“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14 NKJV
Heaven is indeed for real but so also is hell. It is also known as the “lake of fire” and is a horrible place that sinners will be banished to on Judgment Day because of their subtle rebellion, outright wickedness, “good-enough” moralism, self-righteous living, or legalistic religion. It would be nice to think that heaven is everyone’s destination but that is unfortunately not the case. Everyone throughout history who has never professed faith and trust in the Creator God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, by believing in their heart that He died for their sins and rose again will, upon death, not be ushered into God’s presence in the glories of heaven but will be banished forever to the lake of fire where there is perpetual weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This may sound harsh but the holiness and righteousness of the Supreme Judge of the universe demands that justice be served. On the other hand, there is good news because at the heart of Biblical Christianity is the message of God’s love for all mankind demonstrated at the cross through the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. This gift of love was given on behalf of vile, wicked, rebellious, moralistic, and self-righteous sinners who are wholly deserving of God’s undiluted wrath and judgment in the horrors and outer darkness of eternal hellfire.
Every world religion requires its adherents to pay homage to its deity in the prescribed manner by bringing forth the necessary sacrificial offerings or through legalistic observance of rites, ceremonies, and rituals that are believed to be required in order to merit favor with the divine. What separates Biblical Christianity from the rest of the pack is that it is the only belief system in which God Himself in His holiness and unbridled merciful lovingkindness provided the sacrifice needed to satisfy the demands of His righteous justice. Not only did He provide it but He Himself is the ultimate sacrifice in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man. Beyond this, He offers to sinners everywhere the gift of total forgiveness of sins and eternal spiritual life and is received by faith alone in Christ.
God Himself accomplishing for people what they could not do for themselves and freely giving the results thereof is what the grace of God is all about. It is this very thing that separates Biblical Christianity from the false-Christian cults and religious belief systems of the world.
There are more than 7 billion people on Earth, over 4 billion do not claim to be Christian, and more than 2.7 billion are totally unreached with the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Millions in the world today will die in their sins and go straight to hell without ever hearing of the love of God in Jesus Christ. Everyone deserves to hear the gospel at least once and it is therefore incumbent upon born again Christians to possess an evangelistic urgency and passion for the missionary mandate of the Church both here and abroad.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2b NKJV
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31 NKJV
Is there anything keeping you from living on mission for God’s glory by trusting Christ as your Savior right NOW? If not, please thank God from the bottom of your heart through a prayer such as the one here. Remember that it is not praying a prayer that saves but it is faith in Christ that saves. Prayer is simply a way to share with God what is on your heart.
Thank You GOD for the greater glory of Your holiness. Thank You for being the Eternal Creator & Love-filled Savior of the world. I confess that I am a guilty sinner who deserves your wrath in hell. Thank You for Your mercy, grace, & love for sinners that was shown at the cross where Christ died for my sins & rose again. I do now place my faith in Christ & thank You for the total forgiveness of my sins, the gift of eternal life, & Your great glory to live for. Thank You for saving me from hell & sending me on mission for Your glory. Please use me to send the light of Your grace into the darkness & may my life glorify You forever. In the mighty name of the God of Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Recommended Resources: Missionary biographies are great for reading aloud to your family as well as redemptive gifts to your kids and grandkids for birthdays, graduations, and Christmas.
“Through Gates of Splendor” by Elisabeth Elliot
“Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret” by Mrs. Howard Taylor
“The Autobiography of John G. Paton” by John G. Paton
“Borden of Yale” by Mrs. Howard Taylor
“The Life and Diary of David Brainerd” by Jonathan Edwards
