🕊️ PRAY HERE Devotion 🕊️ “Biblical Wisdom Can Save People From Hell and Destruction”

Scripture: Revelation 21:8 KJV

“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.”

Devotion :

Remember the good ole days when we were taught RIGHT FROM WRONG?

We were taught manners.

We were taught respect.

We were taught discipline.

And we were taught that our actions have consequences.

Not anymore. 😔

This generation and the new world we live in hear a completely different message:

“DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.”

Do what makes you happy.

Do what feels good.

Nobody can tell you what to do.

No rules. No correction. No accountability.

But sisters and brothers…

EVERYTHING WE WANT TO DO IS NOT GOOD FOR US!

A loving parent doesn’t allow a child to run into traffic simply because that’s what the child wants to do.

Love says:

STOP! THAT WILL HURT YOU!

SOMETIMES BOUNDARIES SAVE LIVES.

And that’s one reason the Bible is so valuable.

Many people disregard and discredit it as an old book filled with rules.

But Scripture contains wisdom that can keep us from destroying ourselves and each other.

And even more importantly, Scripture points us to Jesus Christ and salvation.

Let’s look at today’s Scripture together.

This one isn’t comfortable.

I prayed this morning, and I tried to choose something more uplifting. But this is what the Lord pressed upon my heart.

And I understand why.

It is heartbreaking watching so much suffering, pain, destruction, and unnecessary loss of life connected to sin.

So let’s read what God says.

Revelation 21:8 gives us a serious list. The ESV describes them as:

The cowardly.

The faithless.

The detestable.

Murderers.

The sexually immoral.

Sorcerers.

Idolaters.

All liars.

And Scripture tells us their end is the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, “which is the second death.”

Whewww. 😔🙏🏽

HELL IS NOT SOMETHING I WANT ANYBODY TO EXPERIENCE.

That’s why biblical correction is not hatred.

Warning somebody about destruction can be an act of love.

If I know the bridge is out ahead, I’m not going to smile and watch you keep driving because I don’t want to offend you.

I’M GOING TO WARN YOU!

And when you look around our world today, the things listed in this Scripture don’t seem ancient at all.

They look VERY familiar.

MURDERERS.

We turn on the news and see another person shot.

Another family grieving.

Another child caught in violence.

Another disagreement that became deadly because somebody couldn’t control their anger.

According to the FBI’s 2024 national crime statistics, there was an estimated murder about every 31 minutes in the United States—even though murder decreased substantially from the previous year.

The Bible says:

“Thou shalt not kill.”

Jesus takes us deeper and teaches us to deal with anger and hatred in the heart.

God’s exchange?

Instead of hatred:

LOVE.

Instead of revenge:

FORGIVENESS.

Instead of uncontrolled anger:

SELF-CONTROL.

Imagine how many funerals could be prevented if more people lived that wisdom.

😔

LIARS.

Whewww! 👀

Lying has become so normal that people laugh about it.

Lie on an application.

Lie to your spouse.

Lie about somebody you don’t like.

Create a fake social-media page.

Pretend to be somebody you’re not.

Scam somebody out of money.

Spread something online without even knowing whether it’s true.

But one lie can destroy somebody’s marriage, reputation, career, finances, or family.

Biblical wisdom could save somebody’s grandmother from being scammed out of everything she worked for.

The Bible’s better way?

TELL THE TRUTH.

👏🏽

SEXUAL IMMORALITY.

Look around at how much our world uses SEX FOR EVERYTHING.

Sex sells music.

Sex sells clothes.

Sex gets clicks, followers, attention, and popularity.

😔

Things that were once considered private are now openly displayed everywhere. Even children can easily encounter sexual images and vulgar content on the phones and tablets in their hands.

And the message being sent is:

“BE SEXY. SHOW MORE. SEX SELLS.”

Sadly, even some who profess to be Christians can feel pressured to become more sexualized just to stay relevant, popular, or noticed.

But…

WE DON’T HAVE TO BECOME MORE LIKE THE WORLD TO REACH THE WORLD.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

The world has also normalized casual sex as if there are no consequences. Yet we see broken hearts, sexually transmitted diseases, unfaithfulness, damaged marriages, pornography addictions, and people treating bodies as objects instead of something God created with purpose.

Biblical wisdom offers us something better:

PURITY. SELF-CONTROL. FAITHFULNESS. COMMITMENT. HONOR.

Sex itself isn’t evil—God created it. But God also gave it purpose and boundaries.

The world says:

“Do whatever feels good.”

God reminds us:

YOUR BODY, YOUR CHOICES, AND YOUR COVENANTS MATTER.

SORCERY AND IDOLATRY.

People will say:

“I don’t worship idols.”

Okay… 👀

But an idol doesn’t have to be a golden statue.

Anything we elevate above God can become an idol.

Money.

Success.

A relationship.

Power.

Celebrity.

Our phones.

Social media.

Even ourselves.

When something gets your devotion, controls your decisions, shapes your identity, and matters more to you than obeying God…

CHECK YOUR HEART.

And Scripture warns us not to seek spiritual power apart from God.

You don’t need another spiritual source.

YOU NEED GOD.

🙌🏽

UNBELIEF.

This may be the part people least want to discuss.

We live in a world where many people simply do not believe God is real.

They don’t believe Satan is real.

They don’t believe judgment is real.

They don’t believe eternity is real.

So naturally, if you don’t believe there’s a destination at the end of a road…

you aren’t concerned about which road you’re traveling.

😮‍💨

But disbelief doesn’t determine reality.

