The world of today, this world in which we all live has learned to trivialize sin. It has learned to ignore it and it has taught
many people who believe they follow Christ and all people who know they don’t to do the same. The cultures of the world
have adopted a poisonous apathy and disregard for God’s law and the punishments for breaking it. I am here today to
show you just how deadly that is and encourage you to think otherwise and take your eternity seriously.
Our lord Jesus himself spoke more about hell than anything else in an effort to worn everyone of the very real existence
and threat of this eternal place. If he saw it as important enough to spend the majority of the time he spoke to those around
him speaking about it, who are we to think it is anything less than important to avoid going to this horrific place?
Here are some examples of our lord’s words on hell:
Matthew 5:29-30:
“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than
that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is
better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”
Matthew 25:41:
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels.'”
Mark 9:43-48:
“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to
the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet
to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with
one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.'”
Luke 16:23:
“And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.”
Matthew 10:28:
“And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and
body in hell.”
When we read these verses, even out of context as they are here in this article it is clear that Jesus is warning us about the
danger of hell. One of my very favorite verses in God’s word, john 3:16 also references hell in a less straightforward
manner. “for god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him shall not parish
but have everlasting life.” In this verse, “parish” refers to the second death, eternal separation from God. Not the death
that we all must go through, our transition from time to eternity. This world is full of lies, half-truths, and many other
forms of deception that are meant to lead you away from the true word of God and the gift of salvation given to us
through the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His only begotten son, God himself made flesh. There are
many false teachings out there that focus too much on grace, joy and happiness. They are focused fully on what is
pleasing to the ears and totally ignore the warnings given by Christ our lord.
I have never heard a proper explanation of what it means to “give your life to Jesus”. I have heard very boilerplate detail
starved explanations but never a full and true one. That is an example of a half-truth that the devil uses to rip us out of
God’s hands. In John 16:33, Jesus states, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the
world.”. This verse acknowledges that the life of a follower of Jesus will not be easy, but also offers comfort and
assurance that Jesus has conquered the world. Additionally, Matthew 16:24-26 conveys the idea that following Jesus
requires a willingness to sacrifice one’s own desires and take up one’s cross, which can be a difficult and challenging path.
These verses highlight that the life of a Christian will involve difficulties and trials, but also that Jesus has overcome these
challenges and provides a hope and peace in the face of them. I cannot personally recall a sermon that I have heard either
online or in person that has taught these verses beyond “you can make it through anything with Jesus.” That statement is
all well and good and it is true but it in no way prepares someone for the hatred and hardships they will face once they
truly begin to live for Christ.
Giving your life to Jesus is not just saying “jesus I surrender my life to you, you are my lord and my savior” its living it
out as well. Its following through with the will of God in every aspect of your life no matter what comes your way. Its
giving up things that used to bring you happiness, its turning away from your ungodly desires, thoughts and actions. There
is a cost to be paid when you follow Jesus. Following him will cause you to lose the friends you had before you found him
and it may cause division in families also.
The verses stating that Jesus will cause division within families are Luke 12:51-53 and Matthew 10:34-36. These verses
describe a situation where family members may be divided due to their beliefs and allegiance to Jesus.
Luke 12:51-53:
.Jesus says, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in
one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son
and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and
daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Matthew 10:34-36:
Jesus states, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I
have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-
law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
These verses highlight the potential for conflict within families as a consequence of people’s different perspectives and
beliefs, particularly regarding Jesus and His teachings.
Churches don’t teach this or any other hardship associated with following Jesus to the degree that they should. Some may
reference these facts but most don’t even do that for fear of the number of people coming to Christ dropping. I ask you
though, would you rather not know what is coming when you give your life to Jesus? To remain blissfully unaware until
the truth of it all smacks you in the face? Or would you rather know in no uncertain terms that following Jesus is not an
easy decision to make but is well worth it…beyond anything you could possibly imagine or even understand? I am of the
camp that what it means to follow Jesus should be taught in full and like anything else be directly pulled from the word of
God. The hard to swallow bits are the ones we need to hear the most. Churches may get more people saying they will
follow Jesus with this watered-down version of following that they teach today but sadly, they also get more people
turning away from Jesus once they get a taste of the trials, tribulations and hardships that come with being his.
