Rev. A.J. Ogden

Not so long ago I had a dream that was not only strange, but it was one that could never happen. In this dream I thought I was walking up and down there in Hell with a microphone, interviewing men and women. I would say, “Sir, why did you not accept Jesus? Why did you refuse God’s wonderful salvation? Why did you wait too long to repent?” To this he replied, “Oh, I wish I had,” as he screamed out in remorse.

Others say they were there because of being misguided by false religion. Others claimed hypocrites made them stumble. Some of them were there after a life of drunkenness on Bourbon Street. One man said he lived a life of crime before going to Hell and was so sorry he never repented, but now it was too late.

There was also a beautiful lady there who said she had been a faithful church member on earth. She went to church, sang specials, and did her religion perfectly, but she had never been saved. Now it was a life of torment forever. Thousands of church member go to Hell because they never got saved.

We are not saved by any amount of religious works. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Remember friends, your salvation cannot be earned or merited; neither can you steal your way into Heaven. But it is given freely by Jesus who has already bought it for you with his own blood at Calvary. Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, but a gift for the guilty. We must see ourselves as poor lost sinners and repent. You could belong to a million churches, preach, teach, sing and work your fingers to the bone in religion, but you will still go to Hell for eternity if you haven’t been saved.