I often warned you that many people are living as enemies of the cross of Christ. And now with tears in my eyes, I warn you again that they are headed for hell! They worship their stomachs and brag about the disgusting things they do. All they can think about are the things of this world.
But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.
Philippians 3:18-21
As a human being you have the freedom to live as an enemy of the Cross of Christ. God does not force you to be a Jesus Follower. But that does not mean that there are no consequences for not following Jesus? Paul clearly warns that being an enemy of the Cross means that you are headed for Hell, and he had tears in his eyes when he spoke that warning.
We are continually tempted to ignore the tragedy of Hell and tell people of the love of Jesus in hopes they will decide to turn their hearts to Him. Imagine that there is a "lake of fire" outside of your town and there are only two roads leading out. One road ends in that lake of fire and the other goes to Heaven. If many people were on the road that "dead ends" in that lake where they would perish, what would you do? Would you put on an advertising campaign which talked about how wonderful the other road is, or would you also warn them about the "lake of fire?"
The love of God is real and is the most amazing thing in all the world, but the fires of Hell are real as well and are the final destination of all those who live as enemies of Christ! Jesus Himself clearly said that no one could come to the Father except by Him. Simply stated all those who refuse to follow Jesus are going to Hell! That truth is not "politically correct" and it upsets all those who want to judge men on the basis of "human kindness." They decide that a person must being going to Heaven if he is a "good person." Sadly, that is not the basis of citizenship in Heaven.
Here is the troubling truth! If you are a kind, sweet and loving person and your only enemy is the Cross of Christ you will go to Hell when you die! How you live does not determine your Eternal Destiny! Heaven is for those who follow Jesus and Hell is for those who don't! It is that simple and it is that tragic!
Forget all the human arguments about who will go to Heaven and who won't. Jesus is the way to Heaven and there is no other way!
"Lord Jesus! I may have many enemies in this world, but I pray that Your Cross is not one of them. And Lord, give me to courage to warn others that not following Jesus will end in the fires of Hell! And may You, Lord Jesus, be praised forever. Amen."
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