WHAT IS THE PORTAL TO HELL?

“Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life.” (Matthew 25:46 The Amplified Bible)

You can file this short meditation under your “While At The Store” meditations. You see, while I was doing grocery shopping early one morning, a young man said, “I know you.” I asked, “How do you know me?” He goes on to explain that he had recently attended a homegoing service at our church and he recognized me as the pastor who delivered the words of comfort. Before I could explore whether or not he was attending church, he shared that while surfing through the channels on TV, there was a show about to come on that was titled ‘The Portal Of Hell.” He went on to say that he did not watch the show, but shared that the title has been on his mind for days. I told the young man that in my opinion, the Lord probably wanted him to think about where he would spend eternity, in hell or heaven. Again, before I could ask him if he was attending church, he says, “What is the portal to hell?”

I answered him with one word, “Disbelief.” Looking puzzled, he says, “What does that mean pastor?” I went to the basic verse, the “Gospel in a Nutshell,” “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life,” The young man says, “So if I don’t believe in Jesus, I will go through the portal of hell when my life ends?” Again, I gave a one-word answer, “Yes.” That answer substantiated my other one-word answer, “disbelief.”

Before he could respond, react, or rapidly ease away, I finally got to ask him was he saved. He responded, “I don’t go to church, never have.” My response was a little bit longer than one word at this point in the grocery store dialogue that was taking place near the dairy section. You know the section where you can feel the cold and it is an area in the store where one does not typically waste any time. But sometimes, you have to endure the cold and the heat to be a witness for the Lord. Remember that my friend.

I asked the young man if he remembered where the church was where he came for the Celebration of Life. He nodded his head in the affirmative.  My response: “Well, this Sunday you ought to make it through the doorway of our church or some other bible teaching and bible preaching church. You will hear about the Christ who is “The Door,” and you will have an opportunity at invitation time, as the Spirit will lead you, to avoid hell and you will be able to look forward a different portal. Let’s call it ‘The Portal to Heaven.’”  He says, “I will think about it.” I said, “You need to do more than think, getting back to the question you asked, if you want to avoid the portal of hell.” He thanked me for answering his initial question. Let us pray that he and others that you and I have witnessed to will make the right choice. Have a great Thursday! Be blessed!

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:9-10 New King James Version)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King