It’s basic but people often neglect to drink plenty of water and stay in the shade or dress properly if the weather is hot. It is easy to see the merits of taking measures to keep cool. Unfortunately most people fail to even consider a much more significant heat danger: the lake of fire. The Bible speaks of a final judgment of mankind where those who have rejected God will be cast into this fiery place, also known as hell (Revelation 20:11-15).
It is common to dismiss the lake of fire by rationalizing that a loving God would not condemn anyone to such a place. But God does not condemn us, we are condemned already by our rebellious nature (John 3:17-18). God does love people and wants to have the kind of companionship with us that is only possible when both parties may freely choose to have a relationship. This is why He created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27).
God has taken the first step in making a relationship with Him possible by providing a way: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Jesus Christ paid the penalty for the sins of those who trust in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is now up to us to choose to accept or reject His invitation.
Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).
Revelation 20:11-15 - Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. [back]
John 3:17-18 - For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [back]
Genesis 1:26-27 - Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. [back]
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. [back]