By Evangelist John BJ Hall
I was speaking with a fellow not long ago about why he did not trust in Christ. His biggest objection was that he did not believe in Hell. He said, “How could a loving God send people to Hell for eternity?”
He has his question completely backward. The question is not “How could God send people to Hell.” The question is, “Why would men chose to go to Hell instead of coming to Christ.”
Think of it this way. Imagine that I have two glasses of water. These glasses are numbered 1 and 2. I then tell you that glass number one is full of strawberry juice with one drop of poison and glass number two is pure strawberry juice. Who in their right mind would choose glass number one?
If you choose to drink from glass number one, even though it only has one drop of poison, you will die.
However, if you drink from glass number two, I will send you on an all expenses paid trip to Disney World. You will live in a multimillion dollar mansion and you will be driven in a Rolls Royce anywhere your heart desires.
I have clearly laid out the parameters. I have defined what is in each glass and the consequences of drinking from each glass.
Now, if you choose to drink from glass number one, you can’t say it is unfair that you have to die and don’t get to go to Disney World and ride in a Rolls Royce.
If I had not told you from the beginning what was in each glass and simply handed you the glass with the poison, that would be unfair. But I didn’t do that.
I gave you the free choice. I am not evil because you chose to drink the poison. You were completely free to drink the strawberry juice in glass number two.
Did you know that Jesus talked about Hell more than any other person in the Bible? Jesus believed there was a Hell to avoid and a Heaven to choose. He told the true story of a man named Lazarus, who was poor and sick. He laid at the gate of a rich man who didn’t even care enough to give him scraps off his table.
Lazarus died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom (an analogy for paradise).
The rich man died and in Hell, he lifted up his eyes and saw Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham. He cried out in torment and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.” (Luke 16:24 NASB)
The rich man didn’t grouse and complain that it wasn’t fair. He saw that he was in Hell by his own choice. “How can you say that?” you may ask.
When he found that he could not have water to cool his tongue, he said, “Then I beg you, father, that you send him (Lazarus) to my father's house—28 for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” Luke 16:27-28 (NASB)
The rich man wanted his brothers to make a better choice than he had made.
One did come back from the dead. His name was Jesus. He arose the victor over death and Hell. By His resurrection, all those who trust in Him will receive the gift of eternal life. The choice is yours, and yours alone. I cannot make it for you. No one can make that choice for you. God, Himself cannot make that choice for you!
Which will you choose, glass number one that leads to death, or glass number two that leads to eternal life?
Lonesome
As I sit here in this dingy cell,
My life more lonesome than I can tell.
No wondering what the verdict will be.
When the Judge of all calls out to me.
The questioning of my fear is strong.
How did I let life go so wrong?
Why didn’t I hear those words of peace,
That could have given my soul true ease?
Chorus:
You don’t have to spend eternity this way
If you fall on your knees and pray.
You can live your life in His peace and love
When you call on the Lord above.
I could have been on the other side,
Where peace and love with all do abide.
I see over there my mother dear,
And father too, as I shed a tear.
They look so peaceful and full of rest.
But then I too could have been thus bless’d.
But I chose a path that led to death.
And walked that path till my dying breath.
Chorus:
You don’t have to spend eternity this way
If you fall on your knees and pray.
You can live your life in His peace and love
When you call on the Lord above.
I had heard the call of hope and love
But thought that God, I could live above.
So now I feel the fires of hell.
My life’s more lonesome than I can tell.
Chorus:
You don’t have to spend eternity this way
If you fall on your knees and pray.
You can live your life in His peace and love
When you call on the Lord above.
© Copyright 1995 by Passages Ministries, All rights reserved.
For permission to use this song contact Passages Ministries.