our midweek Bible study. We're so very glad that you're joining with us tonight. On Thursday nights we're going through the Bible, book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. And tonight we finish the book of Isaiah. Oh, I thought the response would be more like, aww. Okay, that's fine. Too late. Nice try. Kind of bittersweet a little bit. What an amazing book though. So anyway, chapter 66, I'll invite you at this time to turn there if you're not there already. And those of you online as well. And why don't we pray and we'll ask God to bless our time together in His Word. If you would please join with me. Oh Lord, Thank You so much, Lord. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for this time that we have on Thursday nights to come together as a body of believers. And for those that are joining us online, Lord, we just ask You, God, for Your blessing tonight on our time together. Lord, we're also mindful of the people of Ukraine tonight. as intense as that situation seems to be, and as bad as it's getting, as the situation is escalating. Lord, we see the numbers and they're just numbers on a screen. But these are people, people that You love, people that You died for. And so Lord, I just pray that what is happening right now, yes, it has prophetic significance, but these are people that need You. And so Lord, I just pray that what's happening there right now would have the much needed effect of bringing people to You in this last hour, this late hour. Lord, thank You that we can come to You. Lord, even as Your people, we come to You tonight. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, we know that You're going to minister to us as only You can. You're going to encourage and strengthen our hearts. And so Lord, we want to thank You in advance for what You're going to do in our time together in Your Word tonight. Lord, We're desperate. We're desperate for You. We're so hungry, so needy. Oh, as we just, oh, it's so beautiful. Every hour we need Thee, Lord. Lord, thank You. We love You so much. Bless our time, we pray in Jesus' name, Amen and Amen. All right, so I have to confess that I've really been looking forward to teaching this last chapter here in the book of Isaiah, and chiefly due to verse two. For me, it's the takeaway from not only the chapter, this last chapter, but arguably the entire book, specifically related to God's people humbling themselves. And as we're about to see, it's the humble that God will see as He looks upon them and is moved by them. Actually, I, I'm sorry. I hate it when somebody does that. It's like, oh never mind. No, it's just that the Lord has really been impressing upon my heart as of late, when it comes to humility and brokenness. Before we jump in, let me just say this and just leave it with the Holy Spirit to kind of bless it to your hearts. But have you ever noticed that when two people are humble, they don't argue? Let me try that again. I'll say the same thing in a different way. When you're humble, you're not arguing. And as we're going to see with James in our study on Sunday mornings, what causes fights and quarrels among you? It's pride. It's pride. I mean, let's talk about the husband and wife relationship. Okay, the marriage relationship. How are you going to argue with each other when you're humble? I mean, how long is that argument going to last? It's not going to last at all. That's the power of humility. And it's kind of a preface in a way, because as we're about to see, it's like God is saying, you know what I notice? You know what I'm moved by, what I'm impressed with? Humility. Do you know why that is? Have you ever asked yourself the question, the why question? It's because God is humble. God is humble. Have you ever thought of it like that? We know that He gives grace to the humble, but He resists the proud. The Proverbs says that He knows the proud from afar off. It's like, get away from me. Why? Because God is humble. Jesus, when He was here in His public ministry, in His meekness, not weakness, Please, I implore you, do not make weakness synonymous with meekness. This is God incarnate, omnipotent God, all powerful God in the flesh. And He was so humble, so meek that Children were attracted to Him. There was something about his countenance, his appearance, his demeanor that would attract you to him. It's humility. It's humility. Humility is so attractive and pride so repulsive. And really to me again, this sums up the entirety of this book. You could sum it up in a word, humility, humility on the part of God's people. And that's what we're about to see. Verse one, Thus says the Lord, Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where's the house that You will build Me? And where's the place of My rest? for all those things, verse two, my hand is made, and all those things exist, says the Lord. But on this one will I look, On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at my word. It's almost as if God is saying, nothing impresses me. You think that impresses me? I made that. I mean, think about it. You know, in that day, the kings, the royalty would always have their throne, and they would have the footstools, and they would sit upon the throne. And God's like, you know, I have a throne. It's heaven. Oh, the