The Lake That Burns with Fire

[Christsfreeservant]

“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He *said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’ Then He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’” (Revelation 21:5-8 NASB1995)​

In context, John had just finished writing the Revelations of Jesus Christ, as he had been given them by God, with regard to the last days. Yet the message here is mainly directed to the people who are reading this at any time in history prior to the fulfillment of these final events taking place which were written about in the book of Revelations, and while the people still have the time to choose God and his will over their sinful and fleshly desires.

For what did God say? He said he will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost, and he who overcomes will inherit these things, and God will be his God, and he who overcomes will be God’s son (or daughter). But read this in the context of verse eight which gives the opposite rewards based on the opposite response to the Lord and to his offer of salvation from sin and of eternal life with God.

So, what is the message here? It is the same message which was taught by Jesus and by his New Testament apostles all throughout the New Testament books. Faith in Jesus Christ will result in us denying self, dying with Christ to sin, and us walking in obedience to his commands, or it is not genuine faith which saves. We are the ones who thirst after God and after his will and after his righteousness and for the purpose to obey him and to live for him.

And “without cost” to us means that we do nothing in ourselves to earn or to deserve such a great salvation. Only by the grace of God, via Jesus’ death and resurrection, as persuaded by God, and as gifted to us by God, can any of us be of faith in Jesus Christ and die with him to sin and now walk in obedience to his commands in holy living. And thus have the hope of salvation from slavery to sin and of eternal life with God in heaven.

And overcoming has to do with overcoming sin and its hold on our lives, by the grace of God, in the power of God, so that we can now serve the Lord Jesus with our lives in surrender to his will and purpose for our lives. None of this is possible in our own human strength and will. But we must overcome and be those who now obey our Lord, in practice, in order for us to be those who inherit salvation from sin and eternal life with God in heaven.

So, “without cost” does not mean that there will be no cost to following Jesus with our lives. For we are taught in the Scriptures that it will mean self-denial and putting sin to death, by the Spirit, and walks of obedience to the Lord and to his commands. And it will cost us friends and family and relationships and jobs and careers, etc. And we will be hated and persecuted for our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord, but it will be worth it all.

But, if all we do is give lip service to Jesus Christ, and we do not bow to him as Lord, and we do not obey his commandments, and we do not forsake our sins, then we will not inherit eternal life with God. For all who are immoral people, and thieves, liars, adulterers, murderers, and idolaters, in practice, are regarded as the unbelieving, and they will not inherit eternal life with God, but their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

So don’t believe the lies which are telling you that all you have to do is to make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and now all your sins are forgiven, and heaven is now guaranteed you when you die. For the Scriptures teach that we must deny self, die to sin daily, and walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands, in practice, as evidence of faith in action which will result in forgiveness of all sins and eternal life with God. So take God seriously!

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

The Lake That Burns with Fire
An Original Work / June 1, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love