Judy was a very busy lady. She was the CEO of a major corporation, a mother of 3, and an inspiring singer trying to further her new found love of singing. In July she got an invitation to a prestigious banquet that was hosting a dinner for new and upcoming singers and was asked to open the banquet by singing the first song. The banquet was to be held in December and Judy was so excited and honored to be the first singer.
When the date finally arrived Judy was so nervous but excited to. When she got to the banquet hall the gentleman at the door asked “What is your name?” In which Judy answered Judy Midkiff. The man looked at the list and said “I’m sorry but there is no such name on the list.” She said “my name has to be on the list I’m the opening singer.” The man asked her for the spelling of her name and rechecked the list again. Again there was no Judy Midkiff on the list. He asked if she had her reservation and she responded that she never R.S.V.P’d because she thought that she didn’t need to being that she was the opening singer. He said “I’m sorry but without a reservation I cannot let you in.”
Can you imagine this happening to you?! Have you ever tried out for a sport like cheer leading, basketball, football, or anything and the coaches were going to post a list with those that “made the team” on it? It’s so exciting yet so nerve wrecking to wait and see if you “made the team” or not. When you see your name on the list you are so honored and excited knowing that you were good enough to make the team. But what if your name wasn’t on the list? You walk up to the board, with your finger going down the list waiting to stop on your name but it isn’t there! What a gut wrenching feeling. How depressing, you feel when you think you aren’t good enough to make the team.
Or maybe you were like Judy and thought that you didn’t have to make reservations for you and a loved one at a restaurant and when you show up they say that your name isn’t on the list. You may feel mad, angry, embarrassed, or foolish. Many emotions can go on when you get caught up thinking that you don’t have to do something so menial as making a reservation, that when you get there you can just slide by.
In heaven there is a book and that book is called “The Lambs book of life” and every person that has given their life for Christ their name is written in it. And if you never gave your life to Christ your name will not be listed there, you will have no reservation and you cannot just slide by.
Matthew 22:12-14 (New International Version, ©2010)12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
And just like the gentleman at the door who didn’t find Judy’s name on the list, when you stand before the Lord and he doesn’t find your name in the Lambs book of life he will say
Luke 13:27-29 (New International Version, ©2010)27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
The Bible says and anyone whose name isn’t written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire which is hell. There is also a book that has recorded everything you have ever done in it. On judgment day you will have to give an account as to why you did what you did.
People like to joke and say that there will be a party in hell, or a poker tournament or whatever else silly thing they can come up with. But let me show you what the Bible says about hell.
Luke 12:5 (NIV)5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Matthew 13:41-43 (New International Version, ©2010)41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Revelation 17:7-9 (New International Version, ©2010)7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come. 9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.
Revelation 20:10 (King James Version)10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 21:7-8 (King James Version)7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Now does that sound like a party? Don't let Satan the Devil deceive you into thinking that there will be a party in hell.
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