Daily Devotional for Friday August 29, 2008

George Carlin Speaks from the Flames of Hell

(Luke 16:19-31)

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 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.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " (Luke 16:19-31)

George Carlin speaks from the flames of hell. This June, comic George Carlin died. Carlin spent his comedic career mocking God, Jesus, the Bible, and Christians. He would refer to God as the "invisible man in the sky." On June 22, 2008 as Carlin took his last breath, he met the "invisible man in the sky" as each person will the moment they die. Unless Carlin, in the last moment of his life asked Jesus to forgive him for his sins and accepted Christ by faith, he was judged for his sins and cast into the flames of hell for all eternity.

I am certain that a couple of months later, if Carlin could speak to his many fans today, he would be sharing with them a completely different message about God, Jesus, the Bible, and the Christian faith. I imagine he would be like the rich man in that incredible passage of Scripture from Luke's Gospel, trying to warn his family and friends about the horrors of hell. He would no longer be speaking as George Carlin the famous comedian, but as George Carlin, simply a man who because of his rejection of Jesus Christ has been sentenced to eternity in hell as payment for his sins.

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 impossible 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 over a lifetime, Carlin rejected the love of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross as payment for his sins. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." 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 George Carlin 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 who understood the Christian faith so well that he mocked it throughout his life, who chose to reject the love of Christ, had many people over the years share with him that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved. As famous as he was, as great a career as he had, all of that meant nothing the moment he died. At that moment, the only thing that mattered was if George Carlin has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that all who deny the Lord will die in their sins and be cast into hell for all eternity.

I have no doubt that somewhere in the world, within a few minutes of the passing of George Carlin, 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 fame, but death is the great equalizer. If Carlin died without Christ, this man that was known and admired by the world, this man that had all 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?"

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. The good news is that God's free gift of everlasting life is available to everyone. I have no doubt that if George Carlin could speak from the flames of hell, he would not be doing a comedy routine, but warning people that there really is a God, He has a Son named Jesus, and faith in Jesus Christ is your only hope now and for all eternity!!!

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.

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller