Heaven or Hell?

There are only two destinations after we die, and both are eternal:  heaven or hell. Where will you be?  Romans 6:23 states: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Eternity in heaven 

Heaven is described as a glorious place reserved for those who receive Jesus Christ’s gift of eternal salvation.  Heaven is an eternal life with JESUS, in righteousness, where sin exists no more.  It is hard to fathom and Paul explains it like this:  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” –  1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV).

Contrary to popular belief, heaven is not for the religious, church goers, or the “do-gooders.”   Heaven is for those who pick up their cross and follow JESUS.

Eternity in hell 

Hell is reserved for those who reject Jesus Christ.  The punishment of wickedness and followers of evil in hell is as never-ending as the eternal joy in heaven The Bible tell us just like this: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” – Matthew 25:46 (KJV).

Throughout scripture, hell is described as an unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12; Mark 9:44+49), an eternal fire (Matthew 25:41), where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12) where there is shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2), a place where the smoke of torment rises forever and ever ( Luke 16:23-24, Revelation 14:10-11), everlasting destruction ( 2 Thessalonians 1:9),where the wicked are tormented day and night for eternity (Revelation 20:10).

Those who choose hell, acknowledge the perfect righteous judgment of God: “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain” – Psalm 76:10 (KJV).

Escaping the Lies of Satan

Since the beginning of time, in the Garden of Eden, we learn that satan has beguiled mankind with all kinds of lies. He tempts and draws in humanity by the power of knowledge, just as he did with Eve, and the lie of immortality – “Ye shall not surely die:.For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” -Genesis 3:4-5 (KJV). And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: – Genesis 3:22 (KJV).

As a result of these lies, many believe there is no hell, no consequence for sin, deny our Creator, God, and deny that Jesus was sent to die on the cross for our sins, in essence, they are choosing to reject their deliverance.  All of which have eternal consequences.

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil- 1 John 3:8 (KJV).

Things that Keep us from the Salvation of Jesus Christ

1. I am not good Enough

Satan loves to make us think we are not good enough, and will try to convince some they cannot be saved.  Through this deception, I constantly hear “sinners” tell me that their sins are so GREAT, that God could not possibly forgive them. Jesus has good news for that lie from satan: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” – Romans 5:8 (KJV).  The bible declares, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9 (KJV).  The key word is ALL!

Do not be ashamed of what you have done, who you are, or where you have been,  Jesus is not a respecter of persons, and all sin is the same in the eyes of God. Meaning, there is no such thing as a white lie and a big lie, murder is the same as lying.  SIN IS SIN!   As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10).  JESUS died for each and every one of us.  Lay all your guilt, your sins, your past, anger, hatred, unforgiveness,  or whatever it is,  at the cross, and let it die, let it all be covered by the blood of Jesus.

Not one of us can say we are without sin.  We all have sin.  Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? – Proverbs 20:9 (KJV).

Jesus loves you, and he knows the sin in your heart.  If you simply ask for forgiveness, he will give it to you, and then you know what happens to that sin? God remembers it no more:

•  “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” -Hebrews 8:12 (KJV). 
• “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us”  -Psalms 103:12 (KJV).   

For further study on this topic, see also: Isaiah 33:24, 43:26, Jeremiah 3:13;31:34, Psalm 32:5, Proverbs 28:13

So you can evict that thought process from your mind!  Because you my dear friend, are loved by Jesus.  There is not one thing that you have done, that is not forgiven under Jesus Christ (except blasphemy of the Holy Ghost)  Do not let satan rob you of your gift of salvation with these lies. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” – Romans 8:1 (KJV). 

JESUS loves all of us, and wants all men to come unto truth and knowledge of Jesus Christ, to repent and live! (See 1 Timothy 2:4 and Ezekiel 18:32).

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him -John 3:17 (KJV).

One of my favorite verses and stories in the bible appears in Luke, regarding the thief on the cross, who hung beside Jesus.  This important and valuable lesson proves the mercy of Jesus, the thief was forgiven INSTANTLY, he did absolutely nothing except believe in Jesus.  That tells us, it is NEVER too late to be saved. No matter what we have done.  “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” -Luke 23:42-43 (KJV).

Just how precious are you to your Heavenly Father? More than you could ever imagine!

• He knew you before your were created in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16).
• He breathed the spirit of life into you (Job 33:4)
• He  knows the very number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7).
• He  knows your thoughts and what you are doing every moment (Psalm 139:2).
• He Knows the Secret desires of your heart (Psalm 44:21).

And, if JESUS can forgive you, you also need to forgive yourself.  Guilt and shame are not the fruits of God, but the lies from satan.

2. Lack of Faith

If there is anything that prevents us from coming into the fullness of truth and having a relationship with JESUS, it is a lack of faith. The bible teaches that a person without faith is unstable and will be tossed to and fro, and will be snared by the traps of satan.

• But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. – James 1:6-8 (KJV). 
• Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: – Romans 11:20 (KJV).

Jesus said, we will blessed when we stand in faith:

• Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. – John 20:29 (KJV).
• Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye seehim not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:8-9 (KJV). 
• Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. – Hebrews 10:22 (KJV). 

3. Lovers of Self and Pleasures more than Lovers of God

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; – 2 Timothy 3:4 (KJV).

Sin separates us from God, and a life of righteousness. I know many people who live in willful disobedience to God, yet claim they love and know him. Many are not willing to give up their favorite drug, alcohol, or bondage to sexual sin, some live in anger, have hatred, or some other stumbling block preventing them from having a true relationship with Christ. I have heard claims that the sin is too strong to overcome, that they have tried, and they have failed. The simple truth is, this is a lie and in some cases an excuse to keep sinning.

This power of overcoming sin, is JESUS.  We come to learn that we of our own volition cannot please God, we must depend on Christ (2 Corinthians 3:5). As a man, Jesus lived a perfect life (2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 7:21), and so He is a perfect example of how to live. As God, Jesus gives us the power to do what is right. It is possible to live a godly life—through the power of Christ (Philippians 4:13).

Jesus himself told us we not only have the power to make temptations stop, but we can make the devil flee from us.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. – James 4:7-8 (KJV).

Jesus spared us all an eternity in hell and offered us the gift of eternal life.  Without the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, his blood to wash away our sins, we would not have had the redemption needed to enter the Holy presence of God.  He bore our sins, even though he himself was sinless. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb, symbolically and literally. We must accept that we were created for a purpose and called as children of God to live a holy life. The choice is yours.

Do you know where you will go when you die? Where will you find yourself – heaven or hell?

How do you ensure your destiny?  Just receive the gift of eternal salvation, which is only through JESUS CHRIST.  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” -Romans 10:13 (KJV).

If you want to know Jesus as your personal Savior, please read more here:  I want to be saved

In the Faithful Service of Jesus Christ,

– Lisa Muhar

We invite you to Join us at:  He is Coming – Are You Ready?.

Our Ministry focuses on preparing the elect for the events to come, and to wake up the lost –as God does not wish anyone to perish -2 Peter 3:9 (KJV).