Eternal Life and Eternal Death

The gates of Hell

Many years ago, a man who I'll call Randy described to me in graphic detail about a near death experience he once had.

However, unlike those popular recollections that describe brilliant lights, deceased family members and benevolent spiritual beings, Randy's experience was quite a bit different.

You see, Randy saw a glimpse of hell. How did Randy's vision come about? He was a heavy drug user at the time and he happened to overdose one day on some powerful dope. 

Randy went into cardiac arrest and he was rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, the doctors in the emergency room were able to revive him and he went on with his life. He was so grateful for his second chance that he gave up the drugs and turned his life over to Jesus Christ.

But that wasn't the whole story. Randy related that while he was unconscious, he found himself standing before the gates of hell. He recalled that the gates began to open and he saw immense flames of fire just beyond the gates. And he stated that he felt himself being pulled toward the gate when he suddenly woke up in the emergency room.

Was Randy's vision just a nightmare he experienced from a bad drug trip? Perhaps. But he didn't believe it was a bad dream. This is what he told me: "I know what dreams are, and this wasn't a dream. It was real. I was there. I know what I experienced was real and I thought for sure that I was going into hell."

But the Lord spared Randy eternal damnation in the abyss. Randy later found out that when he was brought into the hospital, a Christian man who was present in the emergency room began praying for him. 

Who was the man that prayed for Randy? He doesn't know. But Randy's convinced that had the man not prayed for him, he'd have died and gone into hell.

What's also important to know about Randy is that he's Jewish. He didn't believe in Jesus Christ at the time, and he certainly didn't believe in the existence of hell. But he's a born-again Christian who certainly believes in hell now. Especially after his close encounter with eternity.

Unfortunately, not everybody gets to experience what Randy saw. And that's too bad because if they could only get a glimpse of what eternity is like without Jesus Christ, they'd repent of their sins and turn their lives over to Christ in a heartbeat.

Randy wasn't threatened with hell because he took drugs. He didn't get a glimpse of the dreaded abyss because he wasn't religious enough. And he didn't face eternal damnation because he hadn't done enough good things in his life to offset all the bad things he'd done.

He was threatened with hell because he was a sinner. But the good news is that Randy's sins were washed away by the blood of God's Lamb Jesus Christ who died for all sinners--including you and me--on Calvary's Cross 2,000 year ago.

How does God cancel our sins and our eternal death penalty? Through our faith in Jesus Christ. Let the apostle Paul explain it: "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the scripture says (Isaiah 28:16), anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (Romans 10:9-11)

If you're trusting in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ for your salvation, you're wasting your time. You're putting your faith in something that can't save you.

And when your moment of reckoning comes--when you enter into eternity--don't count on someone convincing God to spare your soul and give you a second chance. Most folks don't get second chances. 

Therefore, the time to repent and turn your life over to Christ is right here and right now. Don't put it off.