Journey To Hell

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Joe Bishop was a avid big game hunter. He loved to hunt mostly by himself in the most secluded areas that he could find away from other hunters. While out deer hunting in the back woods of Wisconsin Joe had bagged the biggest buck of his lifetime. Being far from civilization, and with no one in the area to help him with getting this monster 260 lb. trophy out of the woods Joe realized that he had to perform the inevitable by dragging it out by himself. After he had prepared it and tied off the drag rope to it’s massive antlers Joe proceeded to drag his trophy back to his truck by himself. After about a half hour Joe started feeling fatigued and started breaking out in a cold sweat. Thinking that he had been over exerting himself Joe sat down on a log to rest for about 10 minutes or so. Realizing that it would be dark soon he decided to continue on. As he stood up he started getting dizzy spells followed by chest and arm pains. Having a hard time breathing Joe decided he better sit for a while longer. Then the unthinkable happened. Joe a 41 year old man still in his prime had a massive heart attack. He suddenly found himself not in the clear, sunny, crisp autumn afternoon in the woods where he remembered being, but rather he found himself in a different realm. Joe still being in his conscious state, and still having his senses realized right away that this was not a good place to be. That he was now in the place of the dead in which there was no means of escape. This was final. No second chances. Joe sensed pure evil surrounding him. The smell of stench was unbearable. There was no joy, love or happiness, just gloom and despair. He was now in a dark, listless, miserable, deep gloomy place. A place of torment for all who where there. Joe was not alone, he saw a multitude, a sea of people there including friends and family members that had died years before all of which including himself were experiencing great pain and torment which never eased up. Joe could not understand why he would be in such a place. After all he considered himself to be a good person who performed good deeds during his lifetime. Then he heard a great voice, like the sound of thunder that shook all of hell saying “Come forth Joe” at that same instant there was a flash of light like a lightning bolt from above. Immediately Joe found himself standing in this brilliant light that shown like the sun, yet cast no shadows. Joe could sense the peace, love and joy in this place like he never had experienced it before. Yet Joe knew deep down this was not going to be a pleasant experience. Joe noticed that he was standing before this great white throne. There was no earth or sky for they had fled away. On this great white throne sat a superior being. Noticing the wounds in His hands Joe knew right away this was Jesus. He was dressed in a robe that was white as snow, and a crown sat upon His head with many gems, to many to count. His hair was white as wool, and His eyes were as flames of fire, glazing into your most inter being. At His side sat several books. Jesus reached for the first book, which was the Book of the Law. As He opened it He asked Joe “ Did you keep the whole law?” Joe answered “I don’t think I did to bad, most of the time I did. I did the best I could.” Jesus asked again “Did you keep the whole law?” Joe said “No I did not Jesus.” Jesus reached and picked up the next book. This was the Book of Deeds. As He opened the book and looked down through the pages He paused for a moment then said to Joe “I see you cheated on your taxes two years in a row. You stole money from your companies petty cash fund. You had a brief affair with your neighbors wife. You sat up late at night in secret to watch porn on the internet.” Joe responded “Yes this is true. I have no excuse.” After this Jesus picked up the third book. Which was the Book of Works. He leafed through the pages briefly then looked up at Joe and said “I see that you gave your tithes once in a while to my church. You helped in the building on of a new wing of the church. you taught Sunday school, and was a deacon in the church. You went on three mission trips.” Joe feeling pretty good about the works he had done spoke up in a proud voice saying “I sure did Jesus.” Jesus replied “The works that you have done were done that you may be glorified in the eyes of men, and not that I may be glorified. Then Jesus picked up the fourth and final book, which was the Book of Life. Joe knowing what this book was all about from what he had heard from some teachings said to Jesus “Surely my name must be written in this book. For all the good I have done must out weigh the bad.” Jesus said nothing as He searched for Joe’s name page after page. Finally He closed the book and looked up at Joe and said “Sorry Joe your name does not appear in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Joe said “Surely my name must be written in there somewhere. Check again.” Jesus with a tear in His eye and love and compassion in His heart said “Sorry but your name is not in the Book of Life. Joe all you had to do is believe and trust in Me. Accept the free gift I offered you many times through your life that your sins may be forgiven, that you may inherit salvation through what I did for you at the cross. That you should not perish, but have eternal life. But you chose not to. So depart from me for I never knew you.” 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. { Rev. 20:14-15}