Scripture
9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
Reflection
Heaven and Hell. It sounds cliché, but you might have seen in person or pictures of people on the streets holding posters where you could read something like “repent, turn to Jesus or burn in Hell!”
The danger of only turning to God to avoid eternal condemnation without recognizing His love and sacrifice for us, builds up a faith that’s based in fear.
“(…) some can preach hell in such a way that people reform their lives only out of a self-interested type of fear to avoid consequences, and not out of a place of love and loyalty to the one whom embraced and experienced hell in our place. The distinction between those two motives are crucial. The first creates a moralist, the second a born-again believer.” – Tim Keller
Faith and love goes hand in hand. To think of being away from people we love is already hard, we can’t fathom what it means to be away from God’s presence and from His strength and power forever and ever; to be away from the One that first loved us. As we think of those who don’t know Christ yet as their Lord and Savior, let us pray for the revelation of His love for humanity.
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell you about God or Jesus?
- What does this passage tell you about humanity?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- How can you apply this message in an area of your life that needs transformation?
- Is there anyone you think should hear or will benefit from this message? Go and tell them.
Prayer
