Do you know that most people who are perishing and going to hell are the ones who don't care? Those who simply don't care what will happen after they die.
Not necessary the bad ones as lots of sinners in the time of Jesus repented and came to Him for forgiveness. Also the " apparently" 'good' ones are the most 'endangered'. I say 'apparently' as they give all the impression of being good and think of themselves as good people.
Luke 18;11-14 talks about one example
"The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The Bible says no one of us is good enough on our own, and the 'righteous' to themselves need to see they also need a Savior. The other careless group of people is the one enjoying only the present time and for whom all the worldly things seem to take over.
Happy as long as there is a good retirement plan, but what about the eternal plan of salvation ? Nobody said you will die at the age of 90 so you have time to wait, God can call you earlier at the age of 40 or 50 or any other time. It might be by surprise.
We read that those who don't know Christ will pay the price. A severe, terrible price. In referring to this price Jesus is talking in Matthew 24;38-20
"For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."
The parable is clear. A message of judgement was proclaimed at the times of Noah as it is now. People didn't listen much at that time, people don't care much in these days. People could be saved in Noah' s ark, people can be saved in Jesus now. There came judgement of flood, next there will come the judgement of fire.
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 2 Thessalonians 1;8-9
Whoever was to hide in the wooden ark was to be saved, whoever will hide in Jesus and His cross will be saved.
If God didn't give up the judgement in Noah's generation, He is also not going to give it up at Christ's return. In both situations people had enough time to change and choose life with God Until Christ comes it is your time to get right with God. Don't put it off so you wouldn't have to be taken by surprise.
"But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment." 2 Peter 3;10
The era of Noah was a sad one. People on earth did what God said was evil, and violence was everywhere.. Gen 6;11
Such rebellion was breaking God's heart. He even regretted creating it.
Only Noah and his family responded to His call and they and the animals were saved. Whoever responds to Christ's call will be saved also.
When the door of the ark was closed and it started to rain- it was too late for anybody else. When Christ will come second time, the door will be closed as well.If you don't know Him you will pay the severe price.
You would ask, why should I know Him? Are you sure there is such a place as hell? Isn't God love? How would He sent anybody there?
His justice and holiness requires the punishment of sin.
When Christ was teaching thirteen percent of the of His teaching is about judgement and hell. More than half of His parables refer to God's eternal judgement of sinners. No one spoke of hell more than Christ did. He spoke about it so much to let you know where you don't have to go if you put your trust in Him!
He is our high priest interceding for us. You need to be forgiven to be able to avoid God's eternal punishment. And that sin- forgiveness is only from Jesus.
God is giving everybody a chance, a chance to escape the horror of eternal hell, and if you choose to ignore it, there will be no mercy after Christ return.
We all celebrate Easter, we all know what happened before Easter, we know Jesus had to go through lots of pain, cross and experience of separation from God. If God's judgement wasn't real and wasn't terrible, Christ wouldn't have to worry about saving us from that. We would die for our sin, God would resurrect us and say, " I forgive you" and that's it. If God's Son experienced the separation from God and pain, surely will those who will die without Him.
Don't choose the worldly things to captivate your minds so much and become careless person.
You might know Jesus ' dead' only on the cross and you don't know how much your life depends on Him. Get to know the real resurrected Christ who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
When John saw Jesus on the island of Patmos, he was amazed. John's encounter was far too different from any in Galilee. The impression was so powerful that John was knocked out cold." When I saw Him I fell in a dead faint at his feet." Rev 1;17
John describes; "He was dressed in a long robe and had a gold band around His chest.". The significance of the robe and band is great. Jesus is wearing the clothing of a priest who presents people to God and God to people. He is at the right hand of God interceding. Rom 8;34
He is the one who can wipe away your guilt. He is the one who doesn't want you to perish.
We also see absolute strength. "His feet were like bronze that glows hot in a furnace" Rev 1;15
He comes to you gentle.
"His voice like a noise of a flooding water." The sound of His voice soothes a soul.
"Coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword" Rev 1;16
The truth of His voice pierces a soul.
He knows everything about you, He knows your heart, every thought, every sin of yours and wants to wipe it away when you come to Him. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrew 4;12
He doesn't want you to experience judgement;
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." John 5;24
He wants to give you life;John 10;10
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" John 10;10
He laid His life for you;
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" John 10;11
He is alive and He is definitely coming again;
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen." Rev 1;7
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