Yes, not a feel good title.
However, three realities in our lives are: suffering, death, and hell.
Life has many blessings and joys, yet there is suffering and tribulation. Our suffering can be trite compared to much of the world. When there are homes in Honduras with walls made of bedsheets and mountainsides, this for a family of 6-10, that is suffering. When tribes in Africa drink out of "water wells" which look like sewers, that is suffering. When millions of people live in slums of India, that is suffering. Pain and injustice is all over our world. And we suffer too - physically and emotionally.
Then there is death. All of us are moving closer and closer to that reality. It frightens us. The uncertainty, the finality of death.
Then there is another reality many do not believe in and others dare not speak of. The reality of hell. Eternity in hell. Is it real? Yes. Scripture is clear. What is it? A place where there is eternal suffering, separation, and isolation - from God.
Fantastic. Uplifting. Inspiring. Such facts make our day that much brighter.
However, there is Good News. That is, we have a person, a Savior, who underwent the greatest suffering imaginable, facing death itself, who literally died, and experienced hell - for us. For you. Jesus Christ, on the cross. He loved us so much, He gave Himself as a sacrifice for all of us - to experience suffering, death, and hell - so we would not have to for eternity. Do we hear that? Do we know that? Our Savior did this, went through death itself, so we could overcome it.
That is good news. That should make our days, and our lives, better and brighter.
That is good news. That should make our days, and our lives, better and brighter.
Sunday we continue going through the Apostles' Creed. This week we look at the part which states: "(Jesus) suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell." This should be a fascinating look at exactly: why Jesus went to the cross, what happened on the cross, and how this changes us. Our Scripture will be John 19: 25-30 and the sermon title is "Paid in Full".
We hope you can be with us for worship at Bellwether - 10: 30am, Sunday morning, at the Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center.
More so, we hope you know - Jesus Christ has suffered, died, and faced hell itself, so we could have a fountain of life for eternity in heaven.
