Daily Devotional for Sunday November 6, 2005
Is Superman in Hell
(2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Luke 16:19-31)
LAST OCTOBER, actor Christopher Reeve died. His death led me to write one of the most powerful Devotionals I have written in nearly 6 years on knowing Christ as your Savior by faith and that HE is the only way to Heaven. The brutal Biblical truth that there is only ONE WAY to be saved, dispelling the common lie that ?there are many roads to Heaven,? upset many people. I am re-airing this message today because the eternal souls of people are at stake. Those who reject Christ for whatever reasons will spend all of eternity separated from God their Creator in a place that was created for satan and his fallen angels, not man. Please forward this important message to everyone that you know who is not saved, regardless of how upset they may be with you since it could be the difference in someone you know spending eternity in Heaven, or in Hell.
?As a kid, religion seemed to be a bit scary, that you were kind of guilty while going into church. And it sort of sometimes made you feel bad. But I have become a Unitarian. And we embrace that because it?s all inclusive and it?s about the goodness in people. That God, you know, loves us and that he assumes that we are good. And also it just assumes that we have a moral compass inside us. And we kind of know what?s right. Clearly, the spirit and body are two different things. And beyond that, I?m still searching for the meaning of it all.? Christopher Reeve from What Hollywood Believes by Ray Comfort
Sadly, actor Christopher Reeve died last October at the age of 52 of complications from an infection caused by a bedsore. Famous for his role in the Superman movies, Reeve will be remembered for his courage and desire to walk again after a devastating horse riding accident left him a quadriplegic nine years ago. He also became a driving force for spinal cord research, including a strong advocate for stem cell research. The purpose of this Devotional today is NOT to deal with that issue, since it is not even debatable. Killing a life that came from God is never an option no matter how noble the cause may be. The ends never justify the means.
Our prayers continue to be with Christopher Reeve?s wife, children, and family in their loss. I pray that those in his family who know Christ as their Savior will find His comfort, and those who do not may have their hearts opened to Christ?s love. The question I want to pose today is a legitimate one and one that needs to be discussed since death is a very real part of our life, and something each person reading these words today will experience.
The Bible clearly tells us that tomorrow is promised to none of us. The fact is, the moment we take our last breath we will stand before God. At that instant, there is only one thing that will matter and that is whether you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and life by faith. At that moment, those who have accepted Him will be forever with God their Creator. Those who have rejected Him will be forever separated from God their Creator. It is mpossible for us with our finite minds to even begin to comprehend the glory of Heaven, being with God our Creator for eternity. Likewise, it is impossible for us to even begin to imagine the horrors of Hell, being separated from God our Creator for eternity.
HELL IS NOT A BAD VACATION, IT IS ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD YOUR CREATOR AND THERE ARE NO WORDS THAT COULD EVER DESCRIBE THAT HORROR!!!
The Bible, which is our final authority in ALL matters is very clear on death. It is final. There is no such thing as reincarnation, we are not coming back as a petunia. We don?t die and go to some special place where people can pray us into Heaven over time. The moment we die our body is no longer of any use and our soul lives on for eternity, either forever with God, or forever separated from Him. That eternal destination is determined by only ONE THING, our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Being a member of a certain church CANNOT save you. Being baptized as a baby CANNOT save you. The faith of your parents CANNOT save you. Good works CANNOT save you. A pastor or priest simply praying over you while you are dying CANNOT save you. The ONLY THING that can save you is putting your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. It is a choice, a conscious choice, that YOU and YOU ALONE have to make BEFORE you die.
Sadly, based on his own words, Christopher Reeve rejected Jesus Christ and bought into a great lie from the pits of hell that ?all good people will go to Heaven.? That lie is clearly exposed by God?s Word since we are told point blank that ?there are no good people, no not one.? The Bible also tells us that ?all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.? As wonderful as the lie the Unitarian Church that Reeve and millions of others have bought into sounds, it conveniently leaves out one important thing . . . SIN. You see my friend, it is our SIN that separates us from a Holy and Righteous God, and why only faith in Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins can allow us to be reconciled to God.
I am sure Christopher Reeve did many good works throughout his life. However, the Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:8,9 that good works will not save you. No doubt a man as well traveled as Reeve had to come across many people over the years that shared with him that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Only God knows our heart, and only God knows if at some point at the very end of his life Christopher made a commitment to Christ. But let me reiterate, as great of a life as he had, as loved as he was, it all meant nothing the moment he died. If Christopher Reeve died without confessing Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, he is lost for eternity and in Hell!
I have no doubt that somewhere in the world, within a few minutes of the passing of Christopher Reeve, a man that had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior also died. This man was not known by the world, he did not have great wealth, but death is the great equalizer. If Reeve died without Christ, this man that was known and loved by the world, this man that had all the wealth this world could offer, was instantly cast into eternal darkness. At the same time, the man who DID know Jesus, who had no fame or fortune in this life, was instantly ushered into the presence of Almighty God for eternity. ?What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul?? (Luke 16:19-31)
I love you and care about you so much. Being a famous person in this life does NOT guarantee you anything when this brief journey is over. Each person is responsible for their own eternal destination by their choice in regard to Jesus Christ. You see, it was Jesus that died on a cross 2,000 years ago for your sins and mine. That is why ONLY faith in Jesus can save you.
If right now, this very moment, you do not have the assurance that when your life is over, you will be forever with God, the Bible says that TODAY is the day of salvation. You never have to doubt or wonder again. Bow your head right now, ask God to open your heart, and read the words at this following link: www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.html. I will be praying for you as you make the most important decision that you will make in this life, where you will spend eternity.