Where willl You Spend Eternity

[00:00:00] This audio sermon is provided by AnabaptistSermons.com and may be freely copied and distributed. You may not sell or edit this sermon. Our prayer is that you would be blessed by this ministry. Greetings to each one of you this evening again in the precious name of Jesus. We are saved by grace. I don't know what that means to you, but it's not that we don't need to have good works. [00:00:35] I don't think I'll go on into that, but I'm saved by grace. I'm saved by the mercy of God, and I thank Him for it. and I think we can thank God for it throughout eternity and it will always be meaningful. Always more, always more, always more. So my desire this evening is to just share some thoughts that would stir us to make sure that we make the right decisions, that we decide for the right way, that we decide for the right kingdom, that we decide for the right destiny. [00:01:11] Don't let anything hold us back. It's not worth it. It's not worth it. Absolutely not. There's no way that we can make it important enough. I remember that night when my first wife went from this world to the next. It was around midnight and I sat there holding her hand. She was no longer conscious, but there was still a sense of communication. [00:01:44] Her hand was warm. I sat there holding it and felt that coldness come into the hand. Saw her take the last gasp of breath. And she was gone. And her hand turned cold in mine. And all communication was totally shut off. It was the most final feeling that I ever had. It's final. It's final. [00:02:20] I believe this world, it's final. Our destiny is fixed. Now is the time to make certain. For us that was, I mean, our hope went on beyond that. But for those who are not ready, it's just beyond any possibility of description. Well, I'd like to share a little bit more about that later [00:02:52] but I would like to just take our thoughts in a little bit of a different direction here not a different direction in the sense that I just said that I want to share some thoughts that will stir our hearts and spur us on and give us some encouragement and direction to keep on, to go deeper and make your life, your relationship with Jesus Christ so meaningful that all the temptations of the devil will fall off harmless. He doesn't have anything to offer that we want. [00:03:26] This is too good. We can just tell the devil to go with his trash bag. He doesn't have anything that I want. I wanted to read something in relation to what I spoke on today, I want to say especially about the area of dress. You know, this is a little different now, but I just wanted to share this. It blessed me at Bible school, and I thought it would be a blessing to everyone here. Concerning dress, concerning the heart being right. You know, we hear this, well, all that matters is the heart. [00:04:00] If the heart is right, that's all that matters. Well, is it? It makes an interesting discussion at Bible school. If the heart is right, everything else will be right. Would you like to make any comments? Will it? I even put it on the test to see how they respond. And if they said yes, I didn't count it wrong. And if they said no, I didn't count it wrong either. I just wanted to see how they responded. [00:04:31] Charles Finney says concerning that no matter how we dress if your hearts are right your heart right then your heart can be right when your conduct is all wrong just as well might the profane swearer say no matter what words I use if my heart is right no, your heart is not right unless your conduct is right What is outward conduct but the acting out of the heart? [00:05:04] If your hearts were right, you would not wish to follow the fashions of the world. He was not a Mennonite. He was not Amish. He wasn't even brought up that way. He was a converted lawyer. I think he was a Methodist then, but I think that his conclusions were from the word of God and experience. And so I like that. I like to get information like this from those outside of our circle who come to the same conclusions. We're not alone. There are others who are standing for the truth. [00:05:38] So I like that. Okay, so does that answer any questions? If the heart is right, will everything else be right? I believe that a heart that is right will always respond positively to any new life. and so yeah where they are at they should be safe they should be all right that doesn't say that everything they're doing is right but at the point they are at in that going the right direction [00:06:08] we probably could say yes but that doesn't mean that everything is the way it ought to be in their life but I think that as far as they have come they will be walking in the light but making that Lame excuse is, let's not do that. So I wanted to make that point this evening, to share what Charles Finney said. And then I'd like to just share a few things, kind of from my own experience. [00:06:41] I made a statement, I'm not sure, was it Friday evening or Saturday evening, that God always takes the initiative. And I wonder what you thought about that. Is that a question? We wait on God, don't we? So what does that mean? The Bible says how blessed we are. What will take place when I wait on God? But