A Painful Reminder

“When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” – 2 Thess. 1:7b-9

How often do we think of the reality of life without Christ? Sure in our nice comfortable lives, we don’t see much judgment or consequence for not believing in Christ. In fact, often we can’t even see too much of a difference between a believer and good non-believer. But the reality of life without Christ needs to on the forefront of our thoughts every day and what pushes us to urgency in sharing the gospel with everyone.
We know the truth…eternal separation from God, something we’ve never experienced because God’s grace, even in spite of our world’s tragedies and sufferings, has always covered us. And eternal suffering in the lake of fire, a horrible, excruciating way to suffer.
Last night, I was hot gluing something and dropped some glue on my hand. It was instant, agonizing pain. Immediately my pointer finger on my left hand and the ring finger of my right hand blistered up. The rest of the evening, I could not take my hand out of a bowl of ice water because the pain was just too unbearable. When the ice melted, I had to have John refill it. I couldn’t even go to sleep without keeping my hand in water.
It was only two fingers, but I lost sleep, it consumed my thoughts, my hands were useless. Only my fingers. What if it were my whole body on flame? There would be no end, no death. There would be no ice water to offer relief. The rich man in begged Lazarus for just a drop of water, just a drop. I had a whole bowl full to submerge myself. Eternity is forever, my pain only lasted hours than was a bad memory.

“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.” Lk. 16:23-24

And this is why I’m here – to share Jesus, the only hope, to save from the looming, but just judgment that’s coming. How often is my mind on who to share Christ with, who I HAVE to share Christ with? Do I live in the reality of eternity – either life with Christ or life without (dying with never dying).
Thank you Lord for this painful reminder, Put the reality of eternity on my mind with every breath I take. Consume my thoughts with You and making You known rather than thoughts of myself and making myself known. Let me worry not about the next outfit I’ll buy, the next room I’ll decorate, the next show I’ll watch, the next break I’ll get, but with the next person I can share You with.

“I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.” Jn. 10:10