DCLM Daily Manna 7 September 2024 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — “The Eternal Fire”
TOPIC: “The Eternal Fire” (DCLM Daily Manna 7 September 2024)
KEY VERSE: “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched” – Mark 9:43
TEXT: Mark 9:43-50 (KJV)
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
MESSAGE:
Reuters News Agency reported on 29th November 1997 how Chinese firefighters succeeded in putting out a 400-year-old fire. The fire in the Baiyanghe coalfield started in 1560. It consumed over 127 million tons of coal before it was extinguished. Four hundred years is a long time, but it is nothing in view of eternity. The fires of hell will never end or be put out.
Jesus describes hell as a place of torment. He encourages heavenly pilgrims to cut off whatever could hinder or prevent them from entering heaven. He said believers should cut off their relationships with friends, relatives or anything that can be as useful as the hand, eye, or foot if such becomes a hindrance from entering heaven. He equally gave a vivid description of hell as a place where the sinner’s “worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
The subject of hell is an uncomfortable one to many preachers today. They claim Jesus never mentioned hell in His sermons. But that is not true. Jesus talked about hell as a place of eternal suffering and torment where people gnash their teeth in anguish and regret. It is a place of no return and of outer darkness. He mentioned hell directly in His sermons more than all other New Testament-inspired writers.
The lessons here are very weighty. No one can get to heaven by accident. It is a prepared place for a prepared people. There is a narrow way to navigate with all watchfulness. And if some close friends or relatives pose a hindrance to your goal of entering heaven, Jesus says you should cut them off.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
You cannot get to heaven by following the crowd.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Leviticus 21-24
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
