Open Heavens 25 February 2016: Thursday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Hell is Real

Topic: Hell is Real [Thursday 25, February 2016]

Memorise: And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. – Luke 16:23

Read: Luke 16:19-31 (KJV)

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.

Bible in One Year: Luke 21:25-23:5, Job 28:20-29:6

MESSAGE:

Hell is a term used in the Bible to describe the place of eternal punishment, originally created by God as the final destination for Satan and his angels, which is the second death. It is also used to define the prevailing circumstances of any human environment that is controlled by the devil. The Bible also portrays hell as the home of evil, a place of intense darkness, and an unquenchable fire that is burning with brimstone. Furthermore, hell is a state of final separation from God, and by extension, separation from life, light, love, peace, pleasure and fulfilment. However, some people do not believe in the reality of hell, which brings us to one of the most frequently asked question on earth, is hell real?

Our Bible passage for today tells us the story of two personalities, a certain rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. They both died at different times, as it has been appointed unto all human beings to die some day. At death, they were both faced with the reality of life after death, their status here on earth notwithstanding. Lazarus found himself cooling off at the bosom of father Abraham in heaven, while the rich man was being tormented in the flames of hell. Hell is very real because the Almighty God, who cannot tell lies, confirmed it so. Though hell was originally created for Satan and his angels, it is also for human beings who choose to reject God and follow Satan. May the Lord deliver humanity from the illusion of the devil and open our eyes to the reality of hell in Jesus’ Name. Matthew 13:40-42 says:

“40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Hell is usually presented in the Bible as the consequence of rejecting God, as evident in the above passage, Jesus, in several passage of the Bible, tried in every possible way, to illustrate to all humanity that hell is real, terrible, and something to be feared and avoided. All paths do not lead to God; Jesus is the only Way through which we can get to Heaven. Jesus is the only way that leads to God. A great man of God once said that the fastest road to hell is a pretentious and gradual one; it is like a gentle slope, a soft underfoot, which is without sudden turnings, milestones, or signposts. People on this path are ignorantly and innocently caressed to hell. Matthew 7:13 says:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”

Do not be deceived, hell is real and terrible. There is no possibility of amnesty or reprieve. Candidates of hell will suddenly resurrect to eternal condemnation without remedy. I honestly don’t understand why anyone will risk going to hell when the God who never lies has said clearly that it exists and the only contrary opinion is from philosophies of unreliable men. Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today as the only way to escape the horrors of hell.

Prayer Point: Father, let the reality of hell be imposed upon my heart always in Jesus’ name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

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