Four men were fishing in the Niagara River, a short distance above the renowned "Falls," and got into a heated argument regarding Hell. Three of them maintained that there was no such place, while the fourth contended for the truth as revealed.
The disputants became so excited that they got perilously near to the sweep of the current, and it was only by dint of hard rowing that they escaped being dragged down the Falls. The danger being over, the believer asked the others why they had been so excited, seeing that, according to their belief, there was no such place as Hell. One of them replied that it was a "good enough doctrine to go fishing with, but a poor one to go over the Falls with!”
There is a Hell as well as a Heaven. He who tells us of the one, speaks to us of the other. At the judgment of the Christ-less dead on the great day of reckoning, it is distinctly stated that whosoever's name is not found written in the "Book of Life" will be "cast into the Lake of Fire.”
Many try to persuade themselves that God "is too good" to send any of His creatures to Hell. As they find no countenance in Scripture for such a belief, they appeal to sentiment and assert that a "God of love" could never be so "unjust" as to cast man into such a dreadful place. They seem to forget, or ignore, the fact that God is "holy" as well as merciful, and has declared that He will "by no means clear the guilty" (Ex. 34:77Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:7)). God's pardoning mercy has but one channel through which it flows, and that is through the Cross of Christ. God's Holy Word declares: "The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the nations that forget God." Psa. 9:1717The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17).
"Hell is a man's conscience," say some. If this be so, then we may read Psa. 9:1717The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17) as follows: "The wicked shall be turned into his own conscience!" That would be a strange place to be "turned into." What of those who seem to have no "conscience," or whose conscience is seared? It is to be feared that multitudes are in that terrible condition described in Scripture as "past feeling." In eternity they will be fully alive to their folly and madness!
Thank God, there is no reason why anyone should go to Hell. Hell was not prepared for man, but for "the Devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)). It is not God's desire that any one Should go to the place of woe.
"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" (Ezek. 33:1111Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11)) is God's solemn declaration. When He swears by His own existence that He has "no pleasure" in the sinner's death, and that He desires him to turn from his evil way and live, He ought to be believed.
He has no desire, therefore, that the unsaved reader should go to the abode of despair.
"Why will ye die?" since God loves you and has no pleasure in your death.
"Why will ye die?" since Christ died for you.
"Why will ye die?" since God desires to save you from going down to eternal woe. Hearken to His glorious declaration: "Deliver him (the sinner) from going down to the Pit: I have found a ransom." Job 33:2424Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24).
At an infinite cost He has opened up a way whereby you can now be rescued from eternal perdition. What then is the "ransom" of His providing?
"There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all." 1 Tim. 2:66Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6).
God has accepted the "ransom" on your behalf. Christ's death for you is a perfect atonement to the injured honor of the divine character and government of God.
"Escape for thy life." There is danger ahead.
"Flee from the wrath to come," else death may overcome you. Enter the door of mercy ere it is closed.