Is Hell Real? - Is It Punishment For The Wicked?

continuation...

The question, "Is hell real?" is answered "no" by a lot of people. These people would like to believe that when we die, we don't go to a heaven or a hell, we simply cease to exist. However, wouldn't a God who sends us into nonexistence at death be just as "cruel" as one who allows us to freely choose our own destiny, which could be hell? Even atheist Friedrich Nietzsche said that he would rather choose eternally conscious suffering than nonexistence.

God's perfect justice also demands that there be a hell to punish the unrepentant and wicked among us. As Walter Martin said about the existence of hell and eternal punishment in his book, The Kingdom of the Cults, "They make much to-do about God being Love but forget that because He is Love, He is also Justice and must require infinite vengeance upon anyone who treads underfoot the precious blood of Christ, who is the Lamb slain for lost sinners from the foundation of the world."

What kind of a loving God would He be if the wicked were never punished? Why would He have sent His Son to die for our sins, if we could reject that redemption and not eventually pay the price? What incentive would we have to do good and love God if we knew we could reject His Son and choose to do evil all of our lives and never be punished? We would not want this lack of justice in the streets of our cities and towns, so why do we expect God to mete it out in the overall universe.

Is Hell Real? - Is Anyone Forced To Go There? --->>next topic

The Best Gift of All

I asked for strength that I might achieve;
God made me weak that I might obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given grace that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given LIFE that I might enjoy all things.

Is Hell Real?

I just want to discuss this topic for maybe about a week or less, maybe you might want to know the answers to common questions about hell and its existence.

Is Hell Real? - Why Was It Created?

The question of why hell exists has perplexed many people through the ages. Countless have asked, "If God is so good, why would He create a place like hell?" This is similar to asking, "If our government is so good, why would it create prisons?" The answer seems simple enough - places like hell and prisons exist because some people will choose to do the wrong thing, and because of that, they need to be punished. It is fairly easy to understand how this reasoning applies to the existence of prisons, but does it really pertain to hell as well?

In the biblical Creation account found in the book of Genesis, no mention is made of a place called hell. Everything that God made during the time of Creation was good. However, the Bible tells us in Matthew 25:41 that hell was later prepared for "the devil and his angels" (see also Isaiah 14:12). God did not create hell for man; it was never His intention that any man or woman should go to hell. In 2 Peter 3:9, we learn that God does not want "anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

What is hell? Hell is a real place. We know this from many verses in the Bible, several of them spoken by Jesus, Himself; and we know that the wicked and unrighteous will go there when they die. So once again, we are back to the main point that God is good, and life in hell is terrible, so why would God create such a place? Even though hell was initially created to hold Satan and the angels that fell with him, there will also be men and women in hell.

Why Does Anyone Go There?

Hell is a place of eternal separation from God, and people go there when they die because they chose to separate themselves from God while living on earth. God created us with the free will to make our own choices, and separating ourselves from God is one of the choices we are free to make. Our free will is a wonderful gift from God in that He does not force us to love Him or to follow Him. Without our free will, we would be nothing but puppets or robots, which does not please God, and certainly does nothing to better our lives.

While God desires that everyone would choose to love Him, some people will choose not to. These people will die in their sins and be separated from God forever in hell. Many would say that this is unfair, and that a loving God would never set up a system such as this; however, it is precisely God's love for us, and the fact that He is perfectly just, that tells us why hell exists, and why men and women will choose to go there. God loves us so much that He respects our freedom of choice. If we choose not to love Him, then why would He want to force us to live with Him eternally in heaven? Wouldn't living for eternity with someone we don't love be hell anyway? God wants to spare those people who don't love Him from having to live with Him and be under His rule for eternity.

To be continued...

Forget What Lies Behind

“This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I press forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

Are you determined to forget what lies behind? I know many people don’t fully understand what it means to forget the past. They wonder, “How can I forget something that’s happened to me?” But one definition of the word forget means to disregard intentionally, or to overlook. You have to intentionally disregard your past so that it doesn’t keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the bad. Sometimes our past victories keep us from rising higher as much as past failures. If we don’t let go of the old, we’ll never be able to embrace the new. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your history, it’s time to forget what lies behind. Make the choice today to press forward. Trust that God has a better future in store for you. Trust that He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life the Lord has in store for you!

A Very Nice Presentation

Worship Brings Power

The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people. When you worship the Lord, His presence will manifest wherever you are. It doesn’t matter if you are at home, in your car or at work, God will inhabit your praises. And where God is, there is tremendous power available! The enemy cannot stand in the presence of our Mighty God!

