Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 16

Highlight Verse:

“And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

First, this disclaimer – It is purely coincidental that we are reading about hell on what is Tax Day in the U.S.

As bad as taxes can feel, hell is far worse.

We’d all like to think that hell is just a philosophical construct to get people to behave.

If you believe in the Word of God, today’s reading debunks that theory. Hell is a very real and bad place.

I’ve heard many say that a loving God would never condemn people to an eternity in hell.

They’re right.

God never condemns people to hell. People choose to go there by not trusting God to lead them to heaven through His grace and mercy.

The choice is for eternity and must be made here on earth.

I know there can be “death bed confessions” where someone can choose to trust at the last moment. Jesus showed that on the cross when He accepted the confession of the sympathetic robber on the next cross over from Him.

But why would anyone want to wait that long.

New life begins the moment someone chooses to trust Jesus. Freedom from guilt begins immediately and continues through eternity.

And none of us are guaranteed another waking moment.

Whenever I think about this, I can’t help thinking about my dad. He knew the Gospel from those of us who urged him to accept Jesus. He didn’t believe that someone as messed up as him could be forgiven.

It is my hope that he saw the truth and accepted it before he passed alone. Someday I will find out when I shed this mortal skin.

In the meantime, I will enjoy a life full of hope and freedom for now and eternity.

Do you know where you will spend eternity? The choice is yours.
Are you living a life of freedom in the grace and mercy of Jesus?