I said the other evening that we don't wait on God. [00:07:20] God is waiting on us. He always makes the first move. He takes the initiative. If God would have waited on you to make the first move, where would you be? If He would have waited on Adam and Eve to make the first move after their sin, where would we all be? Who took the initiative? All the way up through the Bible, the way I see it anyhow, God was always taking the initiative. When Jesus Christ came into the world, the Bible says that He came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost. [00:07:55] And that's what He did in my life. I am saved by grace. Amen. Otherwise, I'd either be in hell tonight or on my way there. It's that simple. I am saved by the mercy of God. Not without good works, though. There's no promise in the whole book that I know of, of getting to heaven without being obedient. [00:08:27] Yeah. But it all rests on the merits of Jesus Christ. I am saved by grace, and when I get to heaven, all the revelations there will just bring a response of praise to God. I don't deserve this. That's what grace does in my life. It makes me feel totally unworthy. I don't deserve what I have or what I am. God is worthy of everything and I'm worthy of nothing. If any of one of us, if we get what we deserve, it'll be hell. [00:09:01] That's what we deserve. That's what we're worthy of. Yeah, we're supposed to walk worthy of the Lord. That's a different subject. But I'm not worthy. Okay, what about Revelation 3.20? I want to make sure that everyone agrees that God takes the initiative. What does Revelation 3.20 say? Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me. [00:09:33] Who makes the first move? Would any one of you have come if he hadn't come and knocked at your heart's door first? Do you think? He knocked at my heart's door for a long time. And that when I had my back turned and I was going the other way, I knew it. But he didn't give up on me. Praise God. I'm saved by grace, by the mercy of God. So Jesus Christ came into the world to seek us and to save us. [00:10:06] We were so lost, we couldn't find ourselves and we couldn't save ourselves. I think that when the Bible says that we wait on God I think it's simply saying that in expectation of God's moving in my life I'm just preparing myself God is waiting on us to be brought into a condition where he can give us the next thing that he's working on our life to prepare us to receive [00:10:36] that's what I think He's really waiting on me. But in a sense, I am waiting on Him in that sense that I'm committing, I'm giving myself to Him, I'm expecting God to move in my life and as soon as I have my life in order that it's safe or possible for God to give me that next thing in my life that I need, He's going to do it. It's just that I'm waiting until I'm prepared. I think so. You can look at many different examples in the Bible [00:11:10] where God worked in people to prepare them to receive more than what they were asking for. I'd like to prove that with at least one or two. What about Solomon? What did Solomon ask for? And what did God give to him? But it wasn't safe. Solomon lost out. God gave him so much he couldn't handle it. The wisest man in all the world. So in God's wisdom, he withholds things from us because it's not good, it's not safe, I need to wait until I'm in shape [00:11:42] And so God holds off until I'm ready for it and he gives us all that we can handle I believe that What about Mary and Martha when Lazarus was sick? And they sent this message to Jesus and said, Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick and they expected that Jesus was going to drop everything and come because he was a special friend of this family. He often spent time there. And the Bible says, now Jesus loved Martha and Mary [00:12:13] and so he waited two more days. Isn't that strange? Why didn't he go right away? He loved them, but he waited two more days and he knew that Lazarus had died and was in the grave and I think maybe it took two days to get there then and Lazarus had been dead four days when he got there. The first thing that Martha said was, Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died. First thing Mary said when she came out to Jesus was, [00:12:46] Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died. And I think they said it, the truth. That's why Jesus stayed away. They weren't looking for enough. He wanted to give them more. Healings were a common thing in Jesus' life and experience. And so he wanted to give them something on beyond that. And he raised a body that had been decaying for four days. It was wrapped with grave clothes. [00:13:18] And Jesus just called out, Lazarus, come forth. and Lazarus came forth by his own strength. I don't think so. The headband was wrapped around his eyes. He couldn't see where he was going. The grave clothes were wrapped around his body and I don't think he could walk. I think he just came. Jesus said, come. Lazarus came and the people saw the glory of God in a way they wouldn't have seen if Jesus would have come right away at the request of Martha and Mary. [00:13:49] So I wanted to pass some of that on for us. God's love and mercy is so great. And if it's not real