What do you need power for today? Do you need God’s healing power in you body? Worship Him. Do you need God’s restoration power in your relationships? Worship Him. Do you need His delivering power from a particular situation? Worship Him.

As you worship Him, you will see your perspective begin to change. The things that used to bother you will no longer bother you. Old habits and addictions will automatically break off of you. Things in your life will begin to change when you live a life of worship.

Start right now by worshiping the Lord out of your heart. All throughout the day, sing songs to Him and declare His goodness. As you do, you’ll experience the life of victory He has in store for you!

Do All That is in Your Heart

What is in your heart today? What are the dreams and desires deep on the inside of you? Maybe you want to start a business, or ministry, or go back to school.

Whatever is in your heart, ask the Lord to confirm it to you. God leads us by desires, but we have to first submit our desires to Him. Sometimes we have to allow Him to change our desires, but know that He is always out for your good.

It says in the book of Psalms that God gives us the desires of our heart. That means He places desires within us then brings them to pass so that we can live a fulfilled life here on earth. I believe David did this very thing. He was known as a man after God’s own heart. He submitted His heart to the Lord, and then Nathan came along and said, “Yes. Do what is in your heart. God is with you.”

Whatever is in your heart today, submit it to the Lord. Trust that He is out for your good and working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you put your faith and trust in Him, He will guide you in the life of victory He has in store for you!

He Improves Those He Loves

Aren’t you glad that the God of this universe loves us enough to discipline and shape our character? Webster’s Dictionary defines “discipline” as training that corrects, molds, or perfects mental faculties or moral character.

God improves our character through His training. While you are on this earth, you are constantly in spiritual training. Your faith is being trained, your character is being trained, and your heart is being trained to be more like Him. God is training us so that we can be holy, or set apart, in our mind, will, and emotions.

Holiness is important to God because the Bible says that without holiness, we won’t be able to see Him. God doesn’t want anything to come between you and Him. He wants to be with you. That’s why He chose to make your heart His home. When you allow Him to shape, train, and improve your character, you will be holy and you will see Him.
Receive His loving guidance today as He shapes and trains your character. Let Him work in your life and respond to His tender leading. As you do, you’ll rise higher in every area and live the life of victory the Lord has planned for you.

No Eye Has Seen

Have you ever tried to imagine what God might have in store for your future?

No matter how great the dreams are that you may be able to come up with, God has more in store for you than you can even begin to imagine! It’s starts in this life and then carries over into the eternal life. God is a creative God and His thoughts and plans go way beyond our thoughts and plans.

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what He has in store! Let that encourage you today to dream bigger. Get your expectancy up. There’s nothing that you can come up with that is beyond God. He wants to see you rise higher and it starts with your thinking. Think bigger. Think expansive. God wants you to excel and go beyond where you are. He wants to see you fulfill the desires of your heart!

Keep standing strong in faith, and dreaming big, and you will see the life of victory He has prepared for you.

Light Will Come

“Light arises in the darkness for the upright…” (Psalm 112:4).

Is there any area of your life that needs light today? Maybe you’re in a seemingly dark situation or maybe you need some insight into a decision you have to make. Maybe you need the light of understanding into a particular situation.

Whatever is going on in your life right now, God’s Word promises that light will arise. He promises to illuminate every area of your life. The Bible tells us in the book of Psalms that God’s Word is a lamp to your feet and light to your path. You can turn the light on, so to speak, by studying and meditating on the Word of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and shine the truth of God’s Word throughout your being.

As you meditate on the Word of God you will see that light arise in your life. Your path will be clear, and you will move forward into the abundant life the Lord has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, I ask that your light shine brightly in my life today. Help me, Holy Spirit, to walk in the light so that I can be pleasing to the Lord in every way. Thank you for your faithfulness to me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Your Love is Extravagant

This is such a wonderful song, by Michael W. Smith. You might like to check it out.

Your Love is Extravagant

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place
Cause Your love is extravagant

Chorus:
Spread wide in the arms of Christ there's a love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place
Your love is extravagant

Spread wide in the arms of Christ there's a love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Spread wide in the arms of Christ there's a love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate

FiX YouR EyeS

Are your eyes fixed on Jesus today?

It’s so easy to let the distractions of the world and the cares of every day life to change your focus. And whatever you fix your eyes on, you open your spirit to. You can choose to fix your eyes on Jesus no matter what distractions of life are going on around you.

You see, when you fix your eyes on Jesus, you are opening yourself to the Healer. You are opening yourself to the Deliverer. You are opening yourself to the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Provider, the Redeemer, the Strong Tower of refuge.

