Many people go through life and are filled with pride. They busy themselves with the goal of gaining earthly wealth and have no interest in the things of God. The Bible and salvation are foolishness to these people. Yet little do they realize that they are literally one heartbeat from hell! To die is to perish. Remember that death can happen very suddenly or it can happen at the end of a long sickness. We really do not know the time of our death as that information is reserved for God.
But it is a terrible thing to live this life and only think of earthly things. Death can be such a sudden shock and surprise. Some people who think little of God are rich and powerful while others are just getting by or live modestly on earth. Yet they all have the same thing in common. They all think little of life after death. Somehow they must think that their lives will go on forever here on earth!
Below is a story of such a man. In this case he was very rich. However, like many today, this man had no thoughts of God or eternal life after this life is over! Is that also a description of you reader?
Luke 12
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a
certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do,
because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns,
and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits
and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods
laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink,
and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul
shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things
be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich
toward God.
Isn't the above a sad story about a foolish man? This man had accumulated all kinds of worldly wealth. He was ready to big bigger barns then "retire" in a life of ease. He must have thought that death was many years off in the future. In fact, death was so far away in his mind that this man was not even concerned about it! There are many living today with similar thoughts!
Yet little did this man realize but the time of his death was at hand! His time on earth had run out and it was time for him to die.
Think about this for a minute: What good was all his accumulated earthly wealth after death? Did it help the man at all? Could the foolish man take any of it with him? Of course you know the answers to these questions! His earthly wealth meant nothing, nothing at all after death. The only thing that mattered was the man's relationship with God. Sadly, the man was not saved and thought nothing about salvation and God while he was alive. I would say that death was quite a shock to this man. What about you, reader? Are you ready to stand before God should death come upon you in an unexpected time?
THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
Below is another account of the death of two men. One of them was a rich man who had no heart for God or eternal things. The other man was a poor beggar man named Lazarus. Unlike the rich man, Lazarus was saved and had a right relationship with God. Read the account below of the death of these two man and what happened after they died:
Luke 16
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and
fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid
at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the
rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by
the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died,
and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and
send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water,
and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime
receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but
now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf
fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot;
neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest
send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest
they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let
them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them
from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The rich man in this story is just like the rich man in the first story who wanted to build more barns to hold all his wealth. Both men had no heart for God or eternal things while they were alive. The first story showed the life of the rich man and his death. The second story about the rich man and Lazarus showed the life of the rich man during life and after his death.
Notice the death of the rich man. Upon death he was in a place of torments. He experienced physical pain and torment after he died in a terrible place. The rich man was covered in flames and his main desire was for a little bit of water to cool his buring tongue. Sadly, such a request could not be given to a man who had perished. The rich man perished in his sins while Lazarus was saved and forgiven by God.
The rich man understood his fate after death. He remembered his family who were still living. He wanted his relatives to be saved so they would not have to come to this terrible place. The answer given to the rich man was this: He was told that they had the Bible and all that was needed was recorded in the Word of God. The rich men knew they would not receive the Word of God as while alive he wouldn't receive God's Word either. The rich man hoped that someone could rise from the dead and that miracle would convince his family to get saved. Sadly, he was told that a miracle would not convice someone to get saved if they had rejected the Word of God!
That is a tremendous lesson for us today! Christians warn the lost about a lost eternity in hell for those who reject the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. The plan of salvation is clearly shown as recorded in God's Word, the Bible. Yet like the rich man and his family, these warnings are rejected. Lost people are too proud to admit they are sinners and they are too caught up in gaining worldly wealth to think of salvation. Like the rich man, lost people today only think of their life here on earth and they put out of their minds all thoughts about God, His Word the Bible, Salvation, and the Lord Jesus who is the only Saviour of lost men.
As a result lost people need to realize this fact:
THE LOST PERSON IS IN A VERY SLIPPERY PLACE: ONE HEARTBEAT FROM HELL
In this world there are many smug, secure, and rich folks who have no interest or concern about the Lord Jesus and their eternity after this life is over. It is really easy to look at these people and be envious at them. Many have lots of money, huge houses, many cars, and lots of possessions. Yet through it all they are totally blind. These people are literally hanging over the lake of fire by a single thread and they are not aware of the danger. These lost people are in extreme spiritual danger and right now they do not care. The cares of this world, the riches, and the earthly toys have totally blinded the eyes of these lost people. They live in the here and now with no concern for their eternity after death. The underlying assumption is that death is very far away. In fact it is so far away that there is no need to be concerned about it now. Little do these foolish people realize that death can come very suddenly and unexpectedly.