to us, He's just there waiting until He can give us the next revelation. And often it hurts. Because we have to die to ourself in order to be prepared to receive it. So it may hurt. It may be painful. So, but God knows what he's doing. His way is perfect. He makes no mistakes. He loves, he chastens those whom he loves. The Amplified says there that he chastens all those whom he loves and cherishes and brings to his heart. Something like that. You can read it if you want to sometime. It's so precious. [00:14:44] He loves those whom He welcomes to His heart and cherishes. That's you and me. I was thinking to say, believe it or not, I don't really care for that expression, but it's still true. These promises, these provisions are for the children of God. For those who come with an honest heart. And no one has a right to throw all these things out to the unrepentant and tell them that they are candidates for that in their condition. [00:15:20] That's where people get off track. God is a God of love. And to pass that on to His children is a message that we need to give, especially for people who grew up like I did, in the setting that I did. It was hard for me to believe that God really loved me. And He had to prove it to me. But I know it tonight. Praise God. I was a Christian for years before it really sunk down into my heart. Well, that's how the Christian life is. We keep on growing. [00:15:57] Yeah, I sure didn't know anything the first day or the first year. Neither did you. There is so much more. Keep on going. So much more. It gets better all the time. Another verse that came through to me when I was going through this in my life and God was working in me to see what it means to be saved by grace. And I saw this verse in Hebrews 11. [00:16:29] It meant a lot to me. Many verses stood out to me during that time. It was a period of years. It says in the last few verses in Romans 11, For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And then this verse, Or who has first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again? Who? Truth? No one. You didn't give anything to God first and then you were recompensed for it. That's what the Bible says right here. God makes the first move. God gives to us and we respond to it. Because of Him and through Him and to Him are all things. That's a wonderful truth. [00:17:12] and there are so many other scriptures we could turn to just to remind us to claim those truths. It's for His children. God has not given us the spirit of bondage again to fear but He has given us the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. That's why Jesus told us to pray the Lord's Prayer and begin it with our Father in Heaven. the instruction of Jesus himself [00:17:43] call on him as your father receive the inheritance claim the things that Jesus Christ has made available for us as his children and it will become so beautiful and so meaningful and so satisfying and so secure in your life you won't have any desire for the things of the world and the flesh and the devil it's still there though All we need to do is slack off. We don't have time to pray today. [00:18:16] We don't have time to read the word. And it will continue until we lose out and the oil burns low. First thing we know, Jesus comes and we're not ready. Yeah, that can happen. But if you keep feeding it, feed it, feed it, keep on feeding it, that spiritual desire, that spiritual life, that relationship with Jesus. Keep on feeding it. And we always need to be on our guard. [00:18:50] I sure don't want to say anything that sounds like it's going to be an easy road. I'm just saying we can walk in victory and enjoy it. Jesus has made the provisions. We don't need to be defeated. In Revelation, to every one of those seven churches, the promises were only for those who overcome. And we can overcome because Jesus overcame. So, you know the Bible also says, we know Psalm 23, that's precious. [00:19:25] The Lord is my shepherd and therefore I shall not want. But the New Testament repeats it. And Peter, Peter said that you were a sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd and the bishop of your souls. You like the term bishop? Brother Glenn, I don't know how people feel about you. I don't know how people felt about me when I had that responsibility. And there may be a few more here. I didn't see for sure who all is here. But the term bishop can kind of become a little bit distasteful to us sometimes [00:19:59] depending on how they how they feel their responsibility. But God is my bishop. He's the guardian of my soul. Think of it. God the guardian, the safekeeper of my soul. What a security. Unless I'm stiff-necked and on the line to have his way. Oh, Ephesians 5 says, no man ever yet hid his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord, the church. [00:20:38] You like that? I do. He nourishes and cherishes it. The Lord does, the church. That's you and me. Claim all that. It's for us to take. Then when you're in prayer, commit your whole life to God. Don't make any reservations and I think I'm safe to say I can guarantee that you'll come through and you're going to, we're all, if we do that, we'll all meet in heaven. Yeah, I steadfastly believe that. [00:21:12] Our