Begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise in Psalm 84, in the Scottish
Psalter version, Psalm 84, the tunes Tramps and Hawkers.
We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 6.
How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me the tabernacles of thy grace,
how pleasant, Lord, they be.
My thirsty soul longs vehemently, yea, faints thy courts to see.
My very heart and flesh cry out, O living God, for thee.
We sing verse 1 to 6 to God's praise.
How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me.
The tabernacles of thy grace, thy blessed Lord, they be.
My thirsty soul longs vehemently, yea, faints thy courts to see.
My very heart and flesh cry out, O living God, for thee.
To behold the smile, O thy devout, and her tender rest.
The swallow also for herself, and purchase it amidst.
In thy long waters, where she say, her young ones forth may bring.
O our almighty Lord of hosts, who art my God and King.
Blessed are they in thy house, and dwell, may ever give thee praise.
Blessed is the man who strength thou art, in whose heart are thy ways.
What Makes thy much peopleop In the Franks public.
Nor be a heavenly book of Message in Caesar, be where she tells me.
By thy poem's hearing.
Nor will thyUNT you falleth, that...
Nor shall be Cummings.
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What Pharise driest, that...
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Or shall be conclusions, the Word of thee.
Let's bow our heads together and come to God in prayer.
Let us pray.
Lord our God, our Father in heaven,
as we come in worship of you, in adoration of you,
we thank you that we come,
lifting up our voices in praise to you
and seeking that you will meet with us in our time of worship,
that we will come and behold your beauty,
your glory in our midst,
that through your word and through your spirit,
you will minister to us in all our needs,
that you will come and remind us, Lord,
that we are so dependent upon you,
but that you are a God who is able to lavish upon us,
grace upon grace.
And we thank you for the way that you remind us of that so often,
of your great faithfulness towards us,
and that we pray, Lord, that we may come
and meet with you anew this evening
and come with thirsty souls,
longing to meet with you
and to know that we have been with God,
that we have been in your presence.
And we pray, Lord,
that you will satisfy us through your word,
that you will give us the rest
and the peace that even the psalmist speaks of
in the psalm that we've sung together.
And blessed are they in my house that dwell,
they ever give thee praise.
May that be our song and our portion
this evening anew,
that we will come to praise your great and glorious name.
So we thank you that you are a God who is living,
a God who is worthy of all our worship,
a God who is real,
a God who no matter what the world might say about you,
who will so easily dismiss you or cast you away
or speak a word against you.
We thank you, Lord,
that we come to the one who is our hope,
our salvation,
and our security.
We thank you for your word
and how it constantly builds us up,
that whenever we feel discouraged or afraid
or whether we are full of thanksgiving and praise,
we can come to your word
and there find a word that speaks and ministers to us.
It reminds us of the hope that we have
in our Lord Jesus Christ,
a hope that we can never be taken away from us,
a hope that is our true security.
You're the one who is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present aid.
We thank you for that constant nature,
that you are unchanging and unchangeable,
and that though we change in this world,
that we ever move on in this world
and that time never stands still for us,
even as we come and approach the end of another year.
We reflect on it, Lord,
and just see how quickly our days and our years will go by.
But we pray, Lord,
that we will not just look back,
but that you will enable us and help us
to look forward to
and to consider the days that lie ahead of us,
even in the uncertainty and unknown nature of them.
We pray then,
thank you that you have numbered each of them,
that they are known unto you.
And we pray, Lord,
that you will help us to number our days
and to look to you as the one who holds our eternal destiny,
that you are the one, Lord,
who we can look to,
who will guide us in the paths of life divine.
And we pray, Lord,
that you will indeed lead each of us on the right path.
For we know,
as your word says,
that there is a broad road that many are on,
but that road,
as we are told,
it leads to destruction.
But we thank you for the narrow way,
the way,
although there may be few on it,
the way that leads to life everlasting.
And we pray that your word
will minister to our hearts
anew this evening,
that you will speak to us
through your word
and help us to put our confidence
and our trust
in the Lord Jesus Christ,
as we heard already today,
the one who is the light of this world,
who is able to dispel the darkness of it
and who is able to guide us in these paths.
We pray, O Lord,
that we will indeed again see Jesus
and know him as our Lord
and as our Savior.
May he become ever more precious to us
as we look around us
in the chaos of this world.
May we be able to fix our eyes on Jesus continually
and remind ourselves day by day
and even hour by hour
that in Christ
we have all that we need for life
and for eternity.
So we ask your blessing on us
as a people,
as a congregation here
and those tuning in online as well.
We thank you for one another.
We thank you, Lord,
that we are able to encourage
and to help one another
and especially in times of need.
We are so aware just now, Lord,
of the many who are grieving
over the loss of loved ones
or who are anxious over loved ones
and we commit them, Lord,
into your care
and into your keeping.
We thank you, Lord,
for the one another's
we read of in Scripture.
So many passages and texts
that remind us to pray for one another,
to encourage one another,
to build up one another.
And we pray that we will seek
to do all these things for each other.
in praying for one another, Lord,
we thank you for the strength
and blessing that there is in that,
that there is unity in the body of Christ
so that when one feels the pain,
the whole body suffers.
And yet, O Lord,
we have the strength in the body too
that will give healing and help
to those who are feeling a weakness.
So, Lord,
may you draw near to all in need,
whether it is in grief,
whether it's in ill health,
whether it's in anxiety and worries
that so many people maybe cannot see
are hidden from the eyes of many,
but, Lord, you know,
and you know every need that we have.
And so we pray, Lord,
that you surround us and help us
in all our times of need.
We thank you that your word reminds us
that you are the God of all comfort
and that for every circumstance,
every situation,
that you have an answer for us,
that you have a way to help,
a way to uphold,
a way to lift us up.
And so we commit each other
into your care at this time.
We pray for our mission as a church too.
We thank you, Lord,
for not just instruction,
but indeed the command
that you give us in your word,
that as a people,
we are to be the light,
salt and light of this world,
that we are indeed to be sent out
with your truth.
And we pray, Lord,
that you will help us,
help us in all that we seek to do,
whether it's with young or old or middle-aged,
whatever we seek to do,
whether it's in large groups
or one-to-one.
We pray, Lord,
for words of wisdom.
We pray, Lord,
for encouragement and strength.
We pray, Lord,
when we face persecution
or answers maybe
from people that we don't expect
or that even hurt us
when we hear the gospel slandered,
we pray that you will give us
a boldness and a courage
to continue to pray
and to love those
who even maybe despise us
as your people
or despise you as God
and have no time for you,
that you would give us
love for those people,
a love to seek the good for them
that only you can give,
to change their hearts,
to change their ways.
We ask, O Lord,
for your goodness
to be poured out upon us
and upon all your church this day,
far and wide,
that the riches of your gospel
will bear much fruit,
that where your gospel is proclaimed,
that there will be a call
to your people
that will build them up,
that will encourage them,
that will strengthen them,
and no matter where they are,
how many or how few
they may be gathered,
Lord,
that you will surround your people
and encourage them
and strengthen them.
We remember especially
those who are persecuted,
those who suffer for their faith,
those who are maybe even living
in fear throughout the world
of what may come upon them
for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We pray, Lord,
that they will know
you ministering to them
and strengthen them
in a very special way.
And we pray, Lord,
for your gospel to go out
and convict those souls
that lie in sin,
those who are so bound
in this world
and so caught up
in the ways of this world,
some of it so evil
as we see it around us
in war and terror
and so many acts
of violence in our world,
but others just blinded
by the God of this world
and aware of their sins
or unaware of the consequences
of them.
We pray for you
to send your light forth
and your truth
with great power
and with great conviction.
We thank you
that your word
is ever powerful
and ever able to save.
And so we pray, Lord,
for the power of your spirit
to go forth even this day.
Remember our nation
at this time
and indeed remember us
as a people in the week ahead
as we see the Christmas season
and the holiday season
coming upon us.
We pray for schools
and workplaces
and all who will be taking holidays
over this time
in the midst of travel chaos
and weather
so inclement at times.
We pray, Lord,
for your safety
and protection
over all
who will be traveling
to and fro,
whether it's coming home
for Christmas
or going away
and visiting family
and friends.
We pray that you will protect us
and keep us all
and above all, Lord,
that you will help us
to remember
the Lord Jesus
in the midst of
all that we see around us,
the one who in the midst
of all the lights
that flash around us
is the light
greater than any,
the one who is the light
of the world.
We pray, Lord,
for that light
to shine brightly
in our midst.
Remember our young people,
we pray for the fellowship
this evening
and may your blessing
be with us in that
and for the schools
as they close
and the teachers
and the students alike,
Lord,
we pray your blessing
on each one
and ask that you will
go before them
in all of their days
as well.
May you remember us
then, Lord,
and all who rule over us
as a people
as we continue
to pray for our governments
and our royal family.
Again, we pray, Lord,
that they will bow
the knee to you,
that they will come
and honor you
and worship you,
something that seems
maybe so far removed
in our society today,
but we know that
in the blink of an eye
that you can change hearts
and we know
even in our own hearts
how you are able to change
and so may you come
into their hearts,
into their lives
and into the lives
of our nation
and indeed the world
to know your power
and to know your glory
in the midst of us.
We thank you
that you have not left us,
that you have not given us
over to our own ways
completely, Lord,
but that you are there
to be called upon
so help us
to call on your name
and to come in faith,
rejoicing that you hear
and are able
to answer our prayers.
