National Corvette Museum Sinkhole
We’ve all heard the saying that “ignorance is bliss.” There are times when I know things that I really wish that I didn’t know them or I wish that I could “un-know” them, but it doesn’t work that way. Besides, most of the time ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance just puts off the inevitable. If there was a sinkhole under your house that could collapse at any moment; wouldn’t you want to know this fact as soon as possible?
This is a perfect case of ignorance not being bliss. You think it could never happen? Remember a year ago when the guy in Florida died in his sleep when the sinkhole collapsed and he fell into it? (By the way, they never found his body). Or remember last month when the eight Corvettes at the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky fell into the sinkhole when it collapsed? Luckily it happened at around 5:30 am. If the collapse would have happened when the museum was open, people could have lost their lives.
As you can see, ignorance is not bliss. The Bible backs this up. The fool has said in his heart, There is no God (Psalm 14:1). Proverbs 1:7 declares, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 18:2 says, A fool has no delight in understanding. Proverbs 18:7 states, A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Titus 3:3-7 reminds believers: 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The apostle Paul reminds believers that we were once foolish and disobedient to God. We were deceived by the devil and we used to chase after the pleasures of the flesh. That was, until we were saved by God’s great grace and unmatchable mercy. There is hope for those whom God is drawing to Himself (John 6:44). If you have a conscience tonight, even a flicker of a conscience, there is hope for you. Do not reject the free gift of salvation. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are all sinners and we all deserve to go to a devil’s Hell. But God loves us so much, that He made a way of escape for us. That way of escape is available to those who repent and put their faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. You can be saved tonight if you will repent and put your faith in Jesus. Turn away from your sins and put your trust in Him – in Jesus and in Him alone.
If you reject the salvation offered through Jesus Christ, then please listen to your reality. Romans 1:1 through Romans 2:9: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Romans 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.
If you foolishly reject the wonderful offer of eternal life that is offered freely by the great God of Heaven and earth and you die in your sins, if you die unredeemed and unsaved; you will spend eternity in a cruel, cruel place called Hell. In a place that was originally designed for Satan and his demons. You will suffer beyond anything you can even imagine in your mind right now. Jesus called it a place of torments – notice the s on the word torment. I can’t even begin to describe it to you tonight. I couldn’t even get close to telling you how horrible Hell really is. Jesus said it is a place where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. He said that it’s a place where their worm dies not and the fire is never quenched. The Bible says the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. People in Hell receive no rest, day or night. It is a place of never ending pain and suffering.
God is a thorough God and the pain will be thoroughly unbearable. You will cry out for death, but it will not come. You will cry out for mercy, but it will not hear you. You will cry out for merely a drop of water to cool your tongue, but you will not receive it. You will cry, beg and hope for relief, but no one will rescue you. Without Jesus Christ saving you, redeeming you, rescuing you during this life, there is no hope. Do not be deceived. Judgment Day is coming and all unrepentant sinners will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:15).
Jesus is the only way of salvation (John 6:38). Be saved today. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ. The Bible says That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation (Romans 10:9-10). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Turn to Jesus. Don’t trust in yourself; put your trust in Jesus. Repent and believe the Gospel.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on March 14, 2014)