Evangelistic Bible Study
Study 4. Our Eternal Destiny & The Grace Of God
Our eternal destiny is no longer as nonsensical a subject as it used to sound to
the modern ear. For centuries the Biblical themes of Heaven and Hell were
faithfully preached. However, - slowly but surely, - ‘hell-fire’ preaching went
out of vogue, … “How dare you frighten people!” Then, a new concept of
Heaven was adopted, … and many of today’s contenders for its citizenship are
looking forward to a ‘rare old time’, full of all the joys they indulged in, -
or hoped to indulge in, - whilst on earth. … And God has become insignificant
and surplus to their eternal requirements. As a consequence, this most beautiful
of subjects has suffered at the hands of an ungodly Church that has listened to
the voice of secular society and changed the message to suit the people.
Subsequently, the “God” and the “Heaven” of this world’s philosophies bare no
resemblance to the Truth contained in Holy Scripture. Heaven and Hell have
become what you wish to perceive them to be.
Helped along the downward road are the masses deluded by the unBiblical,
superstitious, devil-believing, warped doctrines of Roman Catholicism with its
teachings regarding the state of the mythical Purgatory. No such place exists,
and billions have been deluded by Rome and duped into Hell by this damnable lie.
Then since the early 1960s a further strain has polluted this subject of
eternity, - it is Satan’s web unfolding with the age-old lie. It is the old
devilish ploy encapsulated in Gen. 3:4,5 “And the
serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in
the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,
knowing good and evil.” He told them it was not necessary for them to
die, … and it became the harbinger of a deceitful delusion. Reincarnationism did
not begin with the Hindus, the Buddhists or the New Agers, - its source is with
the great deceiver in the Garden of Eden. Reincarnation teaches that if
you live a good live you will have good karma and when it is all added
together, - in your next life, when you are reincarnated, - it will be an
improvement on this existence until you finally reach the absolute-nothingness
‘bliss’ of nirvana. This Satanic deception is surprisingly (?) widespread
for it suits people to make up their own views about eternal matters.
Such confusion! But, with so much confusion, how can we come to a correct
understanding of the subject of our eternal destiny? Can we know for sure that
when we take our final breath on earth our lungs will fill with the fresh air of
Heaven? Yes, on the basis of the teaching of Scripture, I believe we can be 100%
assured of our eternal destiny! As is our wont, let’s start in the darkness and
work out into the light!
What is the criterion for a person to waken up in hell? It’s simple! … do
nothing more than you are doing now! You don’t need to become a prostitute or a
drug pusher, a murderer or a Hitler, … just do nothing more than you are
doing now! Becoming a prostitute or a drug pusher, a murderer or a Hitler is no
more distasteful to God than you could already be. … Hard stuff!! … yes, you
are! The Bible says that we were created in sin, and the wages of sin is eternal
death, - away from the presence of God, … and God’s Word calls it Hell.
Even before Hitler slaughtered his first victim he was a sinner heading towards
the wrath of God. The seed of sin that was in his heart is the seed that
is in the heart of everyone, for “all have sinned”
(Rom. 3:23). This sin has only one
agenda, which is to deny God His place of Glory in your life that is rightfully
His. And your sin will lead you to only one ultimate destination, … and that is
Hell. The terrible thing about it is that the inhabitants of Hell ‘enjoy’
forever that horrible freedom they craved and demanded, because of enslavement
to their sin (Rom. 1:18-32). The alcoholic
began with just one sip; the drug addict began with just one tablet; the
adulterer began with just a smile, … and their lifestyles corrupted all they
held dear. … Sin began with just one breath! Sin is the inbred influence that
corrupts and attracts the sinner to Hell. Are we dragged along the road to Hell?
No, we are not! We go so willingly! Is Hell a real place? Is it as bad as they
say it is? Forget what ‘they’ say, and read what He says!
(e.g. Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30; Rev. 20:11ff.).
Hell is a place that has “Enter” over its gate in ‘bright lights’ with all the
promises of a good time. Once you pass through its gate and feel the heat of the
fires and its torment and terror you will rush to escape, … but there is another
sign “No Exit!” There is no release from Hell, - Jesus Christ the only Saviour
from sin, - you have left Him outside! … and in rejecting Him you have no one to
blame for eternity in Hell but yourself!
… A terrible, frightening picture, but it is the Word of God, and therefore must
not be ignored! Hell is real, and is full of real people who believe in God.
What a miserable Gospel if all we could tell people was that they are heading
towards a lost eternity in Hell! It would mean that the devil has won, - he has
got his way! Nothing is further from the truth! He was defeated when the blood
of Christ dripped on to the hill of Calvary!! The devil has lost forever the
people for whom Christ died. He can tempt them, persecute them, terrorise them,
… aye, even kill them, but he has lost them, for they are God’s!
I am looking forward to Heaven. I know I’m saved and that Jesus has washed my
sins away. It’s nothing that I deserve, or there was nothing within me that
warranted God’s attention, - much less the blood of His precious Son. But I know
that if I was to die this very moment I would enter into the eternal presence of
the God Who has saved and kept me. I’m looking forward to Heaven and I am as
sure of my place there as if I had already arrived. It is not an empty hope but
one that I have in my heart, supported by the Word of God
(e.g. Jn. 14:1-3). When my body is put in a
hole in the ground my soul will be in the arms of the Saviour. I shall have a
joy that compares with nothing on earth, because I shall be standing around the
Throne of my Saviour and it will take the whole of eternity to tell Him how much
I love Him. (Read Revelation chapters 21 and 22
to catch merely a glimpse of Heaven.) I know I’m saved, and I know it is not
because of anything I am or anything I have done, … it is also because of the
grace of God.
Sure there is not a modern-day, watered-down, compromising gospel can that
compare with the Good News that Jesus Christ came to save sinners? … I wasn’t
even thinking of Him, but He broke into my life and caused me to consider my
eternity, … and where I shall spend it, … and He saved me not just for time, but
for all eternity.
All Glory to His Name!!!
Job 19: 23
Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That
they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 For I know
that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the
earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh
shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold,
and not another …
