DID JESUS GO TO HELL?
(It’s Only Fair)

         For years I denied such a thing. I was too busy teaching and raising a family to take time to find the many treasures in God’s Word. With my limited knowledge, I thought it was ridiculous for anyone to say such a thing. Why in the world would Jesus go to hell?
         Well, once again it is all about us and fulfilling God’s plan for His children. All God does is for His family. What love He has for us!
         Before the death of Christ, both the lost and the saved went to Hades (Sheol) although it was divided into the place of torment and the paradise of God, also called Abraham’s bosom. Luke 16:19-31 tells the story of the beggar Lazarus and another man and the two divisions after physical death. One went to torment; the other went to paradise.
         When Jesus hung on the cross, He consoled the penitent thief that he would be in paradise with Christ that day. One of the accomplishments of the Resurrection was to remove Old Testament saints from Abraham’s bosom (Hades) and lead them to Heaven. (Ephesians 4:8).
         When a Christian dies today, he goes immediately into the presence of God. (Philippians 2:23, Psalms 16:10, Ephesians 4:9, Matthew 28:6).
         I use to wonder about the children of God in the Old Testament before Jesus died for us on the cross. I understood that we were saved by His Grace when we received what He did for us at the cross, but I didn’t know what happened to the people before then.
         I should have known that God is a good God and He always has a plan. And when He comes up with a new plan, it’s always Better.
         “Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth to lead captivity captive.” [The people from Abraham’s bosom (paradise), to Heaven with Him]. (Ephesians 4:8-10).
         Christ said in Revelations l:18, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold (look-see), I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the KEYS of hell and death.”

WARNING!!
THIS MAY BE TOO GRAPHIC
FOR SOME TO READ

         One of the saddest things I see about hell, is that those who choose to go there remain in eternal torment. In Luke 16:19-31, they can see into Heaven and know what they have missed. Tormenting memories of their life on earth are constantly bombarding them. The man who went to hell suffered the torments of burning, separation from God and loved ones, loneliness, conviction by memory, thirst, and stench. Yet, there is no biblical indication that those in Heaven can see into hell.
         “My goodness, Lord. Why do You have me writing about this? You know how I hated those “Hell Fire and Brimstone” sermons my daddy use to preach. They were so scary.”
         Of course I got saved right away, because I sure didn’t want to go to hell. Punishment is bad enough on earth, I didn’t want to be punished for eternity.
         However, I always remember that it was the LOVE of God that drew me to Salvation at the age of nine. After that, I never chose to connect love with hell. I chose NOT to think about the horrors of hell, but to walk in a Polly Anna type of love for God…seeing only what I thought was good. And what “I” called LOVE.
         But the Love of God constrains me (2Corinthians 5:14), to draw the WHOLE picture of God’s love. We’ve become so busy about trying to live the “good Christian life”…setting people free from temporary bondages, that we have forgotten what Jesus came to save us FROM. We’ve tried to grow so close to Him in the present that hell has become a forgotten place by our own choice.
         Yes, it’s wise for Christians to center their thoughts on the things above. But how selfish have we become? What about our friends and loved ones? Do they know there is such a real place called hell: Eternal separation from God and eternal torment?
         If we will look into the flames of hell from time to time, we will remember God’s great Love for us when He sent Jesus to the cross. God does not wish that any perish and suffer such agonizing eternal pain when they can have eternal beauty and fellowship with Him.
         We forget why Jesus went to the cross. We forget what He died to save us FROM. This is the TRUE, powerful, providing love of God. We have a choice…the Love of God and Heaven or the deceit of Satan and hell. How many people are not fully aware of their choices?

IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE
(John 3:15-18)

         Oh yes. It’s all about love; the love of a good God who has planned a way of escape for His children.
         Why does He have me writing about this now? Because it is the end-times, and He is bringing in the last of His children. [Those who have ears to hear.] And many need to be reminded of why Jesus went to the cross for them. We need to see the WHOLE PICTURE. It’s not just about us, but also about those who will be saved from total damnation because of our CLEAR PICTURE of hell; not an imaginary place.
         It wouldn’t be fair if God didn’t tell us. And it’s not fair when we don’t tell others.
         In Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17, in verse 20, He says, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their  word.” 
         There are many more scriptures about Heaven than about Hell. I think this is because once we taste the Love of God, our desires turn upward toward our Father and Heavenly Home. Most of the Bible is teaching how to walk the good life with God. But, there is no good life without receiving the Creator of Life from our heart. It’s only FAIR to give others the choice.

REVIEW OF THE SALVATION PRAYER

         In case you are thinking of someone who is ready to make the right choice, you might like to review this Salvation Prayer from Fresh Bread #49.

www.angelfoodblessings.com  “I Don’t Understand.” (the last page.)

Salvation Prayer

           If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the greatest Friend you will ever have. As you say these words, if you’ll believe them with your heart you will be born again. (Romans 10:9-10).
         “Jesus come into my life. Forgive me of all my sins. I ask You to cleanse my heart, and make me a new person in You right now. I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died on the cross for me. Jesus, I want to thank You for loving me enough to die for me. I accept all that Your shed blood bought for me on the cross, and I receive You as my Savior and Lord. In Your name I pray. Amen.”
            If you’ve just prayed this prayer, congratulations! You are born again, a “new creature in Christ” and as, 2 Corinthians 5:17 in the New Testament says, “…Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  You now have a whole new life with Jesus to look forward to starting NOW. Your slate is clean before God. Your spirit has been reborn because of Christ’s great sacrifice and love for you. 

[Note to readers: I know that most of you have already asked Jesus into your heart to be your Lord. But, just in case, someone has not, I want them to have this opportunity to KNOW Jesus. Then when He comes they will know Him even as He knows them now.]

“COME LORD JESUS"