So, Lord,
give us that faith
to keep believing
and keep praying
and to go on
in your strength
as we ask it all
with the forgiveness
of our sins
for remembering, Lord,
how far short we fall
so often
that you will restore us
and pardon us
and build us up.
We ask all this
in the name of our Lord
and Savior,
Jesus Christ,
for his glory now
and always.
Amen.
We continue to worship God
as we sing to his praise,
this time in Psalm 63.
In the Sing Psalms version,
Psalm 63,
the tune is Old 100.
We're going to sing
from verse 1 to verse 8.
O God,
you are my God alone.
I seek your face
with eagerness.
My soul and body
thirst for you
in this dry weary wilderness.
I've seen you
in your holy place.
Your power and glory
held my gaze.
Far better is your love
than life
and so my lips
will sing your praise.
We'll sing from verse 1 to 8
to God's praise.
Amen.
O God,
you are my God alone.
I seek your face
with neither hands.
My soul and body
thirst for you.
In this dry weary wilderness.
I've seen you
in your holy place.
Your power and glory
held my gaze.
Far better is your love
and life.
And so my lips
will sing your praise.
I'll bless you, Lord,
throughout my life.
and raise my heart
to you in prayer.
My joyfulness will sing your praise.
My soul is filled with riches
upon my bed.
I'll bless you, Lord,
upon my bed.
I lie now,
and in my thoughts remember you.
And in my thoughts remember you.
I meditated throughout the night.
I'm in your love,
and in your love.
I am in your love.
because you are my help alone.
I am in your love.
And in your love.
I am in your love.
You hold me up with your right hand.
To you, O God, my soul will cling.
Well, we'll turn to read God's word.
Two passages this evening.
First of all, in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew's Gospel, reading in chapter 25.
We'll take up our reading at verse 31.
Reading down to the end of the chapter,
and then we turn to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1.
Our first reading is in Matthew 25 and at verse 31.
When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him,
then he will sit on his glorious throne.
Before him will be gathered all the nations,
and he will separate people one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
And he will place the sheep on his right,
but the goats on the left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
Come, you who are blessed by my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry, and you gave me food.
I was thirsty, and you gave me drink.
I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.
I was naked, and you clothed me.
I was sick, and you visited me.
I was in prison, and you came to me.
Then the righteous will answer him, saying,
Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?
And the king will answer them,
Truly I say to you,
as you did to one of the least of these, my brothers,
you did it to me.
Then he will say to those on his left,
Depart from me, you cursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry, and you gave me no food.
I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink.
I was a stranger, and you did not welcome.
Welcome me and naked, and you did not clothe me.
Sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.
Then they also will answer, saying,
Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty,
or a stranger, or naked or sick or in prison,
and did not minister to you?
Then he will answer them, saying,
Truly I say to you,
as you did not do it to one of these,
the least of these you did not do it to me.
And these will go away into eternal punishment,
but the righteous into eternal life.
Our second reading is in 2 Thessalonians,
reading in chapter 1.
We'll take up our reading at verse 5.
2 Thessalonians, chapter 1 at verse 5.
Again, it's linked to the reading we had in Matthew,
the day of the judgment of Christ.
This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God,
that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God,
for which you are also suffering.
Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction
those who afflict you,
and to grant relief to you who are afflicted,
as well as to us,
when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels,
and flaming fire,
inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God,
and on those who do not obey
the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction,
away from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of his might,
when he comes on that day,
to be glorified in his saints,
and to be marveled at among all who have believed,
because our testimony to you was believed.
To this end,
we always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling,
and may fulfill every resolve for good,
and every work of faith by his power,
so the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
according to the grace of our God,
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen,
and may God bless these readings from his word.
We're going to sing again to God's praise.
It's a change to the psalm on the notice sheet,
which we already had this morning,
but we're going to sing from Psalm 27,
in the Sing Psalms version,
and it's verse 9 to verse 14,
page 32 of the psalm book,
Psalm 27,
at verse 9,
in the Sing Psalms version,
on the tune of Spore.
O do not hide your face from me,
and do not turn aside,
your servant in your righteous wrath,
for you have been my guide.
O God,
my saviour,
leave me not,
do not reject my plea,
my parents may forsake me,
Lord,
but you will welcome me.
Psalm 27,
verse 9,
down to the end of the psalm,
and the Sing Psalms version.
O do not hide your face from me,
and do not turn aside,
your servant in your righteous wrath,
for you have been my guide.
O God,
my saviour,
leave me not,
do not reject my plea,
my feelings may forsake me,
forsake me, Lord,
but you will welcome me.
Teach me, O Lord,
how I should live,
and lead me in your way,
make strength my path,
because my foes oppress me every day.
