WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO SPEND ETERNAITY?
HEAVEN OR HELL
We all plan our
lives around many things, which includes our relatives, friends and interest;
therefore all of our lives we are planning for a bright future.
You are doing things today, whether good or bad because of your planning
yesterday.
We are a direct
result of our planning. Amen.
Today we will
examine a story told by Jesus and ask the question ‘WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO SPEND
ETERNAITY? HEAVEN OR HELL”.
Listen, I know there
are still debates on whether heaven and hell are really places that exist.
No matter what the bible says on this subject there still is objections
and no matter how many books are written or sermons preached by spirit filled
men and women there is still skepticisms and unbelief on this subject of heaven
and hell.
Recently, I talked to a young man questioning the likelihood of heaven or hell. He said, “You can show me a brick and tell me it can build the Sisteen Chapel and I will believe it, because I can see it, and that is proof enough for me; but there is no logical proof of a heaven or hell. Where did it come from and how does it exist? He replied.
Needless, to say my discussion with this young man is not over yet.
I will keep working with his belief system and hopefully be able to help
him see the chief corner stone, Jesus, that
was laded to built the hope of we have in heaven.
You might have heard
the oldest debate; well if God is love why does He send people to Hell?
I always respond to people asking this question by saying God allows you
to go wherever you want. He does
not send you; you send yourself.
My brother and
sisters Hell is a real place. Hell
would freeze over if God lied to us about an eternal hell, which is a place
prepared for the falling angels and the unjust and unrighteous stewards of this
life. They will have their part in
the lake of fire and brimstone.
Listen my friends,
Hell is Hot. As Sister Dr. Wanda would
say, “What in hell do you want in hell?”
There is no heat
wave across the country or in the world that is as hot as hell.
Let me take you back
to school a minute and ask a chemist, how hot is hell?
The
thermodynamics professor may say,
Hell is either so
hot it is exothermic (gives off heat)
like a street in the summer time or endothermic (absorbs heat) like a microwave, a lethal injection
or radiation exposure; it one or the other.
But I stopped by to tell you that it is neither
exothermic or endothermic .
Hell is eternally hot, which is a hot not yet known to mankind.
Heaven is eternally pleasant and beautiful and Hell is eternally
unpleasant and ugly. Gnashing of the teeth hot.
Our lesson today centers on heaven and hell.
We must wisely examine its truths and chose to plan our lives
accordingly.
WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO
SPEND ETERNAITY? HEAVEN OR HELL
Luke 16
Tells the story of
Mr. Dives and Mr. Lazarus
19.
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen,
and fared sumptuously every day:
Purple:
is
symbolic to royalty or a high office.
Bishop or Cardinal; you or
me.
20.
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate,
full of sores,
21.
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's
table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Jesus makes a
contrast between need and greed; plenty and not having any.
Jesus also makes a
contrast of what seems to be heaven and hell on earth
Lazarus dignity is
gone and he is in desperation.
Now one story ends
and another begins. Come let us
descend into Hades and view the outcome of Mr. Dives the rich man and Lazarus
the poor man.
22.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels
into Abraham's bosom (one life done and
a new begun): the rich man also died, and was buried;
(one and done)
One of the most
important lessons to be learned today is:
There is no rewind switch on this life we live or a restart we can simply
push to start it all over again.
There is no reset to stop it and start it at a designated point again, but thank
God there is a pause button so you can stop in the name of love before we break
God’s heart. And as you replay and
review your life now what do you see?
Have you planned to spend eternity
in heaven or hell? Have you been a
good steward of your life?
Are you living hellistic or living
holistic?
23.
And in hell he (the bible does
not call him rich any more) lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Rev. 21
4.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away.
(No more begging and self debasing)
5.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And
he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and
the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of
life freely.
7.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and
he shall be my son.
8.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
24.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for
I am tormented in this flame. (He
thought the same rules applied as in life)
25.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy
good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou
art tormented.
The roles are changed for Mr. Dives,
because now he is the beggar while Mr. Lazarus is living in God not in Greed
like Mr. Dives did in life.
26.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so
that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to
us, that would come from thence.
A eternal law is revealed.
27. Then
he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my
father's house:
28.
For I have five brethren (like
me); that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of
torment.
I got a baby brother
called fearful, and one named unbelieving, and there is abominable, and twins
called murderer, and whoremonger, and two step brothers named sorcerer, and
idolater, and my oldest brother called liar.
29.
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them.
30.
And he said, Nay,
(they aint hearing that stuff like so
many today) father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they
will repent.
31.
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses
(the law giver) and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
But here is the good
news I bring to you today
John 3:
16.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.
18.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten
Son of God.
WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO
SPEND ETERNAITY? HEAVEN OR HELL
If you have not made
a decision to live for heaven do it today.
Don’t delay answering the question; don’t put it off any longer.
For we know not the day or hour that the Son of Man will return.
I want you to be ready-ready-ready at His appearing that you might be
caught up with Him.
There is no need to
spend eternity in torment when it can be spend in glory with God and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Today I have set
before you the question you must answer.
WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO
SPEND ETERNAITY? HEAVEN OR HELL
Preached by:
Rev. Sylvester Williams, Jr., I.C.U., Ministries, Inc.,
July 20, 2008