Like both the rich men we covered above, lost people today are just one short heartbeat from a lost eternity. When they die they will perish in their sins. Lost people have rejected the Lord Jesus and the salvation He freely offers. By doing this, they have chosen to pay for their own sins themselves. God will honor this decision but the penalty for sin is an eternity burning in hell, the lake of fire.
Lost people can never blame God for sending them to hell. Instead, God did everything possible so men would not have to go to hell at all. God became a man (the Lord Jesus) and He died on the cross and paid the penalty for sin. The Lord Jesus paid the penalty for our sin so we would not have to. This called a substitutionary death. Before God our sins must be paid for. Either we pay for the sins ourselves or we accept the Lord Jesus and let Him pay for our sins and give us His righteousness. This is called imputed righteousness. The Lord Jesus takes our sins and imputes us His righteousness. For the saved person, their sins are totally forgiven and they have the righteousness of God in Christ. For the lost Christ rejecting sinner, the price for sin must be paid by the individual.
So, God sends no one to hell. Lost people actually make the choice to go to hell by rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ and His salvation.
Here are the two main reasons why people reject the Lord Jesus:
1) PRIDE: Lost people refuse to admit that they are lost sinners in need of a Saviour.
2) LOVE OF THIS WORLD: Lost people are totally wrapped up in their money, jobs, gaining wealth, buying earthly toys, and the pleasures of this world. As a result they have no heart for God's salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. have no thought
In this world there are only two types of people. They are the saved people and the lost people. Which one are you? If you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, then you are saved. If you have rejected the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, then you are lost! Here is what the Bible says:
John 3
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abideth on him.
The below Psalm talks about lost people. God calls them foolish people. Little do they know but they are literally one heartbeat from an eternity in hell, the lake of fire!
Psalms 73
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of
the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued
like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence
covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart
could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they
speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh
through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are
wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the
most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they
increase in riches.
God thinks people who reject Salvation in the Lord Jesus are foolish! The foolish lost person are filled with pride and love of worldly things. Because many of them are wealthy, pride has consumed their hearts. They are confident, self-centered, rich, and powerful. Due to their wealth, they are able to avoid the many struggles on earth that most people go through. As a result of their pride and their fullness, these lost people speak very carelessly. They disdain the Bible, sin, repentance, and the need for salvation in the Lord Jesus. Are you such a person? I certainly hope not!
In our current day, many lost people get involved in the world of the occult. They reject the Bible and salvation as they feel that somehow they are superior for that type of foolishness. Yet in this world they prosper and grow in riches. Their whole life is wrapped up in the here and now. They seek worldly wealth and have rejected the things of the Lord. Since the things of God are rejected, it is natural for a person to accept the things of the devil. The occult belongs to the devil therefore when a person rejects God, it is very natural for such a person to accept the occult.
It is very possible for a person to look at rich unsaved people and be envious of them. Let me say this, don't be! These people may have it all now but they are literally one heartbeat from an eternity of burning and torment! They are to be pitied rather than envied. It is very sad to see someone hear the Gospel and they reject salvation. Little does such a lost person realize but they are just one tiny heartbeat from an eternity in hell!
Remember the fact that God looks very differently wealthy, proud, self sufficient, and lost people. God sees their end as they live their lives in rejection of Him and His salvation in the Lord Jesus. God says such a person is a fool!
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands
in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened
every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against
the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood
I their end.
Remember to consider the end of these foolish people who in pride have rejected the Lord Jesus. What will happen to them after this life is over? What will happen if and when death comes very suddenly and unexpectedly to such a person? When one considers their "end" it is possible to see that they are very foolish and blind with their eternal souls.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst
the m down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they
are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest,
thou shalt despise their image.
God says that the wicked are setup in very slippery places. Just one slip and that's it, they are destroyed! These foolish lost people proudly live their lives not realizing that eternal destruction and torment awaits them after death. After death the lost person will perish in their sins with no hope of ever being saved.
Sins must be paid for. Either the Lord Jesus is your Saviour or He is rejected and the lost person chooses to pay for their sins themselves. These proud lost people will never humble themselves and admit that they are lost sinners in need of a Saviour. As a result when death does come, they perish forever!
Look at verse 19 above. In a moment they are brought into destruction and utterly consumed with terrors! Perishing in hell is a terrible thing. God does not want anyone to perish. This is why He became a man and died on the cross in payment for sin. The Lord Jesus now offers salvation and eternal life to all who will receive it! Sadly, the proud lost person is not interested! Instead, they are caught up in pride with the things of this world. They are in a slippery place as death does and will come upon them. As a result lost sinners are brought into desolation and are consumed with terrors! It is a terrible thing to die in rejection of the only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ! To reject God's salvation and the Lord Jesus is to perish forever.
Remember the fact that God sends no one to hell. Lost people go there by choice by choosing to reject the Lord Jesus and salvation!
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