Hell ( Revelation 21 v 6 - 8)

 Some people make jokes about hell, I wont,it is a real place, Jesus ,yes Jesus spoke of  it often, CP , Matthew 16 v 18/ 18 v 8-9/ 23 v15/ Luke 16 v 23/.  It was Bertrand Russell who  held the view' that,for all that might be said positively about the teaching and character of Jesus Christ, it was overshadowed  on the negative side by His belief in hell.' It is the place were the unsaved go, they died in their sins,and so they suffer for their sins.Bruce Milne writes,'Hell is terrible by any measure and , as Jesus indicates, everything is worth sacrificing in order to avoid it. There is no more terrible prospect conceivable than of being consigned to hell'.As heaven will be more glorious than we can ever imagine,likewise hell,is more awful  than we could ever imagine. I do not apologise for writing about hell,I did not invent it, I did not make it up,no it is clearly taught in God's word.It is not inevitable that people will go to hell , because God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  (John 3 v16 )

Take all of me ( John 3 v16)( 1 ) Romans 12

 I remember reading of a lady who suffered from severe mental illness, she said,'that her mind hated her', I think that we all at times feel that we have no control over our  minds. In Romans 12 v 1-2  we read,' Therefore ,I urge you, brothers  and sisters, in view of God's mercy,to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing  to God- this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . Then you will be able to test and approve what's God's will is- His good ,pleasing and perfect will'.Now there is a lot in these verses ,to challenge us,to aid us in our Christian life,and being conformed to Christ. It commences with the word,'Therefore',  The apostle has been writing about  what God has achieved for us ,because of Christ dying for us,we have by faith in Christ been justified,( 5 v1) ,we are no longer condemned   (12 v1) In the light of such mercy we are called,to live a sacrificial and holy life to God which is pleasing to God,that means our whole being,our bodies and our minds.It was C.T. Studd  who said,/I had known about Jesus dying for me,but I never  understood that if He died for me, then I didn't belong to myself.Redemption means buying back, so that if I belonged to Him, either I had to be a thief  and keep what wasn't mine, or else I  had to give up everything to God'.

                                                    'Fill Thou my life ,O my God,

                                                     In every part with praise

                                                     That my whole being may proclaim

                                                      Thy being and Thy ways.

                                                      So shall no part of day or night

                                                       From sacredness be free;

                                                       But all my life, in every step,

                                                       Be fellowship with Thee.

                                                            Words Horatius Bonar.

Heaven ( 1 Corinthians 2 v 9 )

One of the most popular singers in  the early 20th century was Al Jolson,he was called ,'The worlds greatest entertainer',he wrote and sung many songs that became very popular.One was called 'Sonny Boy', the chorus goes,'You're sent from heaven, and I know your worth,you made a heaven,for me on earth'. We can appreciate the sentiments ,but the reality is ,nothing on earth ,no matter how wonderful it is, can even begin to compare with the glories of heaven.I believe the wonders of heaven are beyond our deepest thoughts, and imaginations.Heaven is a place were there will be no sin,we cannot even imagine what that means.We are so conditioned by evil in this world,that we think absence of it will be boring, not possible. There will be no death there, there are no graveyards in heaven,it is a place of life,death will have died. There will be no wars,permanent peace will prevail,all weapons of war  will no longer exist,no  crimes will take place,we will all feel totally secure, and content, no panic attacks.There are many who have tried to set up heaven on earth,,sought to set a certain system in place but they failed. The Lord Jesus will set the eternal glories, and He will be all the glory of Heaven,and we will be eternally satisfied.

                                                        ' Heaven here we come.'

