Cartoonology

Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics.

Hell is a subject many people do not like to think about or talk about. Many deny its existence. However, the Bible has much to say about it. Jesus talked about it. We cannot avoid the subject. Everything has a counterpart. Hell is the counterpart to heaven. If one believes there is a heaven, he or she must believe there is a hell also.

I once asked a young man if possessed eternal life and knew if he was going to heaven when he died. His response was, “I don’t want to live forever.” My response was, “You have no choice. You will either live forever in heaven or hell.” Hell is a paradox. Those who are in hell are forever dying yet they never die.

Revelation 20:10 & 15 (NKJV)
10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (NKJV)
7 . . . when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Matthew 25:46 (NKJV)
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 13:41-42 (NKJV)
41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

We should just let the scripture speak for itself, but I do want to point out that the word “everlasting” means no escape for those who find themselves in hell. The time to avoid hell is now. Place your faith in Christ through confession of sin, repentance, faith in Him and surrender to Him. Christ came, suffered and died so that He could save you. 02-06-09

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Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics.

Why is it we can’t wait to tell others what we shouldn’t? The Psalmist knew the pitfalls of the human tongue.

Psalm 120:2 (NKJV)
2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.

James also knew how destructive the tongue can be.

James 3:5-8 (NKJV)
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

There is an old saying, "If you would wish another to keep your secret, first keep it yourself." There is not truer saying. The problem is my own tongue is just as “fiery” as everyone else’s. Here is another, “Who gossips to you will gossip of you.” So, gossip requires not only a fiery tongue, but also itching ears.

2 Timothy 4:3 (NKJV)
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

What is the solution, then? Surrender to Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Ephesians 5:9 (NKJV)
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV)
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with (or controlled by) the Spirit, 02-05-09

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