Give me not over to the will of the evil and enemies,
for my earth's right,
to stunder me,
and we have cruelty.
Yet I am sure,
that in this eye,
God's goodness I will see.
We call the Lord,
be strong,
take heart,
for him we patiently.
Well, we can turn back to our second reading in 2 Thessalonians.
Chapter 1.
We're going to look at this section that we read,
verse 5 to verse 12,
but in particular from the middle of verse 7 down to the end,
where it speaks about the coming of the Lord Jesus,
where Jesus is revealed from heaven,
with his mighty angels and flaming fire,
inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God,
and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
And so it goes on.
It's a time of year when many people find themselves maybe counting down,
counting down the days,
whether it's counting down the days to the holiday coming,
holiday starting.
Many people are counting down the days till Christmas Day.
And then we fast approach the end of this year.
And people count down then towards the end of the year.
And eventually you come to those last few seconds of the year,
where you count down 10,
9,
8,
and the bell rings,
and you're into a new year.
But as a reminder to us,
just as time is constantly going on,
how easy it is almost just to wish our days away.
Counting down the days,
but to what end?
Where are we going?
What's the destination we have in mind as all our days go past?
In Psalm 90 verse 12,
the psalmist says to us,
teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
So instead of just counting down our days,
wishing them away in some ways,
instead we are to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
What does he mean by that?
Well,
he means that our days pass so quickly.
The days,
the months,
the years,
they pass so quickly.
And as we approach the end of another year,
we approach it in a way where we're on this journey,
as we often say,
through life.
But what is the aim of our journey?
If you go on a journey,
so often you have a destination in mind,
and you wait for the words to come,
perhaps if you're sitting on a train,
or if you're listening to your sat-nav guiding you along the way,
to say you've reached your destination,
or this is the final stop.
And you know then maybe you've reached the place that you were hoping to arrive in.
But as we look forward this time of year,
what do we look forward to?
And what is the destination that we are aiming for?
That Jesus himself spoke of it in Matthew's gospel.
There we read in Matthew 25.
Those words that you hear of the final destination,
it's either,
come,
you who are blessed by the Father,
or depart from me,
you who are cursed.
He is speaking about two different destinations.
The same as what Paul is speaking of here.
As he writes to the Thessalonians,
he is speaking about the two different destinations
that we're going to think about this evening.
Some years ago when we were in Dumfries,
this time of year is Christmas time of year,
when we had family coming to visit.
One day they decided that they were going to go to Gretna,
not too far away from Dumfries.
And they were happy to go by themselves,
that they knew roughly where they were going,
but they had the sat-nav with them
just to help them along the way.
So they were going to the retail park out there.
They put in the postcode for it,
and off they went.
They drove for some time,
and then they were told
that you have reached your destination.
And they were on a road in the middle of nowhere
under a bridge.
They had arrived at their destination,
but it wasn't the destination that they expected.
Luckily for them,
they weren't too far away
from where they were aiming for.
But it's a reminder to us
that if we're listening to the wrong instructions,
yes, we're being brought on a journey,
and our destination may not be far off
where we want to get,
but it doesn't matter if it's just a mile,
10 miles, 100 miles,
we're still not in the destination
that we're looking for.
And the Scripture reminds us
that our destination,
our desire should be
to be with the Lord
and not to get led down
the wrong path.
And so here,
as Paul writes to the Thessalonians,
he's writing to these Thessalonians
who have much to be thankful for in God,
but who are also enduring persecutions
and afflictions,
as it says in verse 4.
They're suffering much difficulties
on this journey through life.
And on the other hand,
the life and journey
of the persecutors and the wicked,
it seems in many ways easier
and more pleasant.
And the question can often arise,
why is this so?
But Paul is reminding them
to keep in focus the Lord
and the destination
that he ultimately has in mind
for his people,
that with God,
his plans will work out for good
in the end
because God is sovereign.
And in the verses before us tonight,
we're going to be shown
the end outcome
for both believers
and unbelievers,
where our journey destination ends.
And the end,
the ends couldn't be more different.
We have before us
the reality of heaven
and the reality of hell.
And it's heaven and hell
as the Bible,
the truth of God's word defines it.
Not a heaven and hell
of our own making
or our own imagination.
It is heaven and hell
as the Lord presents before us.
With a great challenge
and the real seriousness
of this matter.
What is your final destination?
As we journey,
what is our direction?
And where is our destination set for?
That's what Paul wants us to consider.
What is our final destination?
Paul challenges us here
in verse 8 to verse 12
in particular.
And we're going to look at these
two destinations before us.
First of all,
we look at hell
and the darkness of it.
As we heard this morning,
the difference between light
and darkness
is really what we see again
before us here.
The darkness
and the torment of hell.
