their entire life running from God. Upon death, God gives a person what he or she has chosen all of his or her physical life -- which is existing without God. However, at the point of their death, ALL change their mind and want one more chance to come to know the saving grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. However, after death there are no second chances. I am sorry. I really am. Hell is a terrible place and I do not want anyone to go there. Neither does God. "The Lord is...not willing (desiring) that any should perish...." 2 Peter 3:9. (Parenthesis mine.)
How do non-Christians find their way to hell after death? Angels escort (carry) the saved (Christians) from this world to the next. Luke 16:22. Angels also "throw" the lost into hell. "…angels…take…the wicked…and…throw them into the…fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mark 13:49-50.
Imagine taking your last breath and immediately seeing one or two of God's angels. At first you will be relieved and encouraged. After death you will not be met by a demonic being who grabs you and drags you into hell as you scream for help. No, you are met by an attractive and wonderful angel or two sent from God. However, you will notice that the angels are not smiling and not happy. There is an expression on the angel's face that is less than positive. An angel will pick you up and carry you away. You notice that you are going down and not up. Bewildered you may inquire about the direction of your travel. However, probably before you can ask the question, the angel has already "thrown" you into hell. (1).
"The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.…" Matthew 13:41-43.
Game over. You will scream for Jesus, but to no avail. Jesus is not coming to save you. Your chances for salvation are over. Your eternity is set. There is no changing it and no escape. Hell isn't funny any more. It isn't distance. It isn't deniable. It isn't a punch line to a joke. It just is. And, you are in it, forever.
Am I trying to scare you out of hell and into heaven. Nope! I do not need to do that. If you have any intelligence or spiritual sensitivity you are already terrified of hell. I am just telling you what to expect in a few minutes, days, weeks, months or years from today. Knowing what to expect means you will not be surprised. It will not diminish the terror of your death-day, but knowing exactly what will happen will take away some of the surprise. Let me assure you, you will never be "ready" for hell, you will never get accustomed to it, you will never adjust to it and you will never be out of excruciating pain. You will never stop wishing you would have taken this article seriously. You will never forget you read it and ignored it.
No one gets saved when he or she wants to. There is a specific invitation extended by the Holy Spirit that comes at God's timing. If there is a next time that God's Holy Spirit woos you to come to him for salvation in Christ, I would take him up on that offer. Make the next invitation, if you get one, count. God is not obligated to extend the invitation again. Do not play waiting games with your eternity.
Do you want to talk more about avoiding hell? Good. You are smart! Email me via the comment section of this article. I will respond.
Rev. Joda Collins
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/jodacollins
I make no claim that anyone else agrees with me.
(1) For the theologians reading this I realize that the current abode of the lost is not the final hell. I have left out some minor factors in my presentation about hell but they are all minor compared to the reality that you are in Hades. If you are curious about those details go to http://brightchristianfellowship.blogspot.com/2007/07/what-is-difference-between-hades-and.html .
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