Tell Me A Story: Devotions From Time Of Grace Ministryنموونە

STORY #4: If only . . .

“Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:28-30).

Whew! Jesus’ story certainly ends on a harsh note, doesn’t it? Why do you suppose he talked to people that way? Clearly because he thinks it’s imperative that people take the wrath of God seriously. People who refuse to worship him usually end up worshiping themselves.

You’ve probably heard any number of jokes about hell. Hell isn’t funny. Jesus says that there will be weeping and teeth gnashing--bitter regrets, self-recrimination, self-loathing, everlasting resentments against all whose “fault” it is to end up there, and hating God and oneself most of all. The worst will be for those who knew better and threw their salvation away. Imagine an eternity of “If only . . . ”

Satan himself will not be the dark lord of hell. The Bible says that he will be prisoner #0001, cast into the lowest part, for all the evil he has done. Satan himself led the way in rejecting service to the Lord and claiming his life as his own.

Somebody in your life needs to know these things. How can you use the talents that God has given to you to share the good news of Jesus’ gift?