HEAVEN AND HELL
PART 4
Characters known to have gone to hell.
Dear friends and family,
God has given to us the free will to choose. He has trusted us enough to let us make our own decisions and that means we are actually in control of our lives and destiny. Simply put, God is NOT in control of our lives, we are.
The two thieves who hang on the cross next to Jesus had the same opportunity to choose. One chose to ask for forgiveness, the other one was so proud to ask for the same. This is one example of someone who was promised heaven/paradise, and the other went to hell. How do l know? He did not ask for forgiveness.
Instead, he was proud and arrogant. Look at the contrast between the two:
Luke 23:39
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
From this conversation, we can tell the arrogant thief went to hell, it was not God’s choice for him, but his own. The rich man in Luke 16 among others also went to hell.
Luke 16.
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.
These two guys had to make certain decisions when they were alive. The poor man did not go to heaven because he was poor, neither did the rich man go to hell because he was rich. It was their attitude toward God that sent them to their destiny. Yes, there are people that have gone to hell and are in hell, a place of torment, pain, severe hatred, and torture.
Watch out for the next SPREADING THE LIGHT BULLETIN. IS THERE AN AFTER LIFE? DONT MISS IT.
REMEMBER: Tell us what God is doing in your life and allow us to celebrate the goodness of our God with you. BE THE ONE WHO WENT BACK TO SAY “THANK YOU” BY TESTIFYING. ALSO, Be a blessing. Invite someone to church. We love you.
READING:
Luke 23: 39-43
1 Kings. 18:1-46
Memory verse: Luke 23:43
