Salz und Licht

Last week I wrote about repentance and how important it is to focus one’s life on God. Because in this world we make a decision with eternal character:

Highway To Hell or Stairway To Heaven

My point is not to spread fear, but to make clear what the consequences of a life without God are. Everyone may and must decide for himself. And importantly, one must not tell the gospel only halfway just because a part is uncomfortable. Salvation from death AND the consequences of a life without God must be mentioned.

Highway To Hell

Livin’ easy
Lovin’ free
Season ticket on a one way ride
Askin’ nothin’
Leave me be
Takin’ everythin’ in my stride
Don’t need reason
Don’t need rhyme
Ain’t nothin’ that I’d rather do
Goin’ down
Party time
My friends are gonna be there too

I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell

Highway to hell, AC/DC

Some time ago I had a conversation with my niece. She told me about someone she knew who would have liked to play the song “Highway to hell” by AC/DC at his funeral. Kind of funny. And in hell it is at least nice and warm. In the song, there is talk of a life of plenty and a party.

Many people talk hell down. Don’t take it seriously. Deny it. It can’t be that bad there. Or even say that if there is a loving God, He cannot have created a hell.

In the past it was different: people were very afraid of hell. There is, for example, the picture “Inferno” by Dante, in which the 7 circles of hell are illustrated. Very unattractive.

Hell is described in the Bible in a few words. It speaks of a lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). Most of all, it talks about being away from God (Revelation 21:27). People in hell will want to go to God, but will not be able to (Luke 16:19-31). I imagine it to be like the world, only without the good. Without hope. Without love. With pain and suffering. Dark. Gloomy. Full of fear.

You struggle up a steep hill like a bicyclist, in the rain, a little kid constantly yelling at you, there’s no rest, it’s cold, the headwind whistles relentlessly, your calves cramp, and you know it’s never going to end. That’s probably how it feels…

Stairway To Heaven

Many people know this song by Led Zeppelin. The lyrics don’t necessarily have a Christian message. I want to say with “Stairway To Heaven” that besides the wide highway that leads to hell, there is the narrow, not always easy, stairway to heaven. Jesus says it this way:

“Go through the narrow gate! For the gate to perdition is wide and the way there is easy. Many people go it. But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the way there is narrow! Therefore only a few find it.”

Mark 7:13+14

Many imagine heaven to be quite boring. We are constantly singing “Hallelujah” with our harps and a few angels are floating through the clouds.

I believe that heaven will be top class! We are with God. He will wipe away the tears, there will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more death. God lives in the midst of people (Revelation 21:3-7). The wolf and the lamb lie peacefully together (Isaiah 11:6-9). It will be beautiful. Much better than the most beautiful vacation you can ever imagine. And that forever.

Set the blinker

I talked with my niece about the two ways and she said, you have to set the blinker in time. And drive off on the narrow way. That is a very good picture. I would like to encourage you to say yes to God in time, to change your life and to turn around. Not out of fear of hell, but because a life with God has much more to offer than what the “normal” world offers. There are great things to do on this planet. That is true. But some things just don’t do us any good. Not everything is fulfilling in the long run and memories fade. A lot of this stuff is fun. But you, as a Christian, don’t have to leave all your joy in life at the entrance (even if it sometimes seems that way). God will challenge you in your life every now and then and you will grow as a person. You can grow beyond yourself, because for God all things are possible. Above all: God loves you and He wants the best for you!

Think about how you want to live your life. Take your time and decide.

Be blessed!