earth, that's my footstool. I put my feet on it. And you want to impress me? You want to get my attention? You want to move me? That doesn't move me. That does nothing for me. You know what moves me? Humility. Now you got my attention. That's who I look upon, on Him who, as Jesus would say, it is poor in spirit, acknowledging, readily admitting their need, contrite in spirit, this humility, humble in spirit. And of course, what always ensues is a trembling at the Word of God. See it like this. I'll say it like this. You're hanging on every word. When I'm humble, when I'm needy, when I'm like this, I'm looking to Him in my need, hanging on every word. May even trembling at His Word. That's the one that God looks upon. That's the one that moves the heart of God. And when you move the heart of God, you move the hand of God. It's the humble humility. Oh, would we but humble ourselves before the Lord. The problem is, is that we're all stiff necked, arrogant, obstinate, stubborn, full of ourselves. What does pride say? Pride says, I don't need you. I don't need God. I'm better than you. I'm more important than you. That's pride. I have no time for that. But you know who I am? Reminds me of a humorous story. When my wife and I were first married, she had a co-worker that was a flight attendant. She told her this story about this flight attendant was, you know, getting everybody seated. And this one just, I mean, arrogant guy was like, Do you know who I am? And this was her response. This is so good. Oh, I wish I could have been on that flight. She's like, oh, I'm sorry. I don't know who you are. And then she pulls the curtain back, you know, that separates first class from the rest of the people. And she opens it up and she yells in the back. She goes, does anybody know who this guy is? Oh, that's good. Hey, you know what that's called? And again, that's going to be in James. That's called getting humbled. You know, humility and humiliate are from the same root word. You know that proverb that says, humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. Okay, I'm going to personalize it. I'm going to use it for myself, apply it to myself. This is how it reads for me and to me. JD, humble yourself in the sight of the Lord or He'll do it for you. Oh yeah, he humbles the proud and he exalts the humble. And again, please don't miss this. This is so important. The reason is, is because God is humble. God is humble. Verse three, by the way, this chapter is, it's pretty intense actually. So bear with me. I'll do my best with the help of the Holy Spirit. He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man. He who sacrifices a lamb as if he breaks a dog's neck. He who offers a grain offering as if he offers swine's blood, He who burns incense as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have, and I want you to pay particular attention to this word, chosen, hang on to that, just as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, so will I, verse 4, choose their delusions and bring their fears on them. Because when I called, no one answered. When I spoke, they did not hear. But they did evil, before my eyes. And here it is again, chose that in which I do not delight. Now, why do I emphasize this word chose, chosen, choose? Because they've already made their choice. They've already made up their mind. They've already hardened their heart. They've already sealed their fate. And because of that, and even despite God speaking to them, even reaching out to them, they did not respond. Why did they not respond? Because they'd already made their choice. So you've already made your choice. I'm going to give you over to that which you've chosen. What did they choose? Delusions. Does this sound a little bit like 2nd Thessalonians 2? That's because it should. When we read the Apostle Paul talking prophetically, yet future, after the Antichrist is revealed, the church is removed first, the Antichrist is revealed. And then because they've already made their choice, God says, okay, I'm not going to force you to choose Me. to choose that which I delight in. Instead, you've already made your choice to do evil. You've chosen delusion. So I'm going to give you over to that which you've chosen. And we're told that God Himself sends a powerful delusion that they would believe the lie. Why? Because they already made their choice and rejected the truth. You've already made your choice. You've chosen to believe the lie, the delusion. So go ahead. I'm not going to force myself on you. You have free will, free choice. It's your choice. It's your decision. And you've already made your decision. And your decision is for delusion. And that explains Why so strong? Because we're all prone to place the blame at the feet of the Lord. No, there's no one to blame but yourself. You know, even when you thought you were making this offering to Me, that's what it was to Me. Or you offered this sacrifice, this bull. That's how you see it. That's not how I see it. You're delusional, we would say. You're delusional. You've chosen your own delusion. And I gave you plenty of chances. God is so long suffering. And He called out to them, no one answered. Why didn't they answer? Ah, no need. When I'm humble, and again trembling at the Word of God, the