5.6 The Sobering Truth

Matthew 13:40 "So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This is a sobering passage of Scripture. Jesus says that at the end, those who have never entrusted their souls to Him will be gathered and thrown into the furnace of fire. He warns of hell where the fire is unquenchable and the weeping and gnashing of teeth is endless.

Today is Good Friday – the remembrance of the day when Jesus was crucified on the cross. It was there Jesus paid the penalty for your sin and mine. The punishment that we deserved fell upon Him. He was crushed for our transgressions.

That day, on the cross, Jesus the Savoir suffered the agony of hell for you and for me. And He did it so we wouldn’t have to endure everlasting torment.

He did it because He loves us. Did you know He loves you? Have you entrusted Him with your life? If you have not – I implore you to trust Him today.

If you have trusted Him, please realize the urgency of reaching out to others. Time is short. Make your time count for eternity.

Prayer prompts and discussion starters:

• Pray thanking God for Jesus’ death on the cross for you.Pray for a compelling love for the lost.
• Pray for a sense of urgency to proclaim the truth to those who don’t know it.
• Pray to be daily impacted by the reality of hell.
• Pray for people groups who have never heard the name of Jesus, that they will hear of Jesus and rejoice in Him.
• Pray for someone you know who has been hardened to the message of Jesus. Pray that God will soften his/her heart.
• Pray for a deep love for this person. Pray that you can communicate the love of Jesus to him/her.