Revelation 1:18 (NIV):
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
As I walk through stores, I see images—some gruesome, others cute—candies, lights, and costumes, all preparing for Halloween. This event has become more widely celebrated than ever. Some claim that it’s a time when a portal opens, allowing the dead to enter our realm. Sadly, some use this holiday to celebrate Satan and evil. Satan delights in sin because it destroys the soul. It led to the fall of mankind, and his goal is for us to fail in life and lose our souls to hell, death, and Hades.
As I observe society, I sense an overwhelming presence of depravity and immorality. It seems more people are focused on sinful behaviors and thoughts than ever before. We must strengthen our resolve—our minds and hearts—more today than in the past. I feel deeply for the younger generation, forced to navigate a world lacking moral direction. Even the Church has, in many ways, accepted the immoral behaviors of the world, hesitant to correct or speak against them.
This doesn’t mean we should go around condemning others, but we should teach what God says about morality. Jesus Himself, when faced with the woman caught in adultery, did not condemn her, but He also didn’t condone her sin. Instead, He told her, “Go and sin no more.”
The Bible tells us to admonish one another out of love. Just as a parent corrects a child out of love, God corrects us because He loves us. As a parent, I understand that disciplining children is sometimes harder for us than it is for them. But we do it because it shapes their character and helps them make better choices in the future. Similarly, the Church needs to guide its members and help them make godly choices, even when it’s difficult.
Jesus died on the cross to give us a way out of eternal death and hell. Yet, people often don’t think about the consequences of their moral choices—whether it’s sex outside of marriage, drug abuse, greed, lying, or other sinful behaviors. The Church has largely stopped reminding people that there are consequences for sin.
Romans 6:23 (KJV):
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus spoke of a second death—the eternal death of the soul—and He wants us to avoid it. Unfortunately, many in the Church shy away from speaking about this reality. “Don’t preach about hell, it doesn’t attract members,” some might say. But isn’t saving us from the second death the very reason Jesus came? He didn’t come to save us from the first death, but from the second.
Mark 9:43-44 (KJV):
“If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
We should be celebrating Jesus every day, grateful for what He did for us on the cross. He bore our sins so we could be saved from hell—the second death. He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it.
John 3:17 (KJV):
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Our responsibility is to know God’s character and principles and apply them to our lives. We must make necessary changes in our hearts and lives, teaching our children to follow God and discern between good and evil. Scripture warns that, in the last days, good will be called evil, and evil will be called good. As Christians, we must test the spirits, recognizing that Satan often disguises evil in attractive packages to deceive us. Don’t be misled.
Lord, bless us with the strength to follow Your laws, decrees, and commands. Help us celebrate You daily and receive the gift of salvation and eternal life. Guide us as we navigate this world, transforming our hearts so we can be lights in the darkness. I pray that Your love, displayed through Your Son, Jesus Christ, will change hearts and transform the world. Thank You!