I can tell you from my own research and personal experience that it is not easy. Not only is it not easy but at times it
becomes so difficult that you may start to wonder if it is actually worth it after all. If your family or friend group is not
truly following Jesus, if they still seek after the things of this world, if they still cling to the need for control over their
own lives then you may lose them once you truly begin to follow Jesus. As matthew 16:25 states “For whoever would
save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Losing your life for Jesus’ sake:
This doesn’t mean physical death, but rather a willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of following Jesus and his
teachings. This includes giving up your own agenda, worldly ambitions, and even your life if necessary.
Finding your life:
By embracing this principle, individuals will find a greater life, a more fulfilling existence, and eternal life with God. This
life is found not in accumulating possessions or living for oneself, but in selfless devotion to Christ.
The call to discipleship:
Jesus is urging his followers to make a radical choice: either cling to their own lives and the things of this world, or
embrace a life of sacrifice and devotion to Him. This is a choice between a life of self-interest and a life of service to God
and others.
The paradox of discipleship:
This passage highlights the paradoxical nature of true discipleship. It’s counterintuitive, but Jesus’ teachings reveal a
deeper truth: that true life is found not in what we gain for ourselves, but in what we give away for Him.
Following Jesus, devoting our lives to obeying him and holding on to him no matter what happens in our lives is not easy
but it leads to the greatest of all rewards when our lives on earth come to an end. It leads to living with our almighty triune
God, our loving heavenly father who is also our beloved savior for eternity in peace, bliss and paradise indescribable.
Jesus was crucified JUST to give us the CHANCE to experience this, to give us the chance to have this absolutely
beauteous eternity and all he asks of us is to believe in, follow, trust and obey him.
As Jesus states in Matthew 11:28-30 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take
my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my
yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” This set of verses was not one that I had explained in detail to me at points where it
should have been so lets look at it now.
Matthew 11:28-30 offers an invitation from Jesus to all who are weary and burdened, promising them rest. He invites
them to take his yoke, learn from him, and find rest for their souls. He assures them that his yoke is easy and his burden is
light.
Matthew 11:28:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus extends a heartfelt invitation to those
who are struggling with life’s difficulties, promising relief and respite.
Matthew 11:29:
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Jesus invites people to follow his teachings and become disciples, emphasizing that his yoke, a metaphor for discipleship,
is not burdensome.
Matthew 11:30:
“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus reassures those who accept his invitation that his way of life is not
oppressive, but rather a source of comfort and ease.
In essence, this passage highlights Jesus’ compassionate nature and his desire to provide rest and relief to those who are
weary and burdened. He offers an alternative to the heavy yoke of the world, promising a light and easy burden in
exchange. This explanation seems contrary to what I have been talking about but we must remember that that couldn’t be
farther from the truth.
We can see this in Psalm 55:22 which reads as follows “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will
sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Bible is full of references like these that tell us that we
should give our worries, concerns, fears, cares and uncertainties to God. The faith that knows that he will deal with them
in a way that is best for us in the long run is what makes his yok (call to follow him) easier to carry as he says it is.
Now….let’s take a look at the opposite of all of this which in essence is ignoring God and his promises and pleas, not
accepting Jesus or the gift of salvation he gives. Jesus died for our sins. He paid our sin debt with his own blood, he gave
up his earthly life so that we might have a share in his eternal one. He took on the burden of the punishment for our sins
having committed none of his own.
So….if we disregard all of that, WE now have to pay the price for our own sins upon
our deaths.
We are not God, we do not have the power over life and death as he does. We cannot come back to life by our own power as Jesus did. We would pay the price for our sins FOR ETERNETY. We would pay with our own blood and it
would not be enough.
Lets look at James 2:10 to get and idea of the egregiousness and weight of sin itself. “For whoever keeps the whole law
but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” This one verse (of which there are many) shows that the weight of
even one sin is far too much for us to take upon ourselves. We would be CRUSHED underneath it.
We as humans
CANNOT live sinless lives. Jesus was able to because he is God in human form. WE are NOT therefore we CANNOT.
So without him, we are doomed. We are destined to be swallowed up by the darkness within us. EVEN IF we could live a
sinless life, just being born into this world we are marked by original sin (the sin of Adam and Eve) which without Jesus
is enough to send us to hell.