reason I tremble at the Word of God is because I'm humble. And conversely, I have, I will not have ears to hear the Word of God in my arrogance, in my pride, self-sufficiency, the antithesis of humility. I mean, God is giving them over to their strong delusions because they refused to hear. They shut their ears and refused to hear when the Lord called. They did not answer. They did not hear, and instead chose to do evil. Verse five, interesting, hear the Word of the Lord, hear the word of the Lord. You who, here it is again, tremble at His word. Your brethren who hated you, Who cast you out for My namesake, said, Let the Lord be glorified, That we may see your joy. But they, notice the contrast here, shall be ashamed. The sound of the noise, verse six, from the city, a voice from the temple, the voice of the Lord who fully repays his enemies. Oh, can I just say that? I just did. I'll say it again. Oh, can't wait. Why? Why do you say that? Because This is an indictment on those who mock the true worshiper of God, those who tremble at His Word. And God is declaring, I'm going to have the final word. Go God. Can't wait. Have you noticed that We've long overstayed our welcome in this world, not our home. Your brethren who hated you, of course, speaking in the context of the Jewish people. But the application certainly is for us today. We shouldn't be surprised. Jesus, in fact, told us, warned us ahead of time, they're going to hate you. Okay. But the reason they're going to hate you is because of your association with Me. And they hated Me first. So it's a badge of honor. They hate us. We're the problem. You know that, right Christians? We're the problem. To which I say, um, not for very much longer. We'll get out of your way. We'll get out of your way. And then you know what? After that, go ahead, do whatever you want. You can have this world. Just give me Jesus as that timeless classic hymn of old. So well said, so well sung. Once we're out of the way, because we're in the way, right? And the restrainer is taken out of the way, They're going to be like, oh, finally. Oh, you know not what you ask. Oh, now we can do what we've always wanted to do. Go ahead. Go ahead. But there is coming a time where the Lord will fully repay Because see, God keeps track. He's got very precise record keeping in heaven. And everyone will be recompensed according to that which they have done and even said. I was thinking about this. In fact, I think he even mentioned it on Sunday. Do you realize that every word we will have to give an account for every word we ever spoke, every post we ever posted on social media. That enough should be enough to delete your account. I mean, every word, every deed, everything, it's all kept. And we will give an account. And for those who are saved, Jesus will take that account and say, paid in full, paid in full. I paid for that. Oh, thank You Lord. And then the next one comes up. What about this one? No, that one too. What about that one? That one too. Oh, I wonder if that's the reason why we're just going to be worthy, worthy, worthy. Verse seven, before she was in labor, we kind of turn a corner here. Very interesting. She gave birth. Before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who, verse eight, has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? Hang on to that. For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children. Shall, verse 9, I bring to the time of birth and not cause delivery? Says the LORD, shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb? Says your God. Wait, what's this about? Oh, come on. You know what this is about. This is about one of the most important prophecies in all of the Bible concerning the rebirth of the nation of Israel in one day. Who has ever heard of such a thing? How is that even possible? Wait a minute. Heaven's my throne and earth is my footstool. I can do anything. I can do that. I know you'd never heard of it, but I can do it. And I did. I did this. Verse 10, Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, All you who mourn for her, That, verse 11, you may feed And be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom. that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus says the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed. On her sides shall you be carried, And be dandled on her knees, As one, verse 13, whom his mother comforts. Interesting, not the father. The mother is the one that is the nourishing one that comforts And God is comparing Himself to the comfort of a mother. And He says, so I will comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. When you see this, verse 14, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass. the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants and his indignation to his enemies. There's that contrast again. Hang on. For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with his chariots like a whirlwind to render his anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire. Ah, just like just the growl when you say that. For by fire, verse 16, and by his sword, The LORD will judge all flesh, And the slain of the LORD shall be many. Those, verse 17, who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens after an idol in the