Doomed Forever To Blackest Darkness

Many people in this world who do not know God believe that when they die, their lives simply ends. This is a misconception because the Bible says that when a person dies, he/she enters into eternity, whether it be eternal punishment or eternal life.

"And they will go away

into eternal punishment,

but the righteous will go

into eternal life."

Matthew 25:46 (NLT)

Eternal punishment is an eternal fire of torment for those who in their earthly life disregarded God and His Word.

"So if your hand or foot causes you to sin,

cut it off and throw it away.

It's better to enter eternal life

with only one hand or one foot

than to be thrown into eternal fire

with both of your hands and feet.'

Matthew 18:8 (NLT)

In eternal punishment or destruction, people are separated from the presence of the Lord and His glorious power, but in eternal life, people are secured in the presence of the Lord with all the fullness of  His glory and majesty.

"They will be punished with eternal destruction,

forever separated from the Lord

and from His glorious power."

2 Thessalonians 1:9 (NLT)

Let us not forget that God destroyed by fire the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, killing all that lived within. He will also fulfill His promise in Scripture and do the same to those who did not fear Him on earth.

"And don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah

and their neighbouring towns,

which were filled with immorality

and every kind of sexual perversion.

Those cities were destroyed by fire and

serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God's judgment."

Jude 1:7 (NLT)

Once in hell, there is no way out. The people condemned to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire are forever doomed to the blackest of darkness. There will not even be the slightest glimmer of God's radiant light.

"They are like wild waves of the sea,

churning up the foam of their shameful deeds.

They are like wandering stars,

doomed forever to blackest darkness."

Jude 1:13 (NLT)

Yet today how often do we hear a sermon on hell? I guess pastors feel that it would be far too unpleasant for people to hear. However, hell is real, and the unpleasantness of hearing about it is nothing compared to the execrable experience of a person spending his/her eternity there.

As Christians we need to stop playing church, and to stop ignoring the reality of hell for those around us. We need to fulfill the Lord's Great Commission by praying more earnestly for the unsaved in our nation, offering ourselves to God in any way He chooses to bring in these precious souls to the saving knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and teaching them His Word. Let us not fear man, but rather fear for their souls.