Ok so what’s the whole go to Hell thing all about? Well I was thinking about the phrase and it’s really a nasty one. Go to Hell is saying ” I want you to suffer… a lot!” Why would anyone say go to Hell? Well here’s the lesson. Every God fearing Christian can tell you about the people that he or she is worried is going to Hell and probably doesn’t care. We are taught to reach the lost at any cost, we make our music, messages, smiles and services as “seeker friendly” as possible. When someone walks through our door we do everything in our power to welcome them and avoid anything that may turn them away. We offer men’s and women’s specialty groups that help us find how God can benefit us. If someone struggles with commitment to Christ we “let the spirit work on their heart” But what would Jesus do? What did Jesus do? As Christians we think that because we want something, that we should pursue it as hard as possible. In Matthew 19:16-30 Jesus does something that we as Christians seem to be unwilling to do. While Jesus came so that all might be saved, all won’t be saved because not everyone will accept Jesus. In Matthew 19 Jesus meets up with a young rich man who says “what good thing must I do to get into Heaven” Now it needs to be said that there are about a hundred little things in this part to be analyzed and I just don’t have the time but this set of verses has much to offer. Jesus tells him to obey the commandments, he says I’ve done this, what more do I need. BOOM! Perfect salvation opportunity, we as Christians have seen it a thousand times. What do you need to go to Heaven? Only one answer JESUS!!! … …. wait, …. right? isn’t Jesus the answer. Someone asks what it takes to get into heaven and obviously understands there’s something missing in his life. When he asks what you need the answer is Jesus isn’t it? Not what Jesus did, Jesus looked in his heart to find the one “wrong” answer. The right ones being the ones that would lead him to salvation. Jesus could have told him anything and he would have done it. But Jesus found the one thing he wouldn’t give up. Jesus said “Sell everything you have and give it to the poor”. Then the man got really sad and walked off. Jesus could have told the man just follow me and let him grow to love Jesus. But instead he said if you won’t make me first,… then you can go to Hell. And that really is the message to all of us. If Sex or drugs or your family or whatever is more important then God, then while God may want you he’ll still let you go. It’s a hard message and I wouldn’t suggest any of you find baby Christians and start playing Judge, but this message is for you. Don’t use it as a way to persecute but instead use it as a way to fine tune yourself. What, if anything are you holding back from God? Why? I challenge all of you to give your life to him fully. If you really love God and really believe he knows what’s best then why not set you’re standards above and beyond what God asks for.
So now the hard part (yeah first absolute submission to God then the “Hard part”) What about your lost loved ones? If you really love God and really believe that he’s the lord of all then you need to understand that if your family doesn’t want him, there’s really nothing you can do. You need to understand that on judgement day if someone wasn’t willing to give up their child for God, then God will do without them for eternity. I know it’s hard to see the people you care most for slipping away but remember keep praying and be light to the world and if they like what they see in you, then they might be willing to give him a chance. God bless and I love you.
