Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."¹

Several years ago many will remember the terrible fires in Southern California that burned some "500,000 acres and destroyed nearly 1,500 homes. Seven people died in the blazes." We live in Southern California where one of the forest fires could be seen from our street—about five miles away. While our home was covered in dirt and ashes from the Santa Ana winds and the fires, we were tremendously grateful to God that we were safe and our home spared.

I've also experienced bush fires (as they call them in Australia) and have seen the terrible devastation they cause. I have joined with neighbors to fight fires on the hill where we then lived. It's scary stuff.

I don't know if the people who lost their lives in the California fires failed to heed the warnings to evacuate their home. However, of this we can be certain, many more would have lost their lives had they not evacuated ahead of the fires. We are extremely grateful for all the firemen and police officers who warned people to evacuate their home.

Temptation—which we all face from time to time—can also be like a raging fire and far too many people fail to heed God's warning to flee from it. Consequently, they end up getting burned badly and many shipwreck their lives.

Even more important is to heed God's warning concerning Hell fire at the end of this life. As God's Word warns, "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire [hell] is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life [God's book of life], he was thrown into the lake of fire."²

I don't know where and what hell is but we know that it will be eternal suffering in a life that is totally separated from the love and presence of God, the author of all love and life.

God's Word also warns, "How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?" That is, if we ignore God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life.³

Whatever you do, make preparation to meet God while you have time and accept his gift of salvation and the forgiveness of all your sins. It is a free gift from God who loves you with an everlasting love and does not want you to miss out on Heaven and be lost in Hell. Be sure to be absolutely certain your name is written in God's book of life!

Be sure to do this today. For help read, "How to Be Sure You're a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You have provided a way of escape from the fires of Hell by sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place to pay the penalty for all my sins so You can justly forgive me and offer me Your gift of salvation and eternal life to be with You in Heaven forever. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. 2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV).
2. Revelation 20:14-15 (NIV).
3. Hebrews 2:3 (NIV).

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