mist, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse. Wait, is that a thing? Yeah, they actually used to do that. I'm sorry for those of you that had dinner. It was actually a delicatessen of sorts, but an abomination to the Lord. But then he says this, they shall be consumed together, says the Lord. Okay, stay with me. The judgment of the Lord is coming. And when, not if, when the judgment of the Lord comes, it's going to be consuming. And it will be with fire and by the sword the Lord will judge. And that's a good thing. It is? Yeah. Because when He comes to judge, again, notice the stark contrast between those comforted and those tormented. Those of us in the Lord, we're comforted. like with the comfort of a mother. And conversely, those who are not, they will be tormented when the Lord comes in judgment. You know, this is something we don't want to talk about, right? And I would venture to say, truth be made known, you'd be hard pressed to find a church today that's going to talk, because this is what is commonly referred to as fire and brimstone. Well, you know what? There's going to be fire and brimstone. Ask Sodom. Well, you can't now, but Lot was taken out. And as soon as he was taken out, the fire and the brimstone came down and destroyed in judgment the people of Sodom. And as it was in the days of Lot, so too will it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man. it will happen. And when it does happen, it will be horrific and unthinkable, the torment, when the judgment of the Lord comes. Verse 18, we're going to come back to this at the end of the chapter. For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations in tongues, And they shall come and see My glory. I will set a sign among them, verse 19, And those among them who escape, hang on to that, I will send to the nations, To Tarshish, and Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, And to Baal and Javan, To the coastlands afar off, Who have not heard My fame, Nor seen My glory, And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. I love it when God brags on Himself. Then, verse 20, They shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels to My holy mountain, Jerusalem, says the LORD. as the Children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. And, verse 21, I will also take some of them for priests and Levites, says the LORD. Okay, what's this talking about? Well, it's clearly talking about the kingdom age, which we talked about last week in chapter 65. This is that millennial reign, that 1000 year period of time on earth. And earth will be like it was before sin entered the world. And for 1000 years there's going to be Jerusalem. There's even going to be a temple, we're told. There's even going to be sacrifices, and the priestly service, and the Levites. It's believed it's going to be more symbolic than anything else, because there's no need for sacrifices. Because Jesus is the sacrifice that was slain before the foundations of the world. But for 1000 years. So wait a minute. So what's up with these who escape? Ah, These are those who somehow, someway, don't know how, don't know the way, make it through the seven year tribulation. And somehow they neither accept Christ, nor do they accept the mark of the Antichrist. And they come to the end of the seven years. They've escaped. It's appointed and the man wants to die. And then the judgment So they're going to enter the millennium. And this is what this is referring to. Now again, like we talked about last week, I hope you're not getting whiplash here, because we've kind of gone, you know, back and then forth and then back again. And here's a sharp turn. And now we're talking about the millennium. And now we're going to talk about the new heavens and the new earth again. Verse 22, And I want to save some time on this. I think you'll see why here in a moment. For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your descendants and your name remain. And, verse 23, it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says the LORD. And, verse 24, last verse, here we go, they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me, for their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh. All right, let's close in prayer. That's the end of the chapter. What? The end? Wait, this is horrible. It's meant to be. The fire is not quenched. That sounds like forever. It is. The worm does not die. That sounds like for all eternity. It is. Wait, you mean hell is forever? Yeah. Wait a minute, pastor. With all due respect, I read a book by a guy that said hell doesn't last for all eternity. Well, they're wrong. because I just read you the Word of God. And the Word of God says it's forever. Pastor, you're getting kind of intense on me here. I'm going to do my best to balance it out. And you'll forgive me for the way that I say this, but for lack of a better way of saying it, this should scare the H E double toothpicks out of every single one of us. You get me? Wait a minute. So let's just, for purpose of discussion, let's just kind of soften this up, as many do, by the way. Let's just say that it doesn't really mean that. It does, but let's just say that it doesn't really mean that. Well, then what's the big deal? Hell isn't forever. Wait, Why did Jesus have