Devotionals: The Burning Fire

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Today I burned my hand in hot, boiling water at a temperature of 205 degrees Fahrenheit. I was pouring a hot cup of water for a customer and attempting to pull the lever back to stop the flow; when the water kept flowing, burning my left hand. I did not see the lever pointed to stream, and the boiling water ran down my hand for about 5 seconds (which felt like forever). I fought back tears wanting to pour out of my eyes, as I passed the customer the cup and ran to a sink to let cold water run on my hand as I cried. After dipping my hand in and out of ice for over 5 minutes,  my hand still burned when it dried. I kept icing it every few minutes to keep it cool. The pain subsided throughout the day from when it happened, but the pain is still there. 

 The book of Revelation, Chapter 21 in the bible, talks about another fire of burning sulfur after Jesus has come back to judge the Heaven and Earth. The chapter titled " A New Heaven and a New Earth" informs us of a New Heaven and Earth after the former two have passed away. It warns us to live righteously to avoid the wrath that is to come. The chapter uses the  the parable of a bride beautifully dressed for her husband to describe Heaven, whereas the New Earth will be a lake of burning sulfur where those who are disobedient and wicked will be placed forever. All of the people who are faithful and obedient will go to Heaven,  and  those who are evil will be placed in the second death . Their bodies will burn forever in sulfur (a chemical element also known as brimstone which means burning stone in the bible), which will be inextinguishable.  This occurrence of my burning of hand reminded me to continue doing the right thing and to keep on walking on a righteous path. I pray that God will give us sound judgement and the continuous wisdom to do what is right because though life may seem comfortable now as we live our lives; all of our actions will have to be accounted for when Jesus comes back to judge the earth.  Let's Repent of our Sins.

Be Encouraged, 

Noelani