IS THERE REALLY A HELL?
It’s a dark, peppery reality called Hell, referred to in our text as a fiery furnace (Matthew 13:42) a reality where evil folks, ‘habitually sinful folks’ – find themselves at the end of time, for all time.
Now wheat is good seed germinated by the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus – resulting from a life lived as “…sons of the Kingdom” (Matthew 13:38) – the Kingdom of God. The weeds on the other hand are bad seed germinated by the Enemy – resulting from a life lived as “…the sons of the evil one….” (Matthew 13:39) -- the Devil himself.
Truly Believe, ‘Weeds Are Weeds,’ ‘Sin Is Sin,’ Choking Life
“The soul who sins is the one who will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4)
“…let us throw off…the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. [Fixing] our eyes on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1+2)
Change Your View Of God: From Vengeful Judge, To Rescuing Savior.
“He who sits in the heavens…” David notes in Psalm 2 “…has…(contempt)…He speaks…in deep anger and… (terrifies)…” (Psalm 2: 4-5, The Amplified Bible) -- running over human life
“For God did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world…” (John 3:17). And so “…if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense: Jesus Christ the Righteous One…” (1 John 2:1+2)
"There are only two kinds of people…those who say to God -- 'Thy will be done' -- and those to whom God says…'Thy will be done.'" – C.S. Lewis
“…although they knew God, they… [didn’t glorify] him as God… [and so] their foolish hearts were darkened…” (Romans 1:21) …”Therefore God gave them over [to their] sinful desires…” (Romans 1:24)
Give-Up, Surrender, Claiming The Jesus-Life, As The Better Life
“He who has ears, let him hear…” (Matthew 13:43)
Listen – turn – repent – give up – surrender!
That’s why there’s much “…weeping and gnashing of teeth…” in hell (Matthew 13:42) Jesus notes in Matthew 13:42 – because there’s much realization, the Jesus-life was the better life
Listen – turn – repent – give up – surrender!