The Fire of All Fires
“The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:13-15
My ex-husband when he was 21 years old went out drinking and doing drugs, returned to his family’s house, passed out, and woke up with his body on fire, the house on fire, and lost his beloved grandmother in that horrific house fire apparently caused by a failed in-the-wall heater though to this day he still believes he may have set that fire on the stove. I don’t believe anyone who has not been burned over as much of his body as he was can fathom the torment of being hospitalized and treated for such severe burns. Nor do I believe anyone who has not had to evacuate due to the natural disaster of wild fires can fathom what it’s like to grab your loved ones, your pets, and a few belongings and run for your life knowing you may never see your home again, your neighborhood, and perhaps even friends and loved ones due to the atrocity of out of control fires that are nearly impossible to put out. We read about stuff like this. We watch news reports of stuff like this. We hear stories of stuff like this. We pray for people who go through stuff like this. But at the end of the day it all seems unfathomable, doesn’t it? Oh, if only everyone would be warned ahead of time when a fire is on its way. If only everyone would have time to get out. If only nobody would lose their lives. If only nobody would be burned. If only everyone would be given the opportunity to escape before it’s too late. For anyone in his or her right mind would run for dear life to avoid a dangerous, devastating, and deadly fire, right?
Oh, but not so! Not so! For what fire on this earth, what even wildfire that roars and rages through whole fields, and towns, and cities, through acres upon acres, on and on, can possibly compare in its horror to the everlasting – yes, everlasting – fire of hell and the lake of fire that will burn for eternity all the while containing in its indescribably burning awful grips all those who do not repent of their sins and give their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ for eternity?
Is there any greater tragedy than that we humans are warned that we will be in eternal fiery torment apart from God, burning and burning and burning without relief, if we do not give our lives to Christ, and that Jesus Christ went to the cross in our place to take God’s wrath at us for our sins with the final destination being this hellacious eternal condemnation upon Himself so all who genuinely give their lives to Him will spend forever with God instead, and that there are countless people who refuse to repent and escape God’s wrath and eternal fire to come?
If you think it’s unloving to preach repentance and hellfire and brimstone as I am right now, and I once believed it was unloving to do, you are wrong. For the Lord in His amazing love for us uses His Word and His children to warn us of the lake of fire – and to in His immeasurable mercy and grace show us the way to escape and to instead spend forever in His glorious presence enjoying what will be perfect lives in a perfect location for those who choose to love and worship and serve Him forevermore!
I implore you with the love of the Lord Jesus Christ to escape the fire of all fires, the one that will burn forever, and to rejoice in Christ’s fellowship instead!