I awoke in the wee hours of the morning and my mind turned toward writing my blog. I prayed about what I should write. Interestingly, the Scripture John 14:16 came to mind. "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
These titles are not new to most Christians and I was going to write a blog on each one separately but instead the Spirit was very direct on leaving them together as Jesus did for the purpose of writing about the way to enter Heaven, or more specifically, a generally avoided and uncomfortable subject … the reality of Hell.
As a Christian who regularly attends church, I can't remember the last time I heard a sermon on Hell. Why is this? If we truly believe the Scriptures where Jesus talked more about hell than heaven, why do we avoid this subject?
I can not begin to write out all the Scriptures on this subject but I will nutshell and encourage you to pick up your Bible and reacquaint yourself with these uncomfortable Scriptures. Why? Because those lost around us, need to hear truth. They need to hear our passion, our love, our care for them not only concerning the now, but concerning their eternal future.
Jesus bluntly said. "I am the way, the truth, the life and no one comes to the Father (that means heaven) except through Me." Period.
In our culture of trying to remain politically correct, not offend anyone, show love at all cost, etc. we have lost the voice of truth.
Life:
Way
Truth
So, does everyone go to heaven as most will allude to at funerals? The answer to that according to Scripture is a resounding NO. This is where it gets uncomfortable. Hell. Hades. That place of punishment beyond the grave. Jesus spoke clearly, concisely, curtly on this subject.
Everlasting fire: Matt. 25:41
Everlasting Punishment: Matt. 25:46
Tormenting fire and agony in the Parable he told of the dead man Lazarus. Luke 16:19-31
Warned of a place where worm does not die, and fire is not quenched. Mark 9:43, 48
"And will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 13:42
Here are many more references in which this blog is anything but exhaustive. I challenge you to read these afresh. Reacquaint yourself with the uncomfortable truth of hell for the purpose of loving people enough to warn them. Matt. 10:28, Matt. 5:22, 29-30, Matt. 18:9, Matt. 23:15-33, Dan. 12:2, Isaiah 66:24, 2 Thess. 1:9, Rev. 14:9-11, Rev. 20: 13-15
This blog is primarily written to awaken the church, the believers of Christ, but if you are a seeker and you ask the age-old question of why a loving God would ever send anyone to everlasting hell, then read on. (This is also a good template for Christians to use when discussing this subject with the unsaved.)
I know this has been a long blog … but this message burns upon my soul. I would encourage you to google Distressing or Unpleasant Near Death Experiences if you have any doubt about the reality of hell. Keep in mind that most people who have unpleasant NDE will never talk about it because they are so haunted. Here are two sites I found, one from a scientific perspective written by Missouri Medicine for doctors and how they should deal with people who have had these experiences, and the other from Brent Swancer a non-Christian who researched this phenomenon. The article is called To Hell and Back. The Dark Side of NDE. There are many more from a Christian perspective, but I wanted to you to hear it from those who would not be inclined to believe the Bible as a source of truth in hopes you will believe these documented accounts and accept Jesus as your Savior.
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Blossom Turner is an award-winning novelist, and a free-lance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, and former newspaper columnist on health and fitness. A Word Guild semi-finalist for Anna's Secret, Katherine's Arrangement, Amelia’s Heartsong, and a Word Guild winner for Best Romance for Lucinda’s Defender. She has found her home in the writing of historical fiction but is open to wherever God leads. The many 5-star reviews attest to the power of love and romance authentically woven into the Shenandoah Bride Series about five sisters and their five love stories.
Blossom lives in British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, David, of forty years and their dog Lacey named after Lacey Spring, Virginia, where this series takes place. A former businesswoman, personal trainer, and mother of two grown children she is now pursuing her lifelong dream of writing full-time. A hopeless romantic at heart, she believes all story should give the reader significant entertainment value. However, her writing embodies the struggles of real life. She infuses the reality of suffering with the hope of Christ to give a healthy dose of relatable encouragement to her reader. Her desire is to leave the reader with a yearning to live for Christ on a deeper level, or at the very least, create a hunger to seek for more.
Co-author Suzie Zanewhich
Suzie is a certified life coach, leader of emotional health, and resource specialist. She has found her niche as a soul coach.
Suzie finds purpose in empowering individuals to move towards growth, healing, and alignment with their authentic self. Suzie is driven by a calling to live authentically, as the person God created her to be, to reach her fullest potential and lead others to do the same. Her passion is to help others find meaning through discovering their strengths, gifts, personality, temperament and core values.
Suzie is a life-long learner, continuously immersing herself in new courses to learn more about human behaviour, relationships, psychology, child development, emotions, trauma and healing. Because of her craving to always learn more she has earned the title of resource specialist in the area of self-discovery.
Suzie Zanewich lives with her husband in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She has a patchwork family of four grown children, two daughters, two sons and three granddaughters.
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Comments 2
Guest - Diann Turner
on Tuesday, 22 October 2019 05:55
What a sobering message I find in this blog. We don’t hear sermons on hell in our Evangelical church, either. Thanks for bravely opening up this Biblical teaching. It burns on my soul too, when I reflect on all around me who are lost.
Blossom Turner
on Tuesday, 22 October 2019 07:25
Yes, it is sobering and heart-breaking when we view those around us we love who are lost ... and that's why this burns upon the souls of those who love Jesus. Thanks for joining me on this Biblical journey.