Articles
What is the Christian's Motivation Pt-1
What is our motivation? Part 1
What motivates people to become a follower of Christ and what motivates us to remain faithful until death?
1. To avoid Hell
2. To gain Heaven
3. Positive lifestyle
4. Delighting in God
One of the most basic motivators to become and remain a Christian is simply to avoid eternal death in hell.
One reason people follow rules is to avoid the punishment if you get caught. Children obey their parents so they won’t get a spanking or get grounded from something they enjoy. Students do their homework and study for tests so they won’t fail a class. Adults drive the speed limit to avoid getting a ticket. People don’t like to be punished.
It is unfortunate that many today think that all punishment is bad and doesn’t have a place in modern society. They say it ‘destroys self-esteem’. Therefore many effective punishments have been taken away. For example, when a child misbehaved at school 50 years ago, they would likely get a spanking by the teacher in front of the entire class! Then he/she would get another one at home by mom or dad. Today you will rarely find any spankings at all. At school or at home.
Also 50 years ago you would likely hear a ‘hell, fire, and brimstone’ sermon at worship services several times a year. Today, it’s very rare. People don’t like to ‘hear all that negative stuff’. They like to have their ears tickled with all things positive.
All that being said, it’s still true that God is a just God and will punish the wicked.
“O LORD, the God of Israel, you are just...“ - Ezra 9:15
“... the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” - 2 Peter 3:7
“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:14-15
“...thrown into the lake of fire”...
There are few pains worse than being burned. It’s excruciatingly painful! Even a small burn can cause great discomfort for many days. Now imagine falling into a pit of lava or an actual lake of fire. If that really happened here on earth, you would be in unspeakable pain for a few seconds before you died and could no longer feel the pain of the heat in your physical body. But hell is not like that. The fire and brimstone continue to burn, the pain continues to punish, and eternity never ends.
Imagine our capacity to avoid sin when tempted if we would simply take a moment to imagine that lake of eternal fire....
“I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins." - John 8:24
“In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.” - Luke 13:28
“For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” - Hebrews 10:30-31
No, it’s not fun to dwell on the punishment of eternal hell. However, hell is real. God is just, and the one who is not saved by the blood of Christ will sadly spend eternity there.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” - Ephesians 2:13
