"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).
Imagine if you were in a burning building with the flames growing higher and higher; getting hotter with each passing moment. Imagine your fear and pain as the flames grew closer to you and you could not find your way out to safety. Now, imagine someone coming into this building and rescuing you; delivering you to safety. Think about how you would feel toward this person who risked their own life to save yours. You would tell people everywhere you went about how this person saved you from this horrible fire. You would devote your life to making sure people knew how much this person meant to you. You would spend the rest of your life thanking this person for their great sacrifice of unselfish love.
You and I were on our path to Hell. Hell is a real place that is more horrible than can be described with mere words. The flames are real and they are hotter than anyone can imagine. As sinners, we were headed to Hell and there is no escape from there. Once a person goes there, there is no leaving. It is permanent. It is a miserable place of torment and horror. We deserved to go into this place. We deserved Hell forever. This is where we would be spending eternity without hope.
However, Jesus came and rescued us from this eternal torment. He paid the supreme sacrifice by giving His life on the cross. His death on the cross and resurrection on the third day provided atonement for our sins. All we have to do is confess that Jesus is Lord, repent of our sins and ask Him to come and change our lives. It is not His will that anyone should go to Hell. He wants us all to spend eternity with Him in Heaven, surrounded by beauty, peace, splendor and things our minds can't imagine. He doesn't want us to go to Hell, where there is torment, pain, darkness and horror.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that anyshould perish, but that all should come to repentance."
(2 Peter 3:9).
Why would anyone who was rescued from the fire, continue to stay in the fire and refuse to get out? That would be senseless and foolish. Yet, this is what people do when they do not accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. When people ignore Jesus' help and choose to continue living in sin, they are basically saying they would rather burn than turn their lives to Jesus.
The choice is yours. Each of us have to make the decision for ourselves. Jesus won't force us to accept His salvation. He has made the escape available, all we have to do is follow Him. He is calling out everyone today.
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21).
Will you accept the Lord today? He is waiting for you to call on Him and confess Him as your Lord. He wants to lead you and guide you to life everlasting. He wants to be your Savior. Call on Him now and escape the fire.
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