The Wages of Sin is DEATH! 

By M. S. Shiflett

Did you know that you were DYING?  How much time to you spend thinking about it?  Have you ever wondered how you will die, or where you will die?  Death is a certainty.  The Bible tells you in Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" God's word tells us that YOU have an appointment with death, and it is an appointment that you can't CANCEL, MISS or POSTPONE!!  Do you know WHY you are going to DIE??  It is because of SIN!! 

Romans 6:23 says "For the WAGES of SIN is DEATH..."  Because you are a SINNER, you are going to DIE one day.  God said that "All have SINNED and come short of the glory of God."   Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so DEATH passed upon ALL men, for that ALL have SINNED:"  God hates sin! 

       All sin is the breaking of God's laws.  The sins of MURDER, STEALING, ADULTERY, LYING, CHEATING, DRINKING, DRUGS, PORN, PRE-MARITAL SEX, HOMOSEXUALITY, CURSING, DANCING, DISOBEDIENCE, FIGHTING, and much more!!  God hates all these sins.  Anybody that is involved in these sins is GOING TO DIE and go to HELL!!  The Bible clearly teaches that because ALL MEN are SINNERS, then they are going to DIE.  But when they die, that is NOT THE END!!  The Bible says that after they die, THEY WILL BE JUDGED!!  After God judges all the sinners, the Bible says that they will be cast INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE!  By the way, they will never come out!

Revelation 21:8 "But the FEARFUL, and UNBELIEVING, and the abominable, and MURDERERS, and WHOREMONGERS, and SORCERERS, and IDOLATERS, and all LIARS, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with FIRE and BRIMSTONE: which is the second death."  WHAT A NIGHTMARE!  The Bible is very clear that SIN may be fun for a little time, but the results of it are DEADLY!  Proverbs 16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."  The fun and the pleasure that sin brings will also bring an ETERNITY in a LAKE of FIRE!

       God very plainly told us that we are ALL sinners, and that ALL sinners MUST BE JUDGED for their sin.  God is holy, and He cannot allow SINFUL people into Heaven. 

       But God has made a way!!  Since man cannot get rid of his sin, God has made it possible for our sins to be forgiven.  God's requirement for those that sin is DEATH, but He has promised LIFE to those that accept the payment that Jesus made on the cross.  Notice this PROMISE!!!  Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; BUT the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord."  God has promised EVERLASTING LIFE just for accepting His wonderful FREE GIFT of FORGIVENESS!

       You DESERVE to die because you have broken God's laws.  You DESERVE to go to Hell because of your wickedness.  But, God loves you.  He doesn't want you to go to Hell.  In fact, He very clearly tells us that Hell wasn't created for you!  It was created for the DEVIL and all of his angels.  God didn't create Hell for YOU, and He didn't create YOU for HELL!  God wants you to have a great life down here on earth, and then He wants you to have eternal life in HEAVEN. God's love for you has provided you with an ESCAPE.  Here's all you have to do.

       First of all, you must REALIZE that you are a sinner and that you DESERVE to die because of your sins.  Anybody that lies to themselves about not being a sinner CANNOT be saved from this awful place called HELL.  You must ADMIT that you are a SINNER and that you NEED God. 

       Secondly, you must realize that YOU CANNOT EARN salvation by your good works.  Nobody has ever been saved by their works!  You must put all of your FAITH and TRUST in what Jesus did on the cross in order to be forgiven of your sins.  Jesus PAID THE FULL PRICE for your sins when He died on the cross.  There is nothing else you can do to ADD to that payment.  God only wants you to accept HIS free gift of forgiveness BY FAITH!  As long as you are trying to EARN salvation by church membership, baptism, tithing, and being good, then you will NEVER be forgiven of your sins. 

       Here is what God says about trying to get to Heaven BY YOUR WORKS:  Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; God's word tells you that His opinion of YOUR good deeds is not very good!!   Ephesians 2:8, 9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast."

       Thirdly, in order to be forgiven, you have to realize that God is waiting for you with open arms, and the decision is UP TO YOU!  If you die in your sins and go to Hell, you cannot blame ANYBODY BUT YOURSELF!  God loved you enough to send a Savior to die on the cross for you.  He also loved you enough to give you ANOTHER opportunity to HEAR THE TRUTH.  This little message was given to you by someone that CARES about you and don't want to see YOU GO TO HELL.

       Why don't you get down on your knees RIGHT NOW and ask God to forgive you of your sins and to make you a child of God?  Why don't you pray right now and tell God you know you are a sinner and that you want His forgiveness for all your sins.  Ask Him to come into your heart and save you and help you to live for Him.  Repent (turn from your sins) and put all your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  He is the ONLY WAY you will ever be forgiven of all your sins.  He is the only way you will ever get to Heaven.  John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: NO MAN cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME."

       Salvation is a serious thing.  It is a sacred thing.  God can look into your heart and see if you are serious about your sin.  If you are not serious about your sin, HE WILL NOT HEAR YOUR PRAYER!! 

Isaiah 59:1, 2 "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."   Too many people are guilty of just playing around with God and making a joke of His forgiveness.  God is not someone that you play games with!!  GOD KNOWS YOU! He knows everything about you.  He knows when you were born; He knows your name; and He knows every sin you have ever done.  He will not laugh at your sin and He will not allow you to play games with Him. 

       If you want His forgiveness and you want to accept Him as your Savior, THEN YOU MUST GET SERIOUS WITH GOD!!!  Don't let your friends and your family discourage you from GETTING RIGHT WITH GOD! Today is the day of salvation - DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART TO THE TRUTH!

       Today could be the greatest day of your life.  Every sin you've ever committed could be WASHED AWAY FOREVER if you'll just ASK GOD.  If you don't think that your sin is very important, then one day you will DIE IN YOUR SINS and you will stand before a HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS GOD and you will not have a single EXCUSE.  You have heard the facts; the choice is up to you.

       Dear friend, Jesus loves you and died for you.  Please don't continue in your sins and reject His precious gift of salvation.  Pray today and allow Him to change your life, and He will!  John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."  Be saved today before it is too late!!

       If you have been saved today as a result of reading this message, please let us know!   We want to rejoice with you!  If you need more counseling or if you have a question, please let us help you! Don't hesitate to contact us.