Let’s Escape Hell

I’m afraid that a lot of folks are just bound and determined to find ways to be overly righteous. The way I have in mind today is regarding the reality of escaping the damnation of hell. Yeah, I know I’ve already turned a lot of people off just by mentioning those words. It’s like people think your either wicked or a lunatic if you even mention hell, which brings me to the point. There is a huge Christian tradition that supposedly exalts the idea of loving God, while excluding the idea of fearing him. This is what I’m talking about that people like to say: “I don’t want to serve God for the sake of not going to hell; I just want to serve him because I love him.” Ohhhh, that DOES sound mighty sweet, now doesn’t it? Don’t misunderstand me in this; I most assuredly believe in serving God because I love him, even with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Lk. 10:27). In fact I have found God to be SO gracious and good over the past thirty two years plus, that I can’t imagine NOT being in a pure love relationship with him. But let’s get serious and real here; not going to hell is a VERY good reason to want to repent and walk the straight and narrow path by and in the power of God’s holy Spirit OF love and truth (Mat. 7:14; Rom. 8:14; I Jn. 5:2,3; Jn. 16:13). My word not good enough on that? Unless the scriptures back it up, you bet it’s not. So let’s see what the scriptures say: “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Lk. 3:7). So we see that John the Baptist thought it was a really good idea to escape hell, and he reckoned obedience to God with that idea.

What about Jesus, what did he think about it?: “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him” (Lk. 12:5). Yep, it’s for sure that Jesus agreed with John, and he confirmed that belief in other places as well (Mat. 18:8; Mk. 9:43; Mat. 23:33). Not to mention that the apostles who wrote the new testament scriptures, along with Jesus and John the Baptist, all warned of eternal damnation and a fiery torment for those who take sin to the grave with them. The reason that so many ‘Christians’ are NOT in agreement with Jesus and the apostles on this issue is that they simply do not fear God, which the WHOLE Bible says we should; and as Jesus said in the above quoted scripture. Friend, if you don’t fear God, then don’t kid yourself about loving God; because those two divine elements are absolutely inseparable. The scripture says, “Perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (I Jn. 4:18). But make no mistake, the fear that perfect love casts out is NOT the fear of God, but rather the fear of anything OTHER than God. David knew that God’s fear is the ONLY fear for the heart to retain, and he also knew that God is worthy to be feared with ALL the heart: “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: UNITE my heart to FEAR thy name” (Psm. 86:11). So let’s not make ourselves look foolish by implying that we don’t need to fear God, and that not going to hell is not a major reason for turning our lives over to God, and keeping them that way. Amen.