Today’s Podcast
Today’s Bible reading plan:
Read it in a year – 1 Chronicles 5-9
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Mark 9:43-48
Jesus: If your hand turns you away from the things of God, then you should cut it off. It’s better to come into eternal life maimed than to have two hands and be flung into hell— where the worm will not die and the fire will not be smothered.
If your foot trips you on the path, you should cut it off. It’s better to come into eternal life crawling than to have two feet and be flung into hell— where the worm will not die and the fire will not be smothered.
And if your eye keeps you from seeing clearly, then you should pull it out. It’s better to come into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be flung into hell, where the worm will not die and the fire will not be smothered.
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
Through the years as part of the Army Medical Department and then for several years after as I’ve dealt with various medical units in training, various contract relationships, or even my own health care, I’ve come in contact with a lot of veterans injured in combat or training accidents. Military members sometimes pay a heavy price to defend our way of life in this country. Some of those whose faces I see as I write these words wear permanent scars from horrible burns. Some lost arms or legs or eyes. I’ve seen first hand the devastation combat brings to individuals caught by that nameless bullet or bomb or improvised explosive device. Life after those sustaining some of those injuries can get pretty tough.
The average burn patient suffers through nineteen surgeries over two or three years before able to function, but still carry the physical and psychological scars that caused the event. Amputees spend weeks and months learning how to use new prostheses, but they can never take the place of the arms and legs God gives us. Life is tougher for these veterans as a result of the injuries they suffer. Sure we have some treatments and mechanical devices that make recovery from those disabilities better than in years past, but still life is not the same.
So why do I mention these veterans and the plight they face as amputees and burn victims? If you’ve seen what they go through and the struggles they face, then read Jesus’ words, His words make a whole different impact on you. He says if going through life as an amputee will help you make it to heaven, do it. If being blind helps you avoid sin, it’s better to be blind. It’s better to suffer all these infirmities than to face the fires of hell.
Some say Jesus was just making a point. He wasn’t really talking about a place that exists and lasts forever. It’s like telling kids the boogy man will get them if they don’t behave. The only problem with that line of thinking is that Jesus never wavered on His concepts of heaven and hell. He consistently talked about a judgment day on which everyone will be judged and separated based on the lives we lead now. Some will have eternal rest with Him and some will be eternally damned to hell which He describes as a lake of fire which will never be quenched.
I guess there are two ways you could approach what He says about judgment and heaven and hell. You could agree with Him and follow what He says and know you will live with Him forever in heaven. Or you can choose not to believe Him. You can live your own life, do what you want, ignore what He tells us to do and just assume that what Jesus says about heaven and hell is just a fairy tale to make people get along better in society.
You can do either one of those. It’s you choice. But there is one huge catch at the end. If there is a judgment day coming. If there is a heaven and a literal eternal hell and we will end up in one place or the other based on our behavior and beliefs in this life, then if you follow the former philosophy, you’ll be okay. If you follow the latter philosophy, you’ll be in huge trouble on judgment day.
So then, here’s the issue, does it hurt anyone to do the right things always? Does it hurt to follow God’s decrees? Does it hurt to obey the ten commandments and the other commands God gives that tell us how to love others the way we love ourselves? Doesn’t it build a greater community and build greater character to live the life He shows us through His example? If not, then doesn’t it make sense to do what He says? If you’re right and there is no hell, but you followed Jesus and His teachings, then you’ve still found your way to heaven. If you’re wrong and find on judgment day there is a hell and you’ve lived by your rules instead of His, well… That sounds like a pretty bad gamble in my book.
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