And yet the light
and the beauty of Christ
and the hope
of heaven.
So first of all,
we see hell
and the darkness
of it.
And as we
go into this,
it's so important
to see that
as we speak
of these places,
it is not just
a made-up place.
It's not just something
of the imagination
of man.
It's so important
for us to realize that
because the basis
of both these destinations
is what the Word of God
teaches us.
And the basis of them
is,
as we saw in Matthew
and here
in verse 7
of 2 Thessalonians 1,
it is the coming
of the Lord Jesus.
We're living in this world
as if it's a permanent
place of residence.
But we're just
passing through.
This is just
temporary.
And so it's so important,
it's vital
what we do
with our days
in this world.
And as the psalmist said,
teach us
to number our days
that we may apply
our hearts
to wisdom.
That we may seek
and be challenged
as to what is
our ultimate
destination.
The Lord
is coming.
And very similar
words were used
by Jesus and Matthew
and here by Paul
when Jesus is revealed
from heaven
with his mighty angels.
That day
is coming.
That moment
is coming.
And even though
we count down
the days
and even the minutes
and the seconds
of this year,
there's no guarantee
for us
that the Lord
will not come
even before then.
So it again
just reminds us
of the importance
of the now.
The today
as the scripture
speaks of.
The urgency
of the gospel
in light
of heaven
and hell.
And we remember
that no one
taught on hell
more than the Lord
Jesus himself
just as we read
in Matthew.
Some people
have said that
you know
it's more important
in this day and age
that we
just maybe forget
about hell
and don't speak
about it.
Show them the love
of Christ.
Don't try and
scare them
into heaven
by teaching on hell.
Just show the love
of Christ.
But it's important
to have both.
And as we think
of the doctrine
of hell
and the reality
of hell
and we put that
before ourselves,
that is reminding us
even maybe more
greatly
and truly
the love
of Christ.
Of what he came
to save us
from.
Of the love
of God
that gave us
son,
the love
of Christ
that gave
his life
to spare us
the reality
of hell
for ourselves.
And what it
cost him
was the giving
of his very life.
So it's so
important
that we hear
the reality
not just of heaven
and the beauty
of that
but the reality
of hell
and the cursing,
the darkness,
the bitterness
of that.
Reverend
Sinclair Ferguson
once told a story
from a number
of years ago
and he's told it
of one royal princess
who was coming
out of a cathedral
service in England
and she spoke
to the dean
of the cathedral
on the way out
and she asked
the dean
a question.
Is it true,
dean,
that there is
a place
called hell?
to which
apparently
the dean
replied,
madam,
the scriptures
say so.
Christian people
have always
believed so
and the church
of England
confesses so.
To which
the princess
is supposed to
have replied
saying,
and then
in God's name
why don't
you tell us?
why don't
you tell us
so?
The reality
of hell.
Hell is
an uncomfortable
subject
and for some
Christians it can
be an awkward
subject,
sometimes an
embarrassing
subject to talk
about.
We find it
difficult.
How can a
loving God
condemn anyone
in this way?
But it's about
seeing the
balance,
seeing both
that God,
yes there is
a place
for sinners
who do not
repent,
but the
reality too
is that
faith in
the Lord
Jesus Christ
is the only
thing that
can spare
us from
that darkness.
Avoiding
the subject,
it doesn't
make it
go away.
The reality
is always
there before
us.
So why
did Jesus
talk about
it so much?
Why did
Jesus often
speak about
this place
hell?
Because his
longing for
people was
to know
the truth,
the reality
of not
believing,
of rejecting
the gospel,
that without
him,
the saviour
of the world,
the reality
is eternal
destruction.
Why does
Paul address
it here to
the Thessalonians?
Again,
it's out of
his pastoral
love of
the people,
his great
concern for
them that
they would
realise what
a rejection
of Christ
means.
And why
do we
preach it?
Because we
all need to
know the
reality of
it, but
also the
way away
from it.
So as we
think of
hell as we
have it here
in verse
7 to
verse 9,
there's three
things about
it that
we're
reminded of
here.
First of
all,
it's a
real place.
It's a
real place.
Don't just
take my
word for
it,
take Jesus'
word for
it.
Because
Jesus
presents it
so,
as a
real place.
Here in
verse 7
and 8,
we are told
that Jesus
will be
revealed to
bring vengeance
on those
who do
not know
God or
obey his
word.
He will
come to
judge.
And he's
fulfilling the
words of
warning that
he has
already given.
In
Matthew 7
verse 13,
it says,
they enter by
the narrow
gate, for
the gate is
wide and the
way is easy
that leads
to destruction.
And those
who enter
by it
are many.
Enter by
the narrow
gate.
Find your
way to
salvation,
not by
continuing on
the broad
way or
the wide
gate, as
he describes
it, that
leads to
destruction.