If it is that easy for us to be sent to hell, why would we want to be without the only one who can save us? Why would we
choose to pass up on a comparatively free ticket to heaven? I am sure there are more reasons but I can think of a couple
off the top of my head.
- Pride
- Rebellion
- Stubbornness
- No faith in God
- No trust in God
- No desire to be with God
- Anger towards God
Each of these are poisonous to us and if we allow them to grow and fester in us we will suffer the second death. But what
is that? The “second death” what is this referring to if we can only die once as living things?
The second death refers to an eternal state of separation from God, a final judgment reserved for those who have rejected
God’s salvation and are not written in The Lamb’s book of life. It’s often described as the lake of fire, a place of
punishment for the wicked.
What it is:
The second death is not a physical death but a spiritual one, a permanent and irreversible separation from God. It’s a state
of eternal suffering and punishment.
Not annihilation:
While some interpretations suggest the second death is annihilation or being burned up, the traditional view is that it
involves eternal suffering and separation from God.
Not a punishment for a second death:
The “second death” refers to a final, eternal punishment for those who die in a state of unrepentance and disbelief, not a
second round of physical death.
The “Lake of Fire”:
The second death is often associated with the lake of fire, a place of eternal punishment where death, hell, and those who
were not found in the Book of Life are cast.
In contrast to the first resurrection:
Those who have been resurrected to eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, the first resurrection, will not experience the
second death.
A choice:
The second death is a consequence of rejecting God and His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, a choice made in this
life that determines one’s eternal destiny.
Scriptural basis:
The concept of the second death is found in the Book of Revelation, particularly in Revelation 20:14-15 and 21:8
The chief reason someone would willingly “choose” this nightmare is that they are of a different faith or have
none at all. “I don’t believe in your god.” Or “there is no god”. Many people, especially in this day and age take
the “there is no god” stance so that they can “escape” the moral consequences of their lifestyle of choice or their
actions. However, as we all know from an earthly law standpoint “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” If one
choses to be separate from God here on earth, they will be separate from God in eternity as well and spend it in
Hell. This we have established is permanent separation from God.
Many people don’t choose God because they don’t want him to “run” their lives. I will be open and transparent
here and say that I used to be one of those people. I wanted to do what I wanted when I wanted how I wanted and
for as long as I wanted.
Smoking, drinking, lying and stealing, ive done all of it. None of it made me happy
though. I was looking to fill a void in my heart but nothing could do it.
That void, the thing that I lacked was God
and I didn’t figure that out until last year. (I spent 34 years away from him for various reasons) before I found
God my life was a constant search for both answers to the questions of life and relief from the pain of life itself. I
was drifting along feeling empty and angry and I could not for the life of me figure out why I walked around both
depressed and suicidal for years and it wasn’t until I found God that these things went away, demons were
removed from me and things began to get better. It is only having gone through all of this that I now understand
the great commission that was given by Jesus Christ himself.
The Great Commission, as described in Matthew 28:18-20, is a command given by Jesus to his disciples to go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. It
essentially outlines the church’s mission to spread the Christian message and convert others to Christianity.
Key Components:
The Great Commission is a multifaceted command that encompasses several key actions:
Go and make disciples: This involves actively sharing the gospel message and leading people to faith in Jesus.
Baptize them: Baptism is a symbolic act of initiation into the Christian faith and is a key part of the Great Commission.
Teach them to observe all that I have commanded: This emphasizes the importance of teaching and discipleship, ensuring new believers learn and follow Jesus’ teachings.
Historical Context:
Jesus’ command to “make disciples of all nations” highlights the universal nature of the gospel message, urging
believers to share it with people from all backgrounds and cultures.
Ongoing Significance:
While initially given to the apostles, the Great Commission is often understood as a mandate for all Christians,
urging them to actively participate in spreading the Christian message and making disciples.
All of this to say that living a godless life isn’t all that the world hypes it up to be. It is quite literally the opposite
of what the world says it is. It is confusion, hopelessness, emptiness, anger, fear, pain and inevitably spiritual
death. It is a constant struggle to find momentary fixes for the emptiness that is inside your heart but NEVER
finding lasting relief. I don’t know about any of you but I am clinging to the son of God, the savior of humanity,
the way, the truth and the life, the light of the world, god in human form and the word made flesh…. Jesus Christ.
Without him, I am and have NOTHING.
METANOiA Means 