Do You Want to Find Out?

“Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.  Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.  They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.  The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.  Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword: Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.  There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.  They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.  There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.  And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.  Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword.  There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.  There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.”  Ezekiel 32:18-30

 

As Jesus prophesied there would be wars and rumors of war (Matt. 24:6), yet we also have wars in our streets and neighborhoods throughout the United States.  Our murder rate in this country is near or at record highs.  Even in rural Rapid City, South Dakota, this town is no stranger to murders. 

 

A couple of years ago there was an average of 7 murders per year, but now that number in the past 2 years has been at 14, this is a city of only around 80k people.  Yet in my old stomping grounds of the Chicago area, the war ravages on daily, with many victims of gunshot wounds winding up in the hospital or dead. 

 

The other day in a rowdy bar in downtown Rapid City another murder was committed, a man lay dead from gunshot wounds.  Without having repented towards God and by faith believed into Jesus Christ as one’s Savior, just what does the future hold?  Do you want to find out?

 

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31

 

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Acts 20:21

 

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Romans 10:8-10

 

The Bible is quite clear that without Salvation there is no hope.  The graves of the dead are testimony to the souls who have died in their sins, those who have went down to the Pit, those who are now ashamed and there is nothing that they can do about it. 

 

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”  Daniel 12:2

 

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:15

 

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”  Luke 13:24-28

 

While they might have been a terror to those in the land of the living, they are now ashamed in the Pit, receiving the fitting retribution for their sins.  There is no more hope, there is nothing but despair and that for eternity. 

 

Why o’ why will people not repent and accept the free gift of Salvation?  Why o’ why will they choose to live a life that is contrary to their Creator?  Why not accept the free gift of Salvation (Rom. 5:15), from Him who paid the penalty for your sins on the Cross?

 

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”  1st Peter 2:24

 

“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.  Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”  Isaiah 53

 

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”…  1st Peter 3:18

 

There are many out there who like to make life a terror for others in the land of the living.  Whether it is a school bully, a workplace clown or a street rival, they can often make life less enjoyable for their victim.  Their victims often fear trying to find out what will happen to them next, will they be mocked, pushed and shoved, have something stolen or damaged, be ridiculed in front of their coworkers or have their work sabotaged?  Will they be able to walk safely down the street or will they make it home that night?  Yet if one stood back and considered the ways of the wicked, if one pondered their paths, just where are these who refuse to follow God heading?  Where is their end?

 

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 14:12

 

The war drums are beating and I am not one to necessarily follow the rhetoric being fed to us from the media.  Exactly what is partaking between Russia, Ukraine, NATO and the United States is a mystery of which I don’t have all of the answers, but as Ezekiel set a lamentation towards Pharaoh, giving examples of those who also walked ungodly, so too God knows the truth of the matter and what is really happening behind the scenes.

 

Many a nation has risen and fallen, this is nothing new, but a nation who forsakes God Almighty is certainly on a path towards destruction.  The United States of America, while proclaiming the name of God, while proclaiming to be a Christian nation, how much worse a punishment for the woes of our society should be expected than a nation which does not proclaim the name of God with blasphemous and hypocritical actions?

 

The Nazi soldiers graves are a testimony to a nation that has gone awry, just as the police tape and crosses are to a neighborhood that has been plaqued with the ungodly and their sinful ways.  Those who have fallen are certainly a testimony, one which they can not tell in the light of day, but their graves testify to their ungodliness and call out as a warning to those who might follow in their footsteps, not to follow their paths. 

 

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil;”… Exodus 23:2a

 

Jesus said…“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3

 

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  Galatians 6:7

 

As an individual, as one who will eventually either be at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10) or the Great White Throne Judgment, we are all individually accountable for ourselves before a holy and mighty God, our Creator.  While we might not be part of the street gangs or partake in the military service of a country that has gone rogue, we nonetheless have been born into sin (Ps. 51:5) and all of us have sinned.

 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”… Romans 3:23

 

“ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

 

Just what is the Pit like, what exactly is Hell like?  Do you want to find out?  Certainly there are details that could be given and have been in another article, but without any doubt in my mind, someone who enters Hell would instantly have forsaken their ways and turned to God and His mercy, whom sent His Son to die on the Cross for our sins.  Indeed, a bit too late, as the rich man who wanted to go back and warn his family (Luke 16:19-31), yet they cannot, their eternal destiny is sealed.

 

So are you just going to continue on your way, ignoring God’s Truth that is evident to be found all around? 

 

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”  Romans 1:18-32

 

At what point will you get your life ‘right’ and be in the position to get right with God, repenting towards Him and by faith believing into Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?  Certainly a few repeated words, without a contrite heart, before your Creator is going to be of no avail. 

 

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”  James 2:19

 

Certainly there were those of Israel who assumed that all would be well because they assumed God’s protection, despite the fact that they behaved as wicked men.

 

“The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.”  Micah 3:11

 

Yet what was the end result?  What did they find out?  Did not God call them to repentance?  Should they not have dropped what they were doing, despite and due to the strong warnings of the prophets against them, and put sackcloth on their hearts, walked lightly as Ahab (1 Kings 21:27) and turned to their Creator at all cost, knowing that God’s judgment is just? 

 

“And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him.  And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.  And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.  Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.  And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.  And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?  The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.  Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.  And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.”  Judges 10:6-16

 

Should they not have turned to their Creator with their whole heart and forsaken their ways?  Did God want them to perish?

 

“Say 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

 

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”  2nd Peter 3:8-10

 

Instead they found out that God is holy and He is just.  They found out that their Creator will not ignore their sin.

 

^“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.”  Numbers 32:23

 

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”  Proverbs 15:3

 

Certainly it should be a fearful thing to know that God is watching you right now!  If only we could always, each individual, keep that in our minds.  Yet without the fear of God (Pr. 9:10), there is no wisdom. 

 

Many a man and woman walk this earth, this place that God has Created for us to inhabitant, without barely a thought in regards to where they are, who they are and who Created them (Gen. 1:27).  They would prefer the preaching from the rotten pulpits who tell them that God accepts them ‘just as they are’, rather than the pounding of the pulpit of a preacher who warns them to repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

 

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”  Jeremiah 5:31

 

They want it all, they want to live as they please and they want the rewards of those who are truly Saved and serve God in righteousness.  Yet it will not be that way, they will find that out, what about you?  Do you want to find out the blessings and rewards of being with God for all eternity in the place that He has prepared or do you want to find out what the Lake of Fire is that is prepared for the devil and his angels?

 

“Then 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

 

I beseech you to seek God before it is too late!

 

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13

 

Lest this turn out to be the case:

 

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”  Jeremiah 8:20

 

Do not go through life ignoring the Truth of this world.  Seek God now before it is too late! 

 

Amen!