to come and die? I mean, the way He did, go through all He did. If we just cease to exist and it's just, we're all annihilated and that's it. You're saved, right? From what? From what? What are you saved from? I think it's a sad day. When we throw that word around, I'm saved. From what? From hell, for all eternity. Jesus saved me from hell. I'm not going to go to hell. for all eternity. Wow, that puts it into perspective. You'll forgive the passion and the emotion. But this is how I came to Christ. I got the hell scared out of me, literally, because I was demon possessed with the music that I was into and listened to. And I believed and was deceived, no big deal, by a band, ACDC, that I'm on the highway to hell. And all my friends are going to be there. And it's just going to be one big party. And when I got saved on that, this is on the mainland, a cold January night, I went into my room and I had heard the gospel presented in a very simple way. And I have to say that I came to the realization that satan was very real. And the conclusion was if satan is real, that means Jesus is real. And if hell is real, that means heaven is real. And if hell is forever, that means heaven is forever. You know what my prayer was? I mean, this is, listen, I know we have what we affectionately refer to as the sinner's prayer. Nothing wrong with that. By the way, we don't do that. But nothing wrong with that. It's not recite a certain prayer, or repeat after me, or say it this way, and you're saved. Well, if that's how you're saved, then I never got saved. Because here's my prayer. God, I was very intoxicated by the way. I slurred my prayer. I fell asleep praying this way. Basically, I prayed and I said, God, I don't want to go to hell. I'm on the highway to hell. I don't want to go to hell. I want to go to heaven. And I fell asleep that way. And I woke up the next morning and I was a new creation in Christ. And old things had passed away and all things had become new. And again, I know it's different for everybody, but for me it was so dramatic. It was so instantaneous. I could not start my day without my addictions, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, all the above. And when I woke up that next morning, I went to reach for that stuff, the Holy Spirit indwelling me in that still beautiful voice. That small refining voice said, you don't need that anymore. And the desire was taken away. And I never looked back. And that was 40 years ago. Wait, I better do the math real quick. Yeah, it was 40 years. Wow, it was a long time ago. I was only five. No, I wasn't. I was 19. Just stop doing the math. 40 years ago, never looked back. But I had to come to that place where I realized, wait a minute, this path I'm on, it leads to hell. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it's the way that leads to death. And that road, that path, that gate, it's very wide and many go in. I find it very interesting that there will be many that will be slain. You know, we're going to talk about this on Sunday. Let me just, I'll actually try to bring it in for a close here. But we're going to talk a little bit about this on Sunday. Please hear me out. This is what it's all about. This is all that matters. This is the bottom line. This is the only thing that counts. Everything that's happening, it boils down to this. heaven or hell. Everyone you see, either they're saved or they're lost. That's the bottom line. At the end of the day, that's the only thing that matters. You know, today was a rough day because I'm watching this whole thing in what's happening in Ukraine. And my heart is so broken because it's so flippant, you know, the death toll from this Russian invasion of Ukraine. And so I look at that number and I think to myself, hmm, that number keeps growing, I guess. But here's the question I ask myself. I wonder if they knew Jesus. Because if they didn't know Jesus, they took their last breath here and their first breath in a Christless eternity, forever. Again, just bear with me. I'm just sharing from my heart here. This is why I want to leave some time here at the end. It's so important. This is the sobering truth about the reality of hell for all eternity. You know, we get so caught up. And I know I've shared this before. You know, we're arguing with everybody and getting Jesus to nobody. We're so busy arguing with the saved, we're not reaching the lost. Oh man, Satan is loving every minute of it. He's been met with a measure of success. Because see, we're so caught up, no pun intended, We're so caught up in this, that, them. Satan just sits back in his recliner with his remote in his hand and popcorn and just enjoys the show. Question. It's rhetorical. I ask it of myself. It's very searching. Let the Holy Spirit search your heart. Here's the question. Why, why are we so caught up in those things when we are on the cusp of heaven and hell? What are we doing? Why are we investing our time in that or arguing with them about that when it's a matter of heaven and hell forever and ever? I mean, does that put it into perspective? That person that when you go out and about and you see somebody, or you go through that checkout line. If that person doesn't know Jesus, they're going to spend eternity in hell. I mean, that's just