saved from the pits of hell
"Out of My sight, you evildoers!" —Matthew 7:23
How bad can things get? We can unconditionally surrender to the enemy and be led captive into exile (2 Kgs 24:12). The treasures of our faith can be carried off, and we can witness horrific sacrileges (see 2 Kgs 24:13). We can be brought so "very low" (Ps 79:8) that "there is no one to bury" the dead (Ps 79:3). Consequently, the corpses of God's servants became "food to the birds of heaven" and "to the beasts of the earth" (Ps 79:2). Just imagine a dog or a rat chewing on your mother's dead body. How bad can things get? As bad as hell.
Why do such atrocities happen? Why does the Lord describe this in the Bible? The Lord is showing us the hellish results of sin. This should lead us to repent. The wages of sin (Rm 6:23) should especially lead us to thank Jesus for saving us by taking our sins on Himself (1 Pt 2:24) and dying for love of us. Jesus has not just saved us from some unpleasantness. He has saved us from unspeakable degradation. Accept Jesus' gift of salvation. Thank Jesus, our Savior — constantly and forever.
Prayer: "I'm forever grateful to You. I'm forever grateful for the cross."
Promise: "None of those who cry out, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven." —Mt 7:21
Praise: Sally happened to read a Marian prayer referring to love being poured out like water. As she read about the water, a stream of water suddenly fell from the ceiling and hit her hand. She later discovered that her bladder infection had been healed.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our book, Living In Reality.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, November 29, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 2, 1997