ULOG: DAY 26- "HOW TO CHOOSE HEAVEN, NOT HELL?"

While many of us think that hell doesn't really exist, there are proofs that when we die, we are judged whether we're thrown to hell or heaven. Other people say there is hell because they live a miserable life. When a person is brokenhearted, he says he is in hell. When a person is struggling in his job, he says he is in hell. When a person is struggling financial problem, he says he is in hell, and when a person is in ill, he says he's in hell. But hell cannot be experienced in this world, it exists after we die.

The shreds of evidence, there is hell because the Lord says. There is hell because it is written in the Bible. The question is, how ready are you to die? How ready are you to be judged whether you'll be dwelling in hell or heaven?

In Isaiah 30:15, God says that repentance and rest is our salvation.

NIV

"15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."

Repenting our sins signifies our cleansing to the Lord. Doing great things to our fellow is not just the key to be qualified in heaven's gate. In order to build an intimate relationship with Him, praying is the key.

Many of us complain that there is no real God assuming that our prayers are not answered. Let's all remember that it's not easy to receive His approval if we just come back to Him during bad times. God wants us to always be connected to Him.

Meaning of Prayer

The Bible teaches that praying means to know God is greater than us, He is the King and above all. We should always humble ourselves by simply talking to Him in respect by bowing our heads or bending our knees, going to the solemn place where there is no noise because He is the creator of all things. Praying also means that we are lower than the Lord.

Psalm 135:5-6 (NIV)
"5 I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. 6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths."

The King of Juda Josaphat saw the large colonies from United forces. He doesn't know what he do. But then, before he attacked envaders, he humbled himself to the Lord and confessed that he cannot fight them all. Because the Lord sees his trust, he made a way.

2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV)
"12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

God says that as long as we always humble ourselves to Him, we will not be forsaken. He wants us to talk to Him in times of happiness, if everything is normal and in times of sadness. His demands are simpler than our demands. Through prayer, mistakes are cleansed, we are guided to the right path, we will be blessed, and we will be defended by His approval. We become independent from desolation, grief, greediness, self-reliance, and the rest of worldly desires. Then, we become ready to die 'coz we know that we don't deserve hell.

Why is hell the scariest place that God has promises for the sinners?

CHARACTERISTICS OF HELL

In Luke 16:24, King Solomon begged Abraham to be poured a little water on his tongue, but Abraham refused to do it. The story in Luke means that if we will be thrown to the fire, we have no chance to move in heaven eternally.

Luke 16:24 (NIV)
"24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire."

The lake of fire is infested with worms. While we suffer the burning feeling throughout the body, we also suffer the creeps that attack us.

The lake of fire is eternal. It can never be whipped by the air to stop it.

While we are alive, let's be certain that our names will be written to the book of life.

Revelation 20:10 -15 (NIV)
"10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The Judgment of the Dead

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."

Disclaimer: The verses come from the Bible of NIV. The illustration is original.