problem is we hold some things back. That's our problem. The problem is we don't open the door when he knocks. That's not just the initial coming to Jesus Christ and being born again. That's my Christian life. God keeps on knocking at my heart's door. You have a need there. He knocks. If we open the door, he's going to meet that need. But that's our problem. We don't open the door too often. [00:21:44] That is very, very important. So I believe God takes the initiative, we respond to it, and he works on us to give us more. Well, some time ago, I was struck with the thoughts in a song, and I made this my prayer to God. Break down every idol, cast out every foe, and it works. [00:22:17] I don't think it's finished, but it works. Make it your prayer, see what will happen. An honest desire, oh God, oh God, cleanse me from myself, slay me, just break down, smash down every idol, and cast out every foe. Then the songwriter goes on to say, and then wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. He surely does. [00:22:49] If that's an honest prayer, He will. Another songwriter says with this request, and reign without a rival there. Reign without a rival. Can Jesus reign in my life without a rival? That's where the difference is. There's a little bit more to add to that in 1st John chapter 3. No, it's not chapter 3. It is chapter 3. In verse 24, the Bible reads, [00:23:28] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spirit which he has given us. The Amplified there says, he who keeps his commandments, I'm just giving this by memory, is a home to him. And Jesus is a home to that person. The person who keeps his commandments. Do you get that? Does that mean something? We feel quite well at home at Glenn's. [00:24:02] Yeah, they have given us things in a way that we feel at home there. it's not a strained relationship we have things in common we're enjoying it there by the way I forgot, forgive me I wanted to thank you tonight and I almost forgot it for the hospitality and your friendship and your fellowship and what all was it the flowers and everything that you've given to us is meaningful and we wanted to thank you [00:24:32] for that you made us feel at home ok Okay, now, is Jesus at home in your heart? Is Jesus at home in your heart? Or is there a strained relationship? I just wanted to pass those thoughts on because we don't want anyone to miss out and we don't need to miss out. Provisions have been made for us. Well, so is that why the writer, why Peter said to the strangers and pilgrims, I beseech you. I beseech you. I looked into that to see what beseech, what other translations really say. [00:25:17] It's a loving call. I exhort you. I beg you. I urge you. I entreat you. I call upon you. I make this request with all my heart as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Don't yield to anything that cools off your love for God, that will disturb your peace, that will put something between you and God [00:25:49] and spoil your fellowship as pilgrims. I wonder how many of you read the book Pilgrim's Progress. I didn't until just recent years. It was so good. If you haven't, I think it would be worth your time to do it. Maybe if you have, it would be worth your time to read it again. in our last lesson in this book that we use at Bible school for separation and nonconformity reminds us of the pilgrims when they came to Vanity Fair. [00:26:23] There were three things that are pointed out that they just could not enjoy Vanity Fair. First, the pilgrims were clothed with such kind of raiment as was diverse from the raiment of any that traded in that fair. Picture this. This is us going through this world. And this was given to Bunyan, Brother Bunyan, by God himself. And it's so rich and so deep and so scriptural and so spiritual. Reading that book, it's so close to just reading the Bible, I think, as anything I've ever read. [00:26:58] It seems like it was just given from God and it makes point after point after point that just stand out with revelations of what the Bible means about this area and that area. Okay, so that's how I looked at this when I read it. Their raiment was different from any of those others. The people, therefore, of the fair made a great gazing upon them. Some said they were fools, some they were bedlams, and some they are outlandish men. And secondly, and as they wondered at their apparel, so they did likewise at their speech. [00:27:29] For few could understand what they said. They naturally spoke the language of Canaan. You think their children were kids? Do you think that when something went wrong, it was sick? Do you think that their elders were squares? You mean, I mean, the good elders were squares? What are some of those other expressions? There are many more. For few could understand what they said. [00:28:00] They naturally spoke the language of Canaan. But they that kept the fair were the men of this world. So that from one end of the fair to the other, they seemed barbarians each to the other. Thirdly, but that which did not a little amuse the merchandisers was that these pilgrims set very light by all their wares. They cared not so much as to look upon them. And if they called upon them to buy, they would