“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Hebrews 2:9. No one is excluded from receiving the free gift of salvation. God died on that cross so every human being on this planet could obtain salvation and continue on to a new and awesome Heavenly home. Jesus suffered and died for all humanity.

 

What stops man from wanting such a home? Pride. That’s it, it’s prideful to reject God’s free gift of salvation. Only by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of His only begotten Son can we obtain that free gift. Many might disagree with me and say it’s a hardened heart, or ignorance, even self-reliance that keeps man from believing the truth. Pride is what got in Lucifer’s way and it’s been the one thing that has been so prevalent in so many lost souls since the beginning of time. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” Psalm 10:4. Using God’s name as profanity doesn’t count as keeping God in all our thoughts.

 

To humble one’s self before God requires an abandonment of pride and there are so many who won’t allow that to ever occur in their meager and short existence. So many people actually believe that this world holds the answer to everything–every question, every thought, every experience and there is nothing at the end of one’s life but a cold dark grave. When some folks hear the question, “Are you a believer?” or “Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?” their pride is activated and they reject such nonsensical questioning with a prideful “I don’t believe in God” or I don’t need your God”. This one really saddens me, “I don’t fear your God”. Pride is the culprit and many a lost soul will find this out the hard way. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18. 

 

We read in the book of Hebrews that Jesus tasted death for every man. That means everybody that ever lived or ever will live has been covered by the blood of Christ. In the past, before Jesus’ First Advent, if folks believed in the coming Messiah and were faithful to God, when they died their souls were sent to Abraham’s bosom. After Jesus died all who profess their faith in Him go directly to Heaven. But the one thing they all have in common is that they all, at some point, dropped that prideful attitude and humbled themselves before God. Alas, Jesus tells us many will never lose that prideful attitude. “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. They not only can’t find it but pride keeps them from seeking the truth.

 

Many will hold to the two big lies of Satan, “Yea, hath God said”, and “Ye shall not surely die” Genesis 3:1, 4. And they will remain in that state of condemnation. They will never give up the pride that holds them captive like zoo animals in cages. Jesus died for the express purpose of saving all the lost from an eternity in Hell. All are given the same opportunity to believe and repent. “Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain,” Psalm 73:6a.

 

Have you ever wondered how God could possibly love a person whose whole life is or has been devoted to sin? He can, and He does. A person who has never acknowledged God’s grace or His love but who has taken advantage of every good gift which can only come from God is still loved by God. God knows how the evil one works and He knows the influence Satan has on you and me. That’s why He made the following promise “For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b. God does not love you and me more than He loves the lost. The lost have access to that same promise and can, with a little faith and a changed attitude toward submission, obtain that same promise immediately.   

 

God loved us from before the creation of the earth, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world” Ephesians 1:4. Until we breathe our last breath God will remain true to His word. He will love us and He will continue steadfast in His attempt to convince every unbelieving person on earth of the truth of who He is. And His free gift of salvation is continually offered to everyone.

 

When the end comes, as we know it will very soon now, all who believe death is the end of all things will be greatly surprised; death is in no way the end. Death is just an excursion into a whole new realm. It’s the end of life on earth yes, but not the end of our existence. It is the end of all earthly problems, worries, materialism, bank accounts, favorite cars, love affairs, and everything else worldly. All earthly treasures which we built up over a lifetime are instantaneously someone else’s at death. As followers of Jesus Christ we know our earthly gains won’t come close to our heavenly rewards. But for the lost, they not only lose everything they had acquired while alive, but they lose their souls to an eternity in Hell. A double whammy you might say. But the latter is so much worse than the first.

 

Did you know that at the exact moment that death grabs the unbeliever he/she suddenly believes in Jesus? It’s no joke; they are believers at the nanosecond they die. They instantly become keenly aware that Jesus the Christ is God Almighty even though they wouldn’t believe it while they were alive. But it’s too late for the unbeliever. They had their chance to accept the free gift of salvation while they were alive. But all their thoughts went to accumulating a house and garage full of material wealth, never a thought to their eternal destination. 

