1We are all born into sin and if we do not wake up to our own wickedness we will be lost forever. Not only are we lost if we don’t believe and follow Jesus, but our salvation is at stake if nothing changes. It would be terrible if you knew about Jesus but never did anything to display your beliefs in Him. People like this may live a decent life on earth but in death there is nothing decent about their circumstances. God will sit 2“them in slippery places”. There is no more satisfaction for the wicked for God 2“castedst them down into destruction”. They are 2“brought into desolation”. Even 2“in a moment”s notice 2“they are utterly consumed with terrors”. They had lived their life of pleasure and prosperity but that is up. 4In judgement, the wicked will be brought to their knees. 5They will be judged by their worthless deeds. Oh how disappointed will they feel when the punishment of hell is given to them. 5I can just hear their cries as they suffer in a lake of fire. They have no way of turning back and re-writing the chapters of their lives. 3Nor can they warn others of the terrible pains they are in. This is the reward for everyone that doesn’t love the Lord. They’d rather live in the pleasures of the world than repent and seek to obey God. This punishment is for the lost and even church goers. Never assume you are in good standing with God just because you prayed a prayer, go to church, or say you believe. Believing in Jesus is an act of obedience to His teachings in the Bible.
My destination was also hell. My old life was so far gone. I had no control over my flesh. When it was weak, I gave into the pleasures it desired. This included pornography. Because my flesh longed for sexual satisfaction, I had to look at it. In all this, I knew about God. I also knew what I was doing was wrong. However, I had no way to change my ways. I had tried many times but nothing ever happened. 2“My feet were almost gone.” I had no way of walking back to God by my own efforts. My heart was torn because I knew of my wickedness but still loved the satisfaction it brought. I hated the guilt and shame it brought about. 2“My heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.” The depression was terrible. I thought I was the worse person ever and that God would never take me back. 2“So foolish was I, and ignorant.” However, one day I had enough. I knew that I couldn’t shake my addictions on my own but God could help me. Then, as I was on my knees, tears streamed down my face as I cried out to God for help. I confessed that I was a sinner and pleaded for forgiveness. It was this moment that God came to my rescue. He strengthened me and lifted me up. As days went on, He was continually with me, holding 2“me by my right hand”. I was once dead but God breathed new life into my soul and gave me new desires. My life has never been the same since. Thank You Lord. If I had died earlier, I would’ve surely been confined to hell. However, with Your cleansing blood I am justified and forgiven in Your sight. I now look forward to be with You in heaven.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray for the lost. This includes every church goer that believes in you by word and not deed. Spark a sense of urgency inside of them. These people may seem different on the outside but on the inside they are all the same. Lord, they all need an awakening before their times is up. I don’t want anyone to suffer in hell but find eternal joy in heaven. Awaken these people to an open heart to Your Words. Convict their hearts and minds to follow You. May Your Spirit do a mighty work inside of them. May they know what is sinful and give it all to You. May their hearts be changed from the inside out. Breathe new life into their souls. Bring them to their knees in repentance. I pray that their desires will be conformed to Your light and not in the world. Lead me also in Your ways. Never leave my side. You are the light that guides me. I am forever safe when You are with me. May you ever lift me up when I fall. Have mercy upon me as I am convicted of my sins and come back to You. You are the way. Lead me on Your path to life eternal. My rest is found in Your presence. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Psalm 51:1-13 (KJV)
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
2Psalm 73:1-28 (KJV)
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.
3Luke 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.
4Romans 14:7-14 (KJV)
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
5Revelation 20:12-15 (KJV)
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