put their fingers in their ears to shut out the cry of those who were coming and begging for them to buy their wares. [00:28:36] They put their fingers in their ears and they would cry to God. Yeah, it was their cry. It's talking about here. They would cry to God, turn away my eyes from beholding vanity and look upward, signifying that their trade and traffic was in heaven. Let's remember that our conversation is in heaven. Our citizenship is in heaven. That's our first responsibility. And I can just add, if I can get these words correctly, that our submission to our civil authorities must be 100% under all circumstances, but not our obedience. [00:29:17] The time may come when we'll have to stand on the word of God and disobey man in order to obey God. But then if we're put in prison for it, or beaten for it, we'll suffer it. Always submission, but not always obedience. Our first call is to God. In Matthew 7, chapter 7, verses 12 and 13. Remember, there are two ways, two kingdoms, two destinations or two destinies. [00:29:54] That's it. No more. We're talking tonight about eternal separation now. We are pilgrims to eternity. That's where the end is, eternity. I would just like to share a few thoughts in the next 15 minutes or so on the contrasts of the Christian's end and the non-Christian's end. I've been trying to bring some of that out as far as our experience in life is concerned [00:30:29] They don't compare The Christian life and the non-Christian life don't compare I know it I was 20 years old before I was converted And I sat in the pew there listening to Brother David Bontrager Time after time after time Sitting there under conviction And my life was miserable I'd come home sometimes from having been out in sin Come home after dark and I was afraid to walk from the car to the house because it felt like something was going to get me. Needless, but it's a miserable life. [00:31:04] The Christian life, when we're totally submitted to God, just, it's so much better. But what about the end? This is just the beginning. I didn't read these verses in Matthew 7, 12, and 13, did I? Therefore, no, 13 and 14. Enter ye in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. [00:31:36] Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Is that true? It's got to be because it's the word of God. Few there be that find it. Luke 14 says that men are going to be calling on Jesus and saying, well, we saw you in our streets. We heard you preach and they couldn't believe it, that they were being cast out and denied. And Jesus, how does it say? I better turn to that. It's in 13. Strive to enter in at the straight gate for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able. [00:32:14] When once the master of the house is risen up and has shut to the door And ye began to stand without and to knock at the door saying Lord, Lord open unto us And he shall answer and say unto you I know you not whence ye are Then shall they begin to say we have eaten and drunk in your presence Thou hast taught in our streets But he shall say I tell you I know you not whence ye are Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity I think the reason is They were seeking after it was too late I think that's why they couldn't, their seeking didn't help anymore. [00:32:49] Then in Matthew 25, I'd just like to remind us of the judgment scene. That final separation, when there were only two places to go, and people would hear the final sentence. If we can, let's try and picture ourselves there, because we will be there. Time is coming when every one of us will be there. And the sentence that is pronounced that day will stand forever. [00:33:28] And if we don't hear those words, come unto me, it will be, there's no way. No way, no way that anyone can describe it. We sang about it tonight. Oh, what a weeping and wailing as the lost were told of their fate. They cried for the rocks and the mountains. They prayed, but their prayer was too late. The Bible says that will be the fate of most people. [00:34:01] Most of the people who were accountable are going to experience that. May it not be any of us. And may we do what we can to help anyone that we know that they will not go through that all, won't hear those words. Time is short. I don't know how much of this I should read. but it's God's word so I think we will from verse 31 to the end when the son of man shall come [00:34:31] this is Matthew 25 verse 31 on when the son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left and then shall the king say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you [00:35:02] from the foundation of the world for I was a hunger and you gave me meat I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you took me in naked and you clothed me I was sick and you visited me I was in prison and you came unto me And then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, whence saw we thee a hungred, and fed thee, or thirsty, and gave thee drink? Whence saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in, or naked, and clothed thee? And whence saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? [00:35:34] And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. And then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me. Ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels For I was a hungred and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger and ye took me not in Naked and ye clothed me not [00:36:05] Sick and in prison and ye visited me not Then shall they also answer him saying Lord when saw we thee a hungred or a thirst or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister unto thee and then shall he answer them saying verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me and these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal. [00:36:36] In Matthew chapter 13 I think is another picture of the same scene. There's a controversy among even plain people because there are places in the scriptures where the Bible says that the wicked were severed from among the just. That's what we see here in Matthew chapter 13. We're going to read it. Beginning in verse 40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. [00:37:09] This is not the rapture. This is the end of the world. The Son of Man shall send forth his angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and damage to iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Doesn't that sound just like Matthew 25? In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, where we read about the rapture, that's what I call it, I don't have another name for it, is when Jesus will come back for the church, the faithful ones, and there it says that the dead in Christ are raised first, [00:37:46] then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the air to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the Lord. That's us being delivered from this world which is on its way to destruction, just like Lot and his family were out of the city of Sodom. Just like Noah and his family were delivered through the flood, through the waters, the waters carried them over to the next world. They were delivered, all the others were destroyed. Lot and his family were delivered, all the others were burned up. [00:38:19] And the Bible says that in Luke chapter 17, that that is how it will be when the Son of Man returns for the church. and it's talking about our deliverance out of that which is going to be destroyed totally destroyed as soon as the righteous are taken out. That's how I understand the Bible so that's why I'm saying that this evening. If you disagree about some of these points how they'll take place, that's fine. It'll be settled before long, I'm pretty sure. [00:38:52] I think that all of us are going to have some surprises. I just want to make this point. I think that's the difference. The wicked were severed from among the just there in Matthew 25 and here in Matthew 13. They were severed from among the just because this is not talking about the rapture when the saints were taken out of this world. This is talking about the time of the judgment when all of us were up there somewhere, I don't know, are we just in space or where, at the great judgment day. And that's the final judgment. [00:39:24] and those who heard the words depart from me I believe were from that place cast down into the lake of fire so they were severed from among the just and it calls it God's kingdom this world isn't God's kingdom, is it? the Bible says that the devil is the God of this world he's the ruler of the darkness of this world and so it makes sense to me should just simply look at it that way. [00:39:55] It can rightfully say that they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into the furnace of fire and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Imagine it out there in space. I don't know how far the judgment is from hell, but imagine those souls totally out of control. They can't do a thing about it, even if they make big, speak, what kind of words [00:40:32] They can talk against God today and say what they're going to do or say at the judgment No, they will only do what God permits them to do or say The Bible says that in that day every knee will bow, every tongue confess to the glory of God that Jesus Christ is Lord. And I think they will acknowledge it then, but they can't do anything except what God allows them to do. And so the angels will sever them from among the just [00:41:03] and cast them through space down into that lake of fire, which will be their sealed, eternal destiny. Do you think it's worth taking any chances? I don't. It's just not real enough to us. Charlie Peace was a condemned criminal this was in England years ago he was on being let out to be hung and the prison chaplain was walking ahead of him reading some scriptures and this man [00:41:35] tapped him on the shoulder and he said this condemned criminal tapped him on the shoulder and said what are you reading and he said the consolations of religion and then Charlie Peace gave him a message and he said sir Or addressing the preacher, if I believed what you in the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worth living just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that. [00:42:12] He was on the brink. It was real to him. We're not. It's not real to us. Not real enough. I think the devil is constantly working on us to keep a damper on it. Don't let it get too real. A