the truth. And so I think in Isaiah's defense, by the Holy Spirit, the book, this book needs to end this way, because that's how it ends. And that has a way, rightfully so, of getting me back to where I need to be, where the main thing is the main thing. The title of the update on Sunday is the bottom line. We're going to cut to the chase. You know where that phrase came from? It's from back in the old film days, where they would cut to the chase scenes, cut to the chase. Well, this has a way of getting you to cut to the chase. There's no time to play around here. This is the bottom line. It's all about Jesus. It's all about Jesus. All this other stuff, irrelevant, pointless. Yeah, but what about blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Stop. Stop. We are on the cusp. When I say cusp, I mean we are at the point now in human history, when it's all said and done. That's it. You close the book. And if your name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, you're in hell for all eternity. Does that concern you? You'll forgive the strength. with which I say this. I need to hear it. I need to hear this. I get so busy about stupid stuff. Yeah, I said stupid. It's in the Bible, by the way, Proverbs 13, stupid. I like that word, stupid, stupid stuff. I think about Mary and Martha. You know, such a great, so thankful that God inspired that account to be included in the pages of Holy Writ. You know how that went down, right? Martha's in the kitchen just, I mean, she's serving the Lord, literally. The Lord is coming over for dinner. Oh, what are you going to make? I don't know, man. I've been planning this for months. Oh, and here He is, and she's in the kitchen, and oh, everything has to be perfect. It's the Lord. I'm doing it for the Lord. And then where's Mary? She's out in the In fact, if you read, I encourage you to read the text. She actually gets mad at Jesus for letting Mary just sit there and hang on His every word, trembling at His Word. And she says to the Lord, Lord, tell my sister to get in here and help me. We've got work to do. And Jesus never imagined Jesus being angry or harsh in his tone. I just imagine him so lovingly going, Martha, Martha, you're killing me. He didn't say that, but that's what I would say. What are you doing, man? You know what you're doing is good, but what Mary is doing is the one thing, the better thing. She's here at my feet. Listen, whatever you're cooking, I'm sure it's going to be absolutely delicious. But you've got me here now. You got me here now. What's my point? Here's my point. I think under the banner of serving the Lord, we missed the whole point. Yeah, but I'm busy about many things. And I picture Martha, and come on, let's be honest with ourselves. We've all got Martha in us, right? Oh, we're so quick to want to say, oh Martha, like you're Mary. Come on, you're Martha. You do the same thing. But Mary's chosen the better thing. She trembles at my word. She's hanging on my every word. One of the greatest successes of the enemy in the life of a Christian is to get us so busy and distracted with many things, so that he takes us away from the one thing, Jesus, Jesus. Maybe tonight, and I'll include myself in this, maybe we just kind of leave the kitchen of our busy lives. Let's just get to the feet of Jesus, because He's coming. And we're talking about heaven and hell. And I need to get to Jesus, and I need to get people to Jesus. That's what it's all about. That's the bottom line, because this is what's coming. And I think it's sooner than any of us can possibly imagine. And heaven and hell is at stake. Capone, I want you to come on up. You can go ahead and stand up. We'll close. Oh, believe you me, I would have much rather had the chapter end differently. I would have just loved to... Hey, Isaiah, come on. Can you just elaborate on the millennium, the kingdom age, the new heavens and the new earth? I want to hear about that. Well, you may want to hear about that, but you need to hear about this, because it has a way of recalibrating our priorities. I think sometimes our priorities are amiss. I'll tell you the urgency, the urgency of the hour. Because you know there is coming a time when it's just going to be too late, because everything we do here on earth will determine what we do for all eternity, where we spend all of eternity, what we do now. But once it's over, it's over. That's it. It's sealed for all eternity. That's how urgent it is. I hope you'll be encouraged. I know there's a lot of strength to this, much needed strength. But it's a sanctified strength, isn't it? Father in Heaven, I thank You. Thank You for the truth of Your Word, Your Word of truth that sets us free. I thank You for the strength of Your Word that refocuses us on what really matters. Lord, forgive us for getting involved in those things that don't really matter in light of eternity. Lord, please, as one famously said, stamp eternity on our eyes. so that everything we do, we do in view of eternity. Every relationship we have, every conversation we have, every activity we do. Lord, thank You. Thank You for this sobering reminder of the reality of heaven and of hell. And Lord, thank You that we're saved. Thank You for our salvation, Lord. We love You so much, in Jesus' name.