Heaven Or Hell: The Choices Are Ours"

As Cindy and I travel to assembly each Sunday a preacher comes on the radio. His opening words every week begin with: “ If I had to give this message a title it would be” and then he gives us the title. I chuckle every week- I don’t know why. Maybe because he is so predictable. So this week I am going to say” If I had to give this message a title, “ I would call it heaven or hell the choices are ours”

As we age we should begin to think about “the hereafter”. It happened to me the other night in the kitchen for midnight snack and after I stood there for several minutes- I asked myself What am I here after.

I say choices because our path to either destination is governed by the choices we make. For example, if one makes the choice in an assembly with everybody’s eyes closed to raise their hand and repeat the sinner’s prayer, well I am sorry but I do not see in the Scripture where we are saved by the “sinner’s prayer” or that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at the end of it..

More importantly, if we believe we are saved by “faith alone” adhering to the modern plan of salvation and reject Baptism in the watery grave, because it is works-I do not see that we have followed God’s plan of salvation.

If after been baptized and we believe we are now saved forever-we must discard the truth of God that teaches us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling as disregard Paul’s words in Phil. 2:12

And If we call ourselves a Child of God a Christian but continue to be friends with the world-NOT cooperating with the Spirit in His sanctifying work-and live like the devil then we are trampling on God’s Grace.

1 Pet 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

With that said, I want you to know we can be assured of our salvation.

Rom 8 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. And v 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

If any of you have any uncertainty please talk to one of us and we will guide you onto the narrw path of eternal life.

In America’s churches today people like to be encouraged…...So I decided today to preach an uplifting message of encouragement.

Therefore, Today’s text will examine two deaths.

A well known comedian observed that the #1 fear for Americans was Public speaking” and the 2nd was of dying. The way I interpret that is that most of us would rather be in the casket than deliver the eulogy or this message.

Visitors to the Fuji islands tell of a strange custom known as “the calling to death”. The bereaved climbs to a high tree or cliff and cries out pathetically the name of the deceased and “come back- come back.”

But there is no answer-there is only the silence from one the who is gone. Friends those people are without God and without hope as they live in this world and they have no hope after death in the world to come- they are hopeless.

People in America will spend a fortune when they get a Dx that is terminal to prolong their life-won’t they?

I read a story of a man who was Dx with ca. When he asked the doc how much time did he have the doc said 6 months best case scenario. The man lamented about how short that time really was. The doc said here is what you do-move to the hills of TN find a widow woman with 6 or seven children living in a one room cabin and marry her. THOSE 6 MONTHS will seem like 30 years!

Pray- Prepare our minds to be encouraged today as we contemplate our own passing from this world into eternal life. May we make life choices that bring you honor and glory. In Jesus name, Amen

Our Text today comes from Luke 16: 19-31

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.