What do you need in your life today? Peace? Fix your eyes on Jesus. Do you need healing? Fix your eyes on Jesus. Do you need a safe retreat? Fix your eyes on Jesus. And you may have to turn off other things that you’ve been watching so that you can fix your eyes on Him. But remember, He is your source of life and the Author and Perfecter of your faith. Fix your eyes on Him and allow Him to work in your life so that you can experience the victory He has in store for you!

mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee .

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students respon ded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked."

The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Look Straight Ahead

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you” (Proverbs 4:25).

What are you looking at today? I don’t mean in the natural, but in the spiritual. What is in the forefront of your mind and heart? Are you constantly dwelling on your problems, or things that have happened in your past?
In the natural, you will move in the direction that your eyes are looking. In the spiritual, it works the same way. Whatever you focus your mind and heart on, you will move towards.
That’s why this verse tells us to look straight ahead. If you are constantly dwelling on your problems, or things in your past, wondering “what if” then you will stay right where you are. But if you choose to forgive and release the past then you can focus on what is ahead of you and you’ll begin to move forward. God doesn’t want you to live in the past. He wants you to meditate on His goodness and believe His promises so that you can keep growing. God is a creative God and He has designed a wonderful future for you.
Look straight ahead so you can see it and move forward into the live of victory God has promised!

Focus on the Unseen

Every obstacle in your life is subject to change. It doesn’t matter what you may be facing, there is an answer in the unseen. The unseen is the spiritual realm where the promises of God exist. Your faith brings those unseen things into this natural realm. When you are fixed on something, you can’t be moved. There’s a determination that fuels your focus. When you fix your eyes on the unseen—the promises of God—your faith will not be moved by your circumstances and you’ll eventually see those promises come to pass. Make the decision today to fix your eyes and mind on the promises of God. Meditate on His promises until they become more real to you than the air you breath. Declare that His promises will come to pass in your life. Declare that you have His
favor. Declare that you are more than a conqueror. Don’t allow fear and doubt to change what you are speaking over your life. As you continue to fix your spiritual eyes on the unseen promises of God, you will see those things come to pass in the natural and you will move forward into the abundant life the Lord has for you!

Father God, today I choose to fix my eyes on you. I choose to fix my mind and heart on your promises, no matter what it looks like in this natural world. I know that Your Word is true and that your promises will be fulfilled in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Whosoever

When Jesus sent His Son to the earth, He opened the door of salvation to whosoever would believe. That means, anyone can become a child of His and have everlasting life! Aren’t you glad He didn’t just come to save certain kinds of people? Aren’t you glad He didn’t have a bunch of rules and conditions for salvation? Before Jesus came, people had to observe many laws in order to be holy enough to go into the temple. They were constantly performing sacrifices to pay for their sins just so they could be around the presence of God. And even then, their sins were only covered up. But when Jesus came, He was the final sacrifice. And His blood didn’t just cover our sins, it washed us clean. Now, instead of just going to the temple to be near God, the Bible says we are the temple, and He chooses to live inside of us. Thank Him today for His mercy and for extending the gift of salvation to whosoever. remember, that Jesus is the ultimate gift. Do you receive Him today? If you’ve never asked Him into your life, there’s no better time than right now.

Are you Good Person?

Almost everyone thinks they are a good person...

But the question you should be asking is, "Am I good enough to go to Heaven?"

How would you know?

Wonderful Counselor

What do you need today?

Do you need guidance or counsel about a particular situation? One of the reasons Jesus was sent to this earth was to be your Wonderful Counselor. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Counselor comes to live inside of you by the Holy Spirit.

Notice He’s not just any kind of counselor, He is the Wonderful Counselor. He is full of wonder and amazement. He’s extraordinary. He’s the very best counselor you could have—He knows all things! Do you need counsel today regarding your job? Do you need counsel regarding your relationships or an important decision? Do you need a counselor to act as your defender today? Call on the Wonderful Counselor. Open your heart and let Him show you His wisdom. Receive His counsel from the Word of God. Receive His counsel from the godly people in your life.

As you seek the Wonderful Counselor with an open heart, He promises to lead and guide you. He promises to show you paths of life so that you can live in victory the way God intends!

Have a good day!!!

