The Bible says that "Hell and destruction are never full" (Proverbs 27:20)...
There's always room for more souls in this place of torment. And earlier today, two young men plunged into Hell, forever.
They lived as criminals and drug dealers, and before the sun came up on this gorgeous day, they had already gone to their eternal home.
Ordinarily, I'm up early on Sundays to pray and have a quiet time of meditation before the 6:30 "wake-up" bell sounds, and the cellblock stirs to life.
On Sunday mornings I usually do not listen to the news channels on my radio. But today, however, I had a desire to tune to the CBS "all news" station which comes out of New York City. This was when I heard the news about a violent shootout in the Bronx, which left two young men dead, and a third man very seriously wounded.
The report said that this event happened at 815 Adee Avenue in the Williamsbridge section. I know the area well. Twenty-five years ago, it was a fairly quiet middle class neighborhood.
These men were supposedly selling marijuana out of an apartment on the fourth floor of this tenement building. Apparently, someone tried to rob them and gunshots were
exchanged.
In the end, two young men lay dead while the killers fled into the night. Immediately, however, I began to think about the men who died. No names were mentioned. And I also thought of their families, of crying mothers, and of fathers who had hopes that their sons would grow up and do good in life.
I have strong words to share right now. For I believe God's heart breaks when He sees young men and women choosing to commit crimes. He knows that, because of the road they're taking, that in the long run nothing good will result. That ultimately, they will ruin their lives.
Many will end up with criminal records that will haunt them for a lifetime. Many will waste precious years in prison. Others, like the two young men who died today, will end up chilling on slabs in the City Morgue. They lived fast and died fast.
Yet I also know that God has something better for each person in this world. He has a plan and purpose for everyone (Jeremiah 29:11). God is not willing that any should perish in Hell, but that all should repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).
My prayer today is that Christians will take seriously our call to evangelize and to seek out the lost. Too many are perishing, and Hell is still hungry for more. We need a vision of what it must be like for a young person to plunge into Hell. We need to see their despair and hopelessness. We need the courage to go into all the world and proclaim the way of salvation. May we have hearts of love to truly care.
The Bible says that we are the salt and light of this world. In other words, we can make a difference. We can impact our generation for Christ and see that many are delivered from degradation and death. Jesus is their only hope!
D.B.
They lived as criminals and drug dealers, and before the sun came up on this gorgeous day, they had already gone to their eternal home.
Ordinarily, I'm up early on Sundays to pray and have a quiet time of meditation before the 6:30 "wake-up" bell sounds, and the cellblock stirs to life.
On Sunday mornings I usually do not listen to the news channels on my radio. But today, however, I had a desire to tune to the CBS "all news" station which comes out of New York City. This was when I heard the news about a violent shootout in the Bronx, which left two young men dead, and a third man very seriously wounded.
The report said that this event happened at 815 Adee Avenue in the Williamsbridge section. I know the area well. Twenty-five years ago, it was a fairly quiet middle class neighborhood.
These men were supposedly selling marijuana out of an apartment on the fourth floor of this tenement building. Apparently, someone tried to rob them and gunshots were
exchanged.
In the end, two young men lay dead while the killers fled into the night. Immediately, however, I began to think about the men who died. No names were mentioned. And I also thought of their families, of crying mothers, and of fathers who had hopes that their sons would grow up and do good in life.
I have strong words to share right now. For I believe God's heart breaks when He sees young men and women choosing to commit crimes. He knows that, because of the road they're taking, that in the long run nothing good will result. That ultimately, they will ruin their lives.
Many will end up with criminal records that will haunt them for a lifetime. Many will waste precious years in prison. Others, like the two young men who died today, will end up chilling on slabs in the City Morgue. They lived fast and died fast.
Yet I also know that God has something better for each person in this world. He has a plan and purpose for everyone (Jeremiah 29:11). God is not willing that any should perish in Hell, but that all should repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).
My prayer today is that Christians will take seriously our call to evangelize and to seek out the lost. Too many are perishing, and Hell is still hungry for more. We need a vision of what it must be like for a young person to plunge into Hell. We need to see their despair and hopelessness. We need the courage to go into all the world and proclaim the way of salvation. May we have hearts of love to truly care.
The Bible says that we are the salt and light of this world. In other words, we can make a difference. We can impact our generation for Christ and see that many are delivered from degradation and death. Jesus is their only hope!
D.B.