 

Imagine the hopeless feeling of those who remain in rebellion to God ‘til death as their eyes close for the last time. Everything they did and everything they possessed will come into view and they will scream with all their spirit “Lord, Lord”. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord... ‘And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22a, 23. As we can plainly see their screams will be to no avail.

 

As Solomon aptly penned after a lifetime of acquiring a world of wealth, and trying just about every perversion known to man, he came to the conclusion “Vanity, all is vanity”. Those who die without Christ will come to the same conclusion as Solomon. They’ll utter the following sorrowful words “I chose poorly” because they will quickly realize they can never return from their now eternal hellish home. Even the nicest, kindest person we know is destined for Hell if they haven’t believed in the “One” God sent, Jesus the Christ.

 

Facing an eternity in Hell is a horrible thought. It’s nothing to make light of. I can’t imagine any of my brethren wishing anyone that type of eternal existence. If they do they don’t understand the full concept of Hell. All of the brethren have a great opportunity to share Jesus with the lost, to explain the difference between an eternity in Heaven and an eternity in Hell. Death isn’t on the minds of most folks; most give no thought whatsoever to where they will remain for eternity. The Great Commission given to all the saints is that we deliver the truth of the Gospel of Christ to the lost. Basically, as we go about informing them of their choices, we enlighten them as to the specific differences between Heaven and Hell. This may motivate them to have a change of mind, and hopefully they will make the smart decision.

 

As believers we see the end approaching more and more rapidly with every passing day. But the lost don’t see anything different from day to day except maybe their retirement portfolios declining. Is there a believer who hasn’t thought about Hell? Probably not. No matter how much we think about it we never see it as a huge kegger in the park, but that’s how so many of the lost souls of this world see Hell. “Well, I’ll be with friends” goes the old joke. “No, you won’t” should be our response and we should never laugh at that sorry quip. We should be as serious as the grave when we proclaim the truth about Hell. It’s terrible, painful, sorrowful, extremely hot, and completely void of the existence of God. No one will want to stay there after they realize where they are. But they will have no choice, once there Hell will be their domain for eternity.

 

Atheists and the rest of the unbelievers don’t understand that they are never out of the presence of God while they are alive on this earth. God is everywhere and He sees everything we do. Every believer rejoices in the fact that God is always with us, but unbelievers want nothing to do with God. At their death they will get their wish, but not while they are alive. Whether they like it or not God is ever present in all our lives. But God will not be in Hell; that’s what makes it Hell, it is void of God. All God’s grace, and His mercy, and of course His awesome love is present with us. In Hell there will be none of His attributes present. That, my friends, is the indisputable truth.

 

Salvation by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ is all we need to avoid that horrible place called Hell or Hades. And it’s available to every atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, and all the other nonbelievers out there. It’s even available to all those who are wrapped up in Christian cults such as the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and all the rest of the false religions floating around these days.

 

Islam, the fastest growing religion today, has 1.5 billion followers, and yet they are all perishing if they continue in their unbelief. Jesus wants to be their Savior the same as He wants to be yours and mine. All can come to Jesus for salvation while they are still alive, because He died for everybody. But God will not accept any excuses and there will no doubt be many. Let me put it another way, the fact that you were sold a bill of goods by some false teacher or a lying prophet is no excuse for rejecting the truth of the Gospel. The lie you were fed will most certainly affect your final eternal destination. And once you’re there, you’re there for good. The foolish people who have been captivated and sucked into these false religions and cults have had every opportunity to seek and find the truth. They can reject the falsehoods that they’ve been taught and embrace the truth of the scriptures. But they better do it soon.

 

Have you been deceived? Will you believe the truth? Only you can answer those questions. Salvation is personal and it’s for everyone, but it only comes from the one true God. Lord Jesus the Christ.

 

God bless you all,

 

Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

All scripture is from the KJV