And Revelation isn’t giving us this warning so Christians can point fingers and say:

“LOOK AT ALL THOSE BAD PEOPLE!”

No!

THIS WORD SHOULD MAKE ALL OF US EXAMINE OUR HEARTS.

Because we have all sinned.

We all need mercy.

We all need forgiveness.

WE ALL NEED JESUS.

🙏🏽

This isn’t about Christians being better than everybody else.

It’s about Christians knowing WHO SAVED US.

WHEWWW! 🙌🏽

And please don’t miss the larger picture of Revelation 21.

Right before this warning, God speaks of making all things new and promises an inheritance to those who overcome.

The Gospel isn’t:

“Get yourself perfect or go to hell.”

The Gospel is that sinful humanity desperately needed a Savior…

AND GOD SENT JESUS.

🙌🏽🔥

Jesus died for our sins.

Jesus rose again.

Jesus offers forgiveness.

Jesus transforms hearts.

Jesus gives us a new way to live.

So when God says something is evil, He isn’t trying to keep us from enjoying life.

SOMETIMES HE’S TRYING TO KEEP WHAT IS EVIL FROM DESTROYING OUR LIVES.

WHEWWWW! 😮‍💨🔥

THE BIBLE OFFERS A BETTER EXCHANGE.

Exchange lies for TRUTH.

Hatred for LOVE.

Revenge for FORGIVENESS.

Sexual immorality for PURITY AND FAITHFULNESS.

Greed for GENEROSITY.

Idolatry for DEVOTION TO GOD.

Rebellion for OBEDIENCE.

Unbelief for FAITH.

Destruction for LIFE.

Sin for SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

AND MY HEART ESPECIALLY GOES TOWARD OUR CHILDREN.

We have to teach them.

Not merely:

“Don’t do that because I said so.”

Teach them WHY.

Teach them that choices have consequences.

Teach them compassion.

Teach them self-control.

Teach them honesty.

Teach them respect.

Teach them forgiveness.

Teach them how to pray.

Teach them the Word of God.

TEACH THEM ABOUT JESUS.

But let’s not stop with our children.

WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES TOO.

👀

Because being grown doesn’t make us immune to temptation, bad decisions, deception, or consequences.

Sometimes we’re trying so hard to tell the younger generation what’s wrong that God is saying:

“I’M TALKING TO YOU TOO!”

Whewww! 😮‍💨

We need the Word.

We need correction.

We need boundaries.

We need wisdom.

We need repentance.

WE NEED JESUS TOO!

The Bible isn’t just something we hand to our children and say:

“You need to read this.”

We need to open it ourselves and say:

“LORD, TEACH ME HOW TO LIVE.”

🙌🏽

And before we spend all of our time saying:

“This generation doesn’t know God!”

Here’s my question:

WHO IS GOING TO TELL THEM?

👀

WE ARE!

You and I have an assignment.

First Thessalonians 5:17 says:

“Pray without ceasing.”

So PRAY!

Pray for our children.

Pray for families.

Pray for schools.

Pray for people struggling with addiction.

Pray for people committing violence.

Pray for victims.

Pray for people who don’t know Jesus.

But don’t stop at prayer.

BE THE LIGHT YOU’RE PRAYING TO SEE.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🔥

Tell the truth in a world filled with lies.

Show compassion in a world becoming cold.

Forgive.

Help somebody.

Teach your children.

Correct with love.

Live with integrity.

Share the Gospel.

TELL SOMEBODY ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.

Because while you and I cannot single-handedly fix the entire world…

WE CAN AFFECT THE PART OF THE WORLD GOD PUT AROUND US.

One person can influence a family.

One family can influence a neighborhood.

One teacher can influence a classroom.

One believer can introduce somebody to Jesus.

One conversation can change somebody’s direction.

And one changed heart can stop a whole chain of destruction.

DON’T JUST COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DARKNESS. BE LIGHT.

🙌🏽🔥

I tried to choose something lighter this morning.

But somebody needs this warning.

Somebody needs to understand that the road they’re traveling has a destination.

And if you’re going the wrong way…

YOU CAN TURN AROUND.

Jesus still saves.

Jesus still forgives.

Jesus still transforms hearts.

Jesus still delivers.

And while you still have breath…

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO TURN TO HIM.

God bless you all. 🙏🏽💙

Don’t read Revelation 21:8 looking for everybody else.

Ask:

“LORD, WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN ME?”

Then ask yourself:

Who has God placed around me who needs to see Jesus through my words, compassion, choices, and example?

This world needs light.

LET GOD USE YOURS.

Prayer :

Father God, my heart hurts for the suffering, violence, deception, addiction, broken families, lost lives, and destruction around us.

But Lord, don’t let me become so focused on everybody else’s sin that I fail to examine my own heart.

Cleanse me.

Correct me.

Forgive me.

Change anything in me that does not please You.

And then…

USE ME.

Give me compassion for people who are lost instead of making me judgmental toward them.

Help me remember that I needed Your mercy too.

Don’t let me become selfish and concerned only about myself and my family while people around me are hurting and dying without knowing Jesus.

Make my life a light.

Let my words bring wisdom.

Let my choices demonstrate integrity.

Let my actions influence somebody to make a better decision.

Give me courage to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Help me teach the next generation Your Word, Your ways, and the consequences of our choices.

Lord, save our children.

Heal our families.

Cleanse our hearts.

Turn people away from destruction and toward JESUS.

And wherever You place me today, help me leave that place a little better because Your light was shining through me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏🏽🔥💙