Expect Good Things

What are you expecting today? Are you expecting to rise higher in life? Are you expecting good breaks? Are you expecting goodness to follow you everywhere you go? If you are expecting to get the short end of the stick, your own wrong thinking will keep you in mediocrity. Remember, God will meet you at the level of your expectations. Pay attention to what you are thinking about and make the choice to believe God for good things. Every day, imagine there are blessings, favor, increase, and promotion in your path. They already have your name on it! It’s just a matter of time before you come across them. Start confessing everyday “Something good is going to happen to me today.” Stand strong when trouble comes, knowing that your best days are ahead. Believe that God's blessings will overtake you! Expect goodness and mercy to chase you down. If you learn to raise your level of expectancy, God will pour out His blessings and favor on you. You rise to new levels and live the life of victory He has in store.

He Withholds No Good Thing

What do you need from the Lord today? Do you need peace, provision, guidance? The Word of God promises that no good thing will He withhold from those who walk blamelessly before Him. Now you may be thinking, “Hey, I’m not perfect. How can I have a blameless walk?” The Good News is, when you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you automatically have a new walk. The past is erased in God’s eyes. And sure, you may make mistakes but I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When you repent of your sins and receive God’s forgiveness you are cleansed and your walk is blameless. You have to understand that God wants to pour His favor and honor on you. If you feel like there is anything in your life that you need to be cleansed from, go to the Father today and confess it to Him. Let Him make you new so that you can receive the good things He has in store for you! Let Him be pour His blessing on you so that you can walk in victory all the days of your life!

If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving, would He really create a world like this...

Why? Why is the world the way it is? Filled with oppression, suffering, death and cruelty? If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving, would He really create a world like this?

What kind of world would you create........if you were God?

• One without suffering.
• One in which man treated others with kindness and justice.
• One that is filled with love, cooperation and freedom.
  

1. GOD'S PLAN for you is so wonderful. HE loves you so much that He wants you to enjoy the following blessings.

1. ETERNAL LIFE - John 3:16. 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.
2. ABUNDANT LIFE - John 10:10. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
3. PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS - Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a good future."

But why is man not enjoying all of these?

2. Blessing are hindered because of MAN'S PROBLEM - SIN.

SIN SEPARATES MAN FROM GOD - Isaiah 59:2. But your inequities have separated you from you God: your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
ALL HAVE SINNED - Romans 3:23. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
THEREFORE MANKIND WILL SUFFER FROM:
DEATH - Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death.
JUDGMENT - Hebrews 9:27. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.

SECOND DEATH - Revelation 21:8. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the murderers, the sexually immoral those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars --their place will be on the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

What did man do to solve his greatest problem?

3. To be saved from his fallen state, MAN CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION to his greates problem.......

GOOD WORKS AND RELIGION
Are we good enough to satisfy God's qualification for goodness?
GOD'S STANDARD IS PERFECTION - Matthew 5:48. Be perfect therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.
OUR GOOD WORKS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS - Isaiah 64:6. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all out righteous acts are like filthy rags.
SALVATION IS NOT BY WORKS - Ephesians 2:8-9. For it is by faith you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

Man cannot save himself so, God in His mercy gave the answer.

4. GOD'S SOLUTION to man's problem is Jesus Christ alone

JESUS IS GOD WHO CAME IN FLESH - Colosians 1:15-20
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY - John 14:6. Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
JESUS IS THE ONLY NAME GIVEN - Acts 4:12. Salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name given by which we must be saved.

"He was born as a man so that man can be born of God, lived a sinless life so that sinful man can be set free from sin, rejected by men so that men can be accepted by God, died so that man will live, rose from the grave so the man will not lose hope and He is coming back to take us into His glory. What a Savior!"

Thank God we have found the answer!

5. MAN'S CHOICE now determines his future. To enjoy God's original intent, man needs to take these steps.

1. REPENT - Acts 3:19. Repent them and turn to God so that your sins...be wiped out. This calls for the willingness to turn away from the sin and to love God back.
2. BELIEVE - Romans 10:9. That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. This is not intellectual faith but, a transfer of trust and loyalty from self to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
3. ACCEPT - John 1:12. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—This is to invite Christ to rule your life as Lord, Master and King for the rest of your days.

PRAYER: Dear God, I am a sinner and my sin separates me from You. I repent from all my sinful thoughts, words and deeds. I want to turn away from everything the Bible calls sin. I ask You to forgive and cleanse me. I thank You that You sent Your Son Jesus to pay the penalty for my disobedience. I believe that He died on the cross for me and rose from the dead on the third day. I accept Jesus as my only Savior, my only Lord and Master. Help me to love, serve and obey You for the rest of my life. Amen.

You are now part of God's big family. You are born into God's kingdom!!! Friend, You are no longer condemned...You have crossed over from death to life! SAVED!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

As a child, you need to grow and mature. Take time to hear & obey the Word of God, commune with Him in prayer & worship, fellowship with believers & pass on to others what you have received.