Why did Christ come? ( Colossians 1 v 13 )

Why did Christ come?,because nothing was right,death happens to everyone,everyone has to die,everyone will experience pain,loss ,are bodies wear out .Relationships break up,people hurt others ,hurt themselves ,the Putin's of this world are not new,many are even worse.For those type of people the loss of life,of thousands ,millions,and millions,who suffer and die, they do not even shed a tear.Yes nothing is right, that is why Christ had to come ,without His coming we would have no hope at all,none whatsoever.Christ is not just the hope of this world ,He is the only hope. The only hope for this painful world,He is not a false hope,none who trust will never be disappointed,never.In this dark world ,He is light,we read in Matthew 4 v 16, 'The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land  of the shadow of death a light has dawned'.That light is Jesus,He has come to bring us out of darkness,open your heart to him,and ask Him into your life,and then you can say,'I once was blind but now I see', I no longer walk in the  darkness for the Lord is my light and my salvation,and I have hope.

Balance ( Revelation 3 v 19 - 20)

 I was watering the plants,and I reached up to water a hanging basket,I suddenly felt myself falling , I had lost my balance but I managed  to get to garden seat , so saving me from being seriously injured.I have  seen my GP who diagnosed the problem,it was related to my ear. Balance is so important,not only as regards walking, but also in our walk with the Lord. Alas sometimes we get out of balance and we don't forgive,don't witness,so many things can affect  our relationship with the Lord., and so we suffer spiritually.There are 7 church'es mentioned in the book of Revelation,most of them were out of balance in their relation with the Lord Jesus.  Ephesus,had left its first love, Pergamum had fallen into wrong teaching, Thyatira tolerated immorality, Sardis were as good as dead spiritually, Philadelphia  had shut the Lord out in the cold. Plenty of serious imbalance there,the Lord spoke to these churches ,repent ,or there fall would become permanent. I have visited the ancient city of  Ephesus, all there is left is ruins,if we like those churches become imbalanced there will be severe consequences,beware heed the warnings.

Only memories .( Hebrews 11 v 13 - 16 )

 England's women's football team have just recently won a major trophy ,by beating the German team. For many years I followed a famous men's football team,they were very successful, not so now,but the  memories remain.In the end that'a all one gets of this worlds glories,just memories, that's all just memories.The apostle Paul wrote about the athletes of his day,' They do it to win a prize that will pass away, but we do it for an eternal prize .' 1 Corinthians 9 v 25.Someone spoke about the glories that  shine afar,we all need to be reminded of the the greatness of what we will inherit in our eternal home. The apostle also wrote the following,'Since you have been raised to a new life with Christ,set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven,not the things of earth' Colossians 3 v 1-2 ,

                                                 'Swift to its close ebbs out  life's  little day

                                                 Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

                                                 Change and decay in all around I see;

                                                 O Thou who changes not abide with me'

                                                                 Henry F. Lyte

The Providence of God. (Romans 8 v 28)

 My wife and I heard a loud thud,I went to investigate, and the lamp fitting had fallen down from the ceiling,it was a heavy glass fitting, it fell unto a bathroom rug,so it didn't smash into pieces.As l lifted it up I realized that if it had fallen on anyone ,it could have caused serious injury.I wonder how many times God has preserved us in life,from physical and spiritual dangers?.It is worth considering , we can put it under the Providence of God, an aspect of life that is not given much thought to. Consider those times you have been held up when out driving,caught in a traffic jam,or caught behind a slow driver,and you are not able to overtake.May not God be holding you back ,from some danger ahead,what about that job you didn't get?,the one you set your heart on.What about that promotion you didn't get, you were overlooked, it seems so unfair,John  Flavel writes,'Providence is wiser than you', God may not have wanted you in that position.Be well satisfied in that station and employment in which Providence has placed you, and do not so much as wish yourself in another', Consider daily in all the affairs of your life,the Providence  of God.

                                               'With mercy and with judgement ,

                                                My web of time He wove,

                                               And aye the dews of sorrow

                                               Were lustred by His love;

                                                I'll bless the hand that guided,

                                                I'll bless the heart that planned,

                                                When throned where glory dwelleth

                                                 In Immanuel's land.'

                                                    A.R.Cousin.

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