Part III - Little Jessica
So that is God’s moral Law that we each will face. We will be without excuse when we stand before God because He gave us our conscience to know right from wrong. Each time we lie, steal, commit adultery, murder, and so on, we know that it’s wrong. So here is the crucial question. On Judgment Day, when God judges you, will you be found innocent or guilty of breaking this Law?
Think before you answer. Will you go to Heaven or Hell? The Bible warns that all murderers, idolaters, liars, thieves, fornicators, and adulterers will end up in Hell (See Revelation 21:8; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). So where does that leave you?
Perhaps the thought of going to Hell doesn’t scare you, because you don’t believe in it. That’s like standing in the open door of a plane 10,000 feet off the ground and saying, “I don’t believe there will be any consequences if I jump without a parachute.” There are at least two very good reasons one should believe in hell. First, belief in a just God demands ultimate justice. And since justice is imperfect here on earth, God must administer judgment in the hereafter. Secondly, Jesus taught about hell—and we believe that Jesus is reliable. In fact, Jesus spoke of hell more than any other biblical writer. Hell was his most discussed topic (with angels being number two and love number three)!
To say that there will be no consequences for breaking God’s Law is to say that God is unjust, that He is evil. Perhaps an illustration can explain why. On February 24, 2005, a nine-year-old girl was reported missing from her home in Homosassa, Florida. Three weeks later, police discovered that she had been kidnapped, brutally raped, and then buried alive. Little Jessica Lunsford was found tied up, in a kneeling position, clutching a stuffed toy.
Think before you answer. Will you go to Heaven or Hell? The Bible warns that all murderers, idolaters, liars, thieves, fornicators, and adulterers will end up in Hell (See Revelation 21:8; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). So where does that leave you?
Perhaps the thought of going to Hell doesn’t scare you, because you don’t believe in it. That’s like standing in the open door of a plane 10,000 feet off the ground and saying, “I don’t believe there will be any consequences if I jump without a parachute.” There are at least two very good reasons one should believe in hell. First, belief in a just God demands ultimate justice. And since justice is imperfect here on earth, God must administer judgment in the hereafter. Secondly, Jesus taught about hell—and we believe that Jesus is reliable. In fact, Jesus spoke of hell more than any other biblical writer. Hell was his most discussed topic (with angels being number two and love number three)!
To say that there will be no consequences for breaking God’s Law is to say that God is unjust, that He is evil. Perhaps an illustration can explain why. On February 24, 2005, a nine-year-old girl was reported missing from her home in Homosassa, Florida. Three weeks later, police discovered that she had been kidnapped, brutally raped, and then buried alive. Little Jessica Lunsford was found tied up, in a kneeling position, clutching a stuffed toy.