communist who didn't believe in God said, Did I firmly believe, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another? [00:42:46] Religion would mean to me everything. I would cast away earthly enjoyments and draws, earthly cares as follies, earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity, religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness, I should labor in its cause alone, I would take thought for the morrow of eternity alone, I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering, earthly consequences should never stay in my hand nor seal my lips [00:43:18] earth, its joys and its griefs would occupy no moment of my thoughts I would strive to look upon eternity alone and on the immortal souls around me soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable I would go forth to the world and preach to it in season and out of season and my text would be, what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Good question that we need to answer. [00:43:55] How long is eternity? And just think of this contrast, just a few minutes. In Revelation it says, in heaven there will be no pain. And the Bible says that the rich man was in torments. In heaven there will be rivers of water. How is it described? It's water like we don't have here. And living water, fountain of life, whatever. [00:44:26] And in hell, not even a drop. There wasn't one drop available for this tormented soul. And he was parched. Burning from head to foot in flames and a bottomless pit out in outer darkness The farthest point away from light, away from God, that's eternal death It's being away from the presence of God God and the soul separated Like death for us is the soul and the body separated [00:44:56] There it's God and the soul separated And those people in hell would just like to die and pass out of existence and can't Anyway, I'm going to just pass this on yet. A noted infidel was lecturing before a large audience, drawing upon the powers of language to make the Bible doctrine of an endless hell as repulsive as it was possible. Sometimes we try to think at least how long eternity will be, try to find some kind of a definition to understand it, and it's impossible. [00:45:35] I've gone through that so often and I just end up, how can it be that it won't quit? How can it be that it will not end sometime? Even when I talk about eternity, there's always that thing in me that says until. Until, there's got to be an until there. No, there won't be an until. It'll keep on going. I just can't. Anyway, I want to read this. It's in Doctrines of the Bible on page 617, if you'd like to read it sometime. [00:46:10] A noted infidel was lecturing a large audience and drawing upon the powers of language to make the Bible doctrine of an endless hell as repulsive as it was possible for the human tongue and imagination to make it. So he said, just suppose that this whole world were composed of grains of sand and once every thousand years a little bird would come and take one grain and carry it all. Even by that incomprehensibly slow process, the time would come when the whole earth would be removed [00:46:44] and eternity would still be going on, no closer to the end than it was. And then my mind went on and I thought, it's a long time when we think about the creation The Garden of Eden Adam and Eve way back there 6,000 years ago Now just think about it 6,000 years If that little bird would have been busy during that time All the time of the creation as we know it [00:47:17] That little bird would have carried away 6 grains of sand In all this time Wouldn't even make a difference I could get more than that on the tip of my finger and take a chance to be in that awful place for all eternity he was trying to turn people away but what he said had the opposite effect on a thoughtful young man [00:47:47] who was sitting in that audience and he said that if this is true and it is I'm going to spend my whole lifetime to save souls from going to that awful place. That's the idea of what he said. That young man was William Booth, the founder of Salvation Army. And then in Doctrines of the Bible he just concludes, Why shouldn't we make the same resolution? It should move us. [00:48:20] That's why I say it's not real enough to us. Well, you know there won't be any children in hell. Heaven will be a lot of children in heaven. No flowers in hell. I think there are going to be some in heaven. I haven't seen it that I know for sure, but I expect it. Some eternal blooming flowers that people can step on and they'll just come back up and be like they were. No dirt, no pain, no unpleasant things, nothing at all, nothing at all unpleasant, everything perfect [00:48:58] And in hell it will be just the opposite, exactly the opposite Darkness, pain, misery, hopelessness, people wailing and gnashing their teeth forever, forever and forever And so if heaven gets better and better as we have more revelations, how about hell? You think it might also increase? As time goes on, more, more, totally, totally hopeless. Nothing ever to look forward to. [00:49:31] Nothing ever to look forward to. And people go right on. And anyhow, many people who know better. Some don't, but some do and they still go on.