A Preventable Tragedy

Anytime there is a tragedy like the explosion of the space shuttle last week it seems to be made worse by the realization that in many cases it was a totally preventable tragedy. It did not have to happen but because of some failure, or something overlooked it did.

When the shuttle Challenger exploded only 73 seconds into lift off, the tragedy was exacerbated when it was learned that NASA had been warned about the vulnerability of O-rings when temperatures were below a certain point. By failing to heed the warnings, they caused the deaths of seven astronauts and the loss of the shuttle itself.

When I read this story in Luke, I am impressed with the preventability of the tragedy that it represents.

I. It is a Tragedy.

A. Hell was not designed for human occupancy.

"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:" (Matthew 25:41)

B. Hell is a place of indescribable horror.

“being in torments”—the worst type of torture.

Flames, darkness, desperation, loneliness, fforever removed from God’s presence

C. Hell is a place of unending torment.

II. But the tragedy is Preventable.

A. God has provided a way to keep from going to hell, although there is no escape once a person is there.

Luke 16:26 NLT

B. Jesus is the Way to Escape the Wrath of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."