Monday 3-10-08 "Exposing the lie"

Greetings Internet Campus,

This week, we're going to look at the lie discussed last weekend. Does hell really exist? Who goes there?

Let's look at the first part of the verse for the week:

Luke 16:19-22 (NLT2): “19Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, …”

Interesting story from the Bible. In one corner you have a rich man. Not a care in the world. Has everything that he wants...no worries at all! In the other corner...Lazarus. Sick, open sores oozing, waiting for anything to fall from the table of the rich.

There is one common denominator...and it's what we'll be focusing on this week.

They both died.

As we study "Is there REALLY a hell?" we need to first understand the commonality of death. All of us are going to die. I know, not too uplifting for a Monday. But it's true...all of us will one day stop breathing. Then what happens?

In today's verse, Lazarus, the beggar, was carried to heaven. Was that because he was poor? No. We'll talk about why in a second. Let's look at the other person...the rich man. He died and what happened. They buried him. No faith. No hope. No angels. No future. What was the difference? Why did one go to Heaven and one not? Simple. Lazarus, we are told, had faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. The rich man didn't.

The lie that we are exposing this morning is this: Many believe that all people go to Heaven somehow. If they're good people...if they give to charity...if they help others...if they follow the laws...many believe they will go to Heaven. Not true. God is a just God. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death...eternal separation from Him. We don't deserve Heaven and we can't earn our way in.

There's only one way to get there:
1) Admit that you're a sinner
2) Believe that Jesus is God's Son and came to die for our sins
3) Commit your life to Him.

Write it down: This week on our campuses, over 500 people committed their lives to Christ. Write a prayer in your journal containing your honest feelings about this.

If you would like to say that prayer...if you are ready to secure your eternity...please let me know...www.brianvasil.com

See you tomorrow!
Pastor Brian