Overcome! Devotions From Time Of GraceExemplo

Overcome! No Hell For You

Have you ever had your evangelism invitation to another sinner blown off with a remark like, “I’m not concerned about any so-called judgment day; I’ve already suffered my hell on this earth”? One way or another you have to deliver the hard news: “No, you haven’t. You have not remotely begun to experience the wrath that God is going to bring down on Satan, his demons, and all who follow him."

Even people with very hard lives get to enjoy the blessings that a kind God distributes to believers and unbelievers alike: orange and purple sunsets, gentle rain on a June evening, the bracing cold air of winter, melodies from birds overhead. The hell described by Scripture has none of those things--only a misery so intense and persistent that not even a drop of water for parched mouths was to be given to the damned in Jesus’ parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus.

Our Savior, Jesus, experienced hell for us on his horrible cross--supreme physical agony coupled with the dark fury of God’s judgment. He suffered all alone, and he suffered enough. Through his precious gospel he gives you and me heartfelt encouragement not to grow weary in our faith: “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). The first death is the perishing of our bodies, which God will undo with a simple word. It is the second death, condemnation to hell, that is far worse, and Jesus has freed you from it.

Hang on! Just a little bit longer . . .