| Capt. Ben Marler, Jr.
 I am always amazed at the number of people who tell me they believe hell
is on earth as they have been there. This reveals their ignorance of the
Bible. Though many of us feel sometimes we are already there, biblical
hell is not here on earth.
Jesus said that hell was a place prepared for the devil and his
angels. If you recall during one of his walks about Israel Jesus delivered
a demoniac in Samaria. The 4000 demons within him begged to be sent into
the pigs near by instead of being sent prematurely to hell.
Demons know the truth. This place is so horrible that the rich man who was
sent there asked Father Abraham to please allow Lazarus to dip his finger
in some cold water and place it upon his lips because he was in such
torment. When Jesus told this story it was also to reveal it is a place of
no escape. Anyone sent there will forever be lost.
This begs the question how did the rich man get there? If you read the
account you will see he was uncaring to the sickly beggar Lazarus. If he
had a relationship with God he would have ministered to him. Instead the
rich man lavished his riches upon himself.
Did you know if you are saved, you are now a child of God and extremely
rich? You have received eternal life, which is priceless. What are you
doing with your wealth? Are you sharing it? If you aren’t do you expect
Jesus to greet you with open arms? If you do, you are in for a big
surprise. He said, “if we are not gathering, we are scattering”. He also
said, “if you are not for me, you are against Me”. As you can see He
doesn’t leave any wiggle room for anyone.
Do you see why it is so important that we take Jesus to the
lost while there is still time. If you are ignoring this truth what are
you
going to say to the Lord on that day? Do you really think he is going to
accept any excuses? I know He won’t.
If you are offended by this message please understand I am only doing my
duty. Hell is just as real as Heaven. Isn’t it true that we are the only
ones God has to take the message to the lost? When we attend worship
services we should return to our sphere of influence and touch lives for
Jesus. If we think our church attendance is enough to please the Father we
had better think again. I believe our church worship services are, or
should be, a reward for having served the Lord all week.
It is a privilege to worship Him and should be a very high priority. It
should never become a burden. I wonder how God feels when a lot of
Christians go fishing, hunting, shopping, golfing etc. instead of coming
to
worship Him on Sunday? Personally, I believe it hurts his feelings.
I know you don’t want to be guilty of hurting Him. I would rather die a
horrible death than to hurt the One who loves me so much. I have asked a
number of times to please let me die first. When I think of all the people
He has permitted me to witness I know I could undo it all with a single
selfish act. Instead, it is my greatest wish to bring at least one million
people to faith in my Lord before He takes me home.
Through the years my emphasis has mostly been on sharing the promised joy
of living with God in the New Jerusalem. It is very effective as most
folks want to live in Heaven. But you and I know a few will listen more
carefully if we tell them what Jesus has taught us about Hell. One day a
radio preacher said, “you don’t have to believe in it to go there.”
Today in our worship service here in Ennis Montana, the Pastor said we
should think in these terms. “Who do you want to take to Heaven with you?”
Then he added, “who are you willing to leave behind?” For me, I want
everybody with me and I don’t want to leave anyone behind. If you feel
this way too, please share this message. It may be the only thing that can
reach them.
One day a man appeared on our pier and told me that when he returned to
Atlanta some five years earlier he resigned his job with the Ford Motor
Company. He said that after hearing me speak about Jesus on a deep-sea
fishing trip in Destin Florida he knew this was what he had to do. Then he
enrolled in a Bible college. After his graduation he became a foreign
missionary. At the time he was telling me all this he was excited to tell
me that he now had his own church in Atlanta. This man is helping me get
my million.
I didn’t know what seeds the Lord was given me to sow that day. Are you
willing to sow some today and tomorrow and all of the tomorrows until the
shout? If so, please consider using Ephesians 2:10 as the basis for your
daily commitment prayer. God loves it when we quote His Word back to Him.
And, you will be planting them in the right place.
If
you desire to know more about this Jesus Christ who loves you, and you
want to ask Him into your heart, receiving His Saving Grace please
click on this
Salvation
Prayer |
