Down to Hades

​Meditation
Luke 10:15—And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades!
 

“Jesus spent more time in ministry in Capernaum than anywhere else in Galilee.  Yet, in their arrogance, the people of this city rejected Jesus and, as a result of their unbelief, would be sent to Hades”[1]that site of death and punishment past the tomb. How remarkable that the perfect Minister suffered such imperfect results.  How disturbing that the One with astounding miraculous powers would find among His countrymen skeptical hearts.  How sick that the seeing were blind and the hearers were deaf to the Deliverer of grace and His message of life.  The Messiah must have shaken His head in disbelief at their rigid hearts. Yet there are many lessons to glean from the Master’s warning to the unrepentant.  

Jesus did not optimistically proclaim hope for the town He understood so well.  He knew their hearts.  Beware of preachers who have nothing but good to say to everyone. They are not following Christ, they are pursuing popularity.  To proclaim goodness to those who refuse grace and blessing to those who prefer sin is like giving doughnuts to a diabetic.  If a man will not stomach Jesus, don’t feed him platitudes, warn him of dire consequences.  

Jesus did not hesitate to pronounce doom.  He would be followed by His disciples who would be further armed with the great news of His resurrection.  It wouldn’t matter.  Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida were towns who in rejecting them rejected the Son of God and in rejecting Him, rejected His Father who sent Him (vs 13-16).   

Jesus significantly invested in that seaside town in Naphtali with anemic results.  We ought not to be so discouraged when fruit does not follow our sweat, tears and love.  When Jesus said “How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it” (Mat. 7:14), He meant what He said.  Stop pouring water in a cup the Lord reveals to be cracked.  Does this mean we leave Capernaum?  Ask God.  Do what He says and leave the results to Him.  
​
We spend too much time fearing sorry results and the harm it may bring our reputation when our strength and purpose should be in the Lord.  It is a tragic thing to live among the unrepentant.  It is terrible to watch those we care about snub their Savior. This ought to make us mourn and be devoted to prayer.  The wide road down to Hades is built on the stones of rebellion.  Plead with Jesus that your town will not be one of its mileposts.  
 
Inspiration
I willingly believe that the damned are, in one sense, successful rebels to the end; that the doors of hell are locked on the inside.—C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain
 
©2012 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 
 


[1]Holman Study Bible, ©2010, Nashville, TN