The two
destinations
presented by
Jesus, it's
a real
place.
And it begs
the question
of us,
what road
are you on?
What path
are you on?
What gate
are you going
through?
What is
the destination
that you
are on?
Jesus again
says in
Matthew 10
verse 28,
he says,
do not fear
those who
kill the
body, but
cannot kill
the soul.
Rather,
fear him
who can
destroy both
soul and
body in
hell.
He just
reminds us
so often,
it is a
real place.
As one
commentator
says,
this is
not the
imagination
of man.
These are
not the
words of
great
theologians
like
Jonathan
Edwards
or John
Calvin
or Augustine
or Paul
himself.
These are
the words
of Jesus
reminding us
of the
reality
of this
place,
that hell
is a
real
place.
there is
so many
people
afraid
of so
many
things
today.
We are
afraid
in the
world in
which we
live of
so much
that may
lie before
us,
but how
afraid are
we of
our eternal
destination
and the
reality
of this
place,
hell.
The second
thing we see
of this
place,
it's not
a place
to joke
about.
It's not
a place
to make
a joke
of.
When you
read these
words,
when Jesus
is revealed
from heaven
with his
mighty angels
in flaming
fire,
inflicting
vengeance on
those who
do not
know God
and on
those who
do not
obey the
gospel of
our Lord
Jesus,
they will
suffer the
punishment
of eternal
destruction.
It's not
a place
to joke
about.
You see
it so
often,
and it
becomes
more so
as the
days and
the years
go on,
that hell,
the devil,
the gospel,
it just
becomes the
butt of
all jokes.
The mocking
of the
Christian faith
and Christians
becomes more
and more.
It's amazing
how online,
you know,
for all it's
good,
now you see
so many people
just spouting
forth all
sorts,
and especially
when it
comes to
faith.
Faith,
the Christian
faith,
the butt
of all
jokes.
Jokes
have become
more and
more harsh
as the
days and
the years
go on.
It's almost
like there's
no filter
on people
now,
they'll just
say anything
when they
make mockery
of the
faith,
but you
just shudder
at what
you hear.
somebody was
just saying
recently that
they're part
of an
atheist group
in order
to save
Christians
from their
way of
thinking.
It's as if
this is their
mission,
to take
Christians
back from
all these
fairy tales
as they
will describe
them,
and to
bring them
back into
the real
world.
And you
just shudder
at that way
of thinking
when you
see the
reality of
what the
gospel teaches,
and what
the mocking
of God
will bring,
the punishment
that they
will suffer,
this eternal
destruction.
They don't
want to hear
it, but
that's the
reality of
what we
have before
us.
And there
is this
joking about
even hell
being a
place,
even if it
is real,
well at
least I'll
be with
my friends.
But what
kind of
place is
it?
It's a
place of
darkness,
torment,
and gnashing
of teeth.
It's not
going to be
a place
that's a
party and
a family
reunion.
What so
many people
look forward
to at this
time of
year is
being together
with friends
and families.
This is
not hell
though.
It's not
some kind
of party
for us
all to
enjoy
for all
eternity.
It's a
place of
torment.
It's no
joke.
because it's
not a
joke,
it's a
place that
we have
to take
seriously.
It's a
third as
we see a
place to
be avoided.
Some
people will
say,
well at
least I'll
finally be
away from
God and
Christians.
As if this
is something
to look
forward to.
you.
And it
says here
in verse
9,
they will
suffer the
punishment of
eternal
destruction
away from
the presence
of the
Lord and
from the
glory of
his might.
And if
anyone thinks
that this
is a good
thing,
it is not.
It is the
last thing
you want
to be cast
away from
the presence
of the
Lord and
from the
glory of
his might.
It is the
absence of
all light,
utter darkness.
And if the
greatest blessing
we can have
is to know
the Lord and
his face,
his light
shining upon
us, the
reverse is
through our
greatest
curse is to
be cast
away.
It's a
place to
be avoided.
And the
only way to
avoid it is
to come to
the light,
to come and
put your
trust,
in the
Lord Jesus
so that
you will
not hear
these words
that Jesus
said,
depart from
me, you
cursed,
into eternal
fire.
We have
these great
truths before
us.
Henry
Alford once
said,
the most
dreadful
torment of
the lost,
in fact,
that which
constitutes their
state of
torment will
be this
coming to
themselves
when it
is too
late for
repentance.
It's like
the story
of the rich
man and
Lazarus.
It'll be
too late.
Knowing the
reality of
hell, then,
what does
that mean for
your journey
and your
final destination?
salvation?
Are you
safe on the
narrow way
or are you
in the
broad way
that leads
to destruction?
Is it time
to turn?
Hell is
real.
Hell is
not a
joke.
