July 28, 2018

 “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46

     This year our missions group decided to set aside the week of July 9-14 to do local missions. We did a V.B.S. in a senior center in the mornings and a nursing home in the afternoons. Our group of 23 did a couple of cookouts and played games with the kids at one of the local orphanages. We chaperoned two dances at Murdoch as well as cleaned out and replanted several flower beds. The C.C.M. Hut needed help moving to their ministry into a new building, so we lent a hand. On the last day we did a summer cookout for a cottage of residents and the staff at Murdoch. It was a busy and blessed week. The only hiccup came on Saturday night when half of the group, including my family and myself, came down with a stomach bug.  I know most of you have had the bug where you are vomiting at the same time that you are having the upset stomach. It is miserable. In my opinion, as far as viruses go, this is one of the worst to have. There is nothing that you can do to get comfortable. You can’t lie down, you can’t set up and as soon as you think that you might be able to rest, you have to get back up and run to the bathroom again. It is absolute torture.

     As I began to feel a little better that Sunday afternoon, I was reminded that the lost, those that don’t have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, are in for a lot worse suffering. People will tell me that they don’t believe in hell, but they believe in heaven. What most people don’t realize is that the Bible talks more about hell than it does heaven. Revelation 21:8 describes it as a “fiery lake with burning brimstone”. This fire not only scorches, but burning brimstone burns the eyes. It also burns the lungs with every breath that you take. Mark 9:43 describes it as a place of an “unquenchable fire.” It never goes out. Matthew 13:50 says that hell is a “furnace of fire” and “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Ever you ever hurt so badly that you sat there and just cried and ground your teeth? Jesus Himself says that is what hell is like.  Luke 16: 19-31 we see Lazarus is there in “torment”. Revelation 14:10-11, “he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented day and night with fire and brimstone… and the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night…”  

     Only time will help those of us that suffer through the stomach bug. Time will not help the lost, only a relationship with Jesus can prevent the eternal suffering. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever shall believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Make sure that you have the only immunization that is available for eternal suffering. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to be your Lord and Savior.