Holy Terror

It was midnight when the screaming began.

Terrifying screams startled us awake and it sounded like murder. My wife and I bolted from our bed and rushed in to the next room to find our toddler sound asleep but screaming.

Nothing we did seemed to help or calm our child. What’s worse, it continued nightly. Soon we decided that a visit to the pediatrician was in order.

We learned that small children can experience “Night Terrors” and that the cause is still a mystery. There was no real treatment and we were told that our child would “outgrow it.”

With a lighter wallet and no hope we returned home to sleepless nights. The hardest part was that there was no solution. There was nothing we could do about it.

We’ve probably all had terrifying nightmares. But what if you faced a nightmare that never ended--something far worse than living in a horror movie?

Just imagine facing a holy, righteous God without knowing your sins were forgiven. Picture yourself standing before him but Jesus Christ doesn’t claim you as one of his own.

Hey--hold on just a minute! Doesn’t the Bible say that God loves us?

Yes, but the Bible also warns us that if we hear the good news that Jesus died for our sins and then reject it, what awaits us is God’s judgment and a terrifying sentence.

After encouraging us to draw near to God, the Bible warns, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God…. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Now that’s a holy terror!

We are so privileged to live in a culture saturated with the gospel. “Bible Belt” towns are full of churches. Bibles are available everywhere. Christian Radio and TV programs fill the airwaves. Many Americans know the story that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins. They’ve heard that through faith in him sins are forgiven.

But, as they say, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Many ignore the gospel story.

God is not trying to scare us into becoming Christians. He gave each of us a free will and wants us to choose whether or not we will serve him. But he also wants us to have all the facts.

Right after telling us how much God loved the world in John 3:16, Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

God constantly tells us in the Bible how much he loves us. But because he is holy and righteous, he cannot permit sin in his presence. His great love for us moved him to send his Son, Jesus, to take care of our sin problem. And since Jesus’ death on the cross allows God to forgive our sin, the only choice we face is whether to accept or reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Some people think they’ve screwed up their lives so badly that there’s no hope, no solution and nothing they can do about it. And without Jesus Christ there would be no hope.

But when we trust him we receive forgiveness, joy and eternal life. However, God also wants us to know that if we reject him the consequences are terrible. It’s as if God is saying to us, “I’ve given you all the facts. Now you choose. Choose wisely. Choose Jesus.”

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!