Hell is
to be
avoided
at all
costs.
And that's
why we
give thanks
to God
for his
gospel,
for the
good news
that shows
us another
destination,
another place
that we
should all
long for.
As we are
told of the
reality of
hell, we
give thanks
to God
for the
reality for
all who
believe that
at the
coming of
the Lord,
the Lord
will say,
come,
you who
are blessed
by the
Father,
inherit the
kingdom
prepared for
you, the
place we
know as
heaven.
And the
way to
that is
through
Christ,
through the
light of
the world,
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
We long
for peace
in our
world today.
We pray
for it.
And even
if it
comes,
though,
it will
not compare
to the
peace and
blessings
of for
God's
people in
this eternal
destination
of being
with him.
Even the
way Paul
describes it
in another
place, he
calls it
being home
with the
Lord.
The
destination
for all
who believe
to be
home with
the Lord,
to be
in his
presence
forevermore.
And when
we think
of the
difference
here between
the darkness
of hell
and the
light of
God's
kingdom,
what should
that do
for us?
As we are
reminded here
of why
Jesus came
to spare
us from
that darkness
and to
lead us
into his
wonderful
light,
what should
it do
for us?
Well,
when you look
at verse
10 and
11,
the contrast
is so
stark.
when he
comes on
that day
to be
glorified
in his
saints
and to
be marveled
at among
all who
have believed,
the difference
is there for
us to see.
Night
and day,
darkness
and light,
those who
believe will
glory in
their Lord.
He will be
marveled at
among those
who have
believed.
we will
praise his
name
forever.
And so
what should
that do
for us?
Well,
it should
drive us
to our
Saviour.
It should
drive us
to the
Lord Jesus.
As Paul
warns here
of the
punishment
of eternal
destruction,
those who
believe
the reverse
is true,
eternal
blessing.
The great
gospel
invitation
is to
come,
but to
come
for what?
Well,
that gospel
invitation
that we
have so
often,
as we
see in
John 3,
16,
for God
so loved
the world
that he
gave his
only son
that whoever
believes in
him should
not perish,
this eternal
destruction he's
speaking of,
but have
eternal
life.
Again,
as we were
hearing this
morning,
that light
of the
Lord Jesus
is the
light of
life,
and life
eternal,
which should
drive us
to our
Savior.
Life,
it isn't
like a
computer game.
If you
enjoy playing
computer games,
you often
find that
you've got a
number of
lives.
You can
gain extra
lives,
you can claim
them.
This is not
real life,
though.
We only
have one
life to
live,
one
opportunity,
and today
is that
opportunity.
Today is
that time
to come.
As Charles
Studd once
said,
two little
lines I
heard one
day,
traveling along
life's busy
way,
bringing
conviction to
my heart,
and from my
mind would
not depart.
only one
life will
soon be
passed.
Only
what's done
for Christ
will last.
This
reality of
these
destinations
should drive
us to
our Lord
Jesus Christ.
It should
bring us
to our
knees,
begging with
him,
what must
I do
to be
saved?
and it
should
drive us
secondly
to prayer.
That's
what we
see here
in verse
11,
to this
end,
we always
pray for
you that
our God
may make
you worthy
of his
calling,
and may
fulfill
every resolve
for good,
and every
work of
faith by
his power.
It should
drive us
on in
prayer.
salvation
belongs
to God,
but he
is a
God that
longs to
save.
He is a
God that
longs for
our people
to turn
in repentance,
to turn to
him and to
call out
on his
name.
Like so
many of the
Psalms that
we sing,
they speak
about looking
for this
path of
life,
this path
divine,
and as
Psalm 25
says,
show me
thy ways,
O Lord,
thy paths,
O teach
thou me.
It's this
crying out
to God
to show
us the
way,
the way
that is
life and
light through
Christ,
so it
should drive
us to
prayer.
The third
thing and
final thing
we see of
the reality
of heaven
and hell
as well
as it
should drive
us in
our mission.
In our
mission as
a people
of God,
in our
mission as
a church,
as a
denomination,
it should
drive us
in this
mission.
If we
know the
reality of
hell and
the reality
of heaven
and that
being in
one final
destination is
to be lost
eternally,
or to be in
the other is
to be saved
eternally,
that shouldn't
just wash
over us.
It shouldn't
just go past
us and not
make us think,
what are we
doing for
those who
are lost?
It should
drive us
in our
mission.
Why did
Jesus teach
so much
on hell?
Was it to
scare people?
No.
It was that
they might hear
the good news
of the gospel
beside that
and turn
in repentance
to him.
And so it
should drive
us in our
mission to
reach out
with the gospel
today in
the same
way that
Paul was
encouraging
the Thessalonians
to go on
in the faith,
to stand
up to those
who would
mock and
persecute the
Christian faith
and continue
to be salt
and light
in the midst
of this world.
