Have you ever thought what it would be like if we didn’t have some type of hedge around us? Well, in the case of Job, God has allowed us to view a sample of what it would be like to live without His protective hedge. When Satan said to God: “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face” (Job 1:11), the Lord told Satan, “…Behold, all that he has in in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” (Job 1:12). With no hedge to stop Satan the following incredible events were unleashed by this wicked foe:
Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” (Job 1:13-19).
I believe hell will be a similar place since we will be “away from the presence of the Lord” and, therefore, have no possibility of ever having God’s protective hedge around us! With no hedge to protect us, eternal punishment and separation from God will be all that those who don’t know Jesus can expect to experience for eternity!
If we want to avoid this ultimate and eternal catastrophe for our loved ones who don’t know Christ, we need to request compassion as never before from our heavenly Father. We also need to spend more time in our prayer closets asking God to open the eyes and ears of those we hold most dear, to the fate that awaits them.
Sharing the gospel message is obviously important but unceasing prayer is often the key to moving the hand of God. Fervent prayer for the salvation of souls, I believe, maximizes the chance that the unsaved will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
If you are still having trouble spending time in prayer for the salvation of your loved ones I implore you to meditate on the word “hell” and re-read the comments in this devotion very carefully. For you see hell is no fairy tale but total reality! There will be no parole in hell for good behavior because the Judge needed to hear your case and grant you a pardon can never be found there.
Hell is just as real as heaven and our Lord spoke extensively on both. When we die we will either be walking on streets of gold or swimming in the lake of fire. If hell can’t motivate us to pray then I dare say nothing will.