It should
drive us
on.
They knew
they had
light.
They knew
they had the
light of
Jesus Christ
that made
so much of
a difference
in the
darkness
of this
world.
And so
should we
to know
that we
have the
light of
Christ
and to
shine it
forth
before all
others.
Charles
Spurgeon
once said
this.
It's such
a powerful
way of
looking at
it.
He said,
if sinners
be damned,
at least
let them
leap to
hell over
our dead
bodies.
And if
they perish,
perish,
let them
perish with
our arms
wrapped about
their knees,
imploring them
to stay.
If hell
must be
filled,
let it be
filled in
the teeth
of our
exertions,
and let
no one
go unwarned
or unprayed
for.
What a
challenge
to our
mission.
As a
church,
is that
the way
we live?
Putting
forth the
gospel of
Jesus Christ
in this
way with
passion,
conviction,
and power
of Christ,
with our
arms wrapped
about their
knees,
pleading for
people to be
saved,
to repent,
and to
turn.
Should that
not drive
us on,
the reality
of hell
and the
reality of
the other
destination,
and the
beauty of
heaven,
to put
that before
people too,
to see the
blessings that
are ours in
Christ.
J.C.
Ryle, he
once said
this, and
if you're a
Christian, be
encouraged in
this.
He said,
Christian,
look up and
take comfort.
Jesus has
prepared,
a place
for you,
and those
who follow
him shall
never perish,
neither shall
any man pluck
them out of
his hands.
Look forward
to that
glorious dwelling
he has
provided.
Look forward
in faith,
for it is
yours.
What a
contrast.
The beauty
of heaven,
a place
prepared by
the Lord
Jesus,
a place
that we
should long
for all
to come
and be
in,
and the
way is
through
Christ,
the light
of the
world.
So we
have the
reality of
hell,
the place
of darkness.
It's not a
place to be
joked about
because it's a
real place.
It's a place
to be avoided.
It's a place
that Jesus
presents to
us again
and again.
But thanks
be to God,
he shows us
the gospel,
the good
news,
and another
destination,
a place
prepared.
And so
tonight,
as we come
and maybe
count down
the days
to the end
of the year,
ask ourselves,
what is
our destination?
and pray
to God
to teach
us to
number our
days,
that we may
apply our
hearts to
wisdom,
and the
wisdom that
is before
us in the
word of
God.
The reality
is there
is a
hell,
a place
of punishment
and eternal
destruction,
away from
the presence
of the Lord
and from
the glory
of his
might,
the last
thing we
should want.
But praise
God,
that when
he comes,
he may
find us,
as Christians,
as those
of faith,
taking comfort
and consolation
in him,
that when he
comes on
that day,
to be glorified
in his
saints,
and to be
marveled at
among all
who have
believed.
Where
and in what
number
will you
be numbered?
The broad
way
or the
narrow path?
The destination
is before
us.
But thanks
be that
Christ
is before
us too.
So may
we look
to him
who has
gone before
and to
prepare
a place
for us.
May God
bless
his word
to us.
we're going
to conclude
by singing
the well-known
psalm that
we sing
so often,
Psalm 23,
but our
psalm that
again just
reminds us
of the
way to
that glorious
place.
the Lord
who is
our
shepherd.
The Lord's
my shepherd,
I'll not
want.
He makes
me down
to lie
in pastures
green.
He leadeth
me the
quiet
waters
by.
And
verse 4,
yet though
I walk
in death
stark
veil,
yet will
I fear
none ill,
for thou
art with
me,
and I
rod and
staff
me
comfort
still.
And then
the last
verse,
goodness
and mercy
all my
life shall
surely
follow me,
and in
God's
house
forevermore
my dwelling
place
shall be.
We'll sing
the whole
of this
psalm
to God's
place.
The
Lord's
my
shepherd,
I'm
the
one.
He
raised
me
down
to
lie
in
pastures
green
me
leadeth
me
the
quiet
waters
high.
My
soul
me
doth
restore
again
and
need
to
walk
the
pain
within
the
realms
of
righteousness
in
what
his
own
may
stay.
Need
though
I
walk
in
death's
dark
fail,
yet
dwell
like
here
the
ill.
For
thou
art
with
me
and
thy
walk
and
shall
be
come
for
still.
My
deep
love
has
furnished
love
hath
furnished
in
presence
of
my
foes
my
head
the
dust
with
oil
anoint
with
oil
anoint
and
like
a
over
close
to
this
and
mercy
all
my life
shall
surely
follow me
and
in
God's
hands
forever
more
my
dwelling
place
shall
be
after the
benediction i'll go to the main door we'll close the benediction now may grace mercy and peace from God father son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with us all now and forevermore amen
to