Deacon in a Devil's Hell — E.A. Johnston

The Deacon's False Security Exposed

Oh, where am I? It's so dark, I can't see. It's so hot, I can't breathe. Get away from me. Get away from me, you devil. Oh no! Help, help me! Somebody help me. I'm a deacon. I don't belong here. Let me out.

Church Service Cannot Secure Salvation

Let me out of here. I don't belong in here. Somebody help me. Here is a man. He is a deacon in his church, and he has served in that capacity for many years. He's been dutiful in his service to his church, honest in his dealings with others.

But when it came time for him to die, he died in his sins. In life, he rested upon a false foundation of a good opinion of himself and a long track record of service. But when he died, it didn't do him any good.

He was not saved. Even though he was a deacon, he was sent to a devil's hell. Could this be your story? Did you know there are plenty of church people in hell right now, friend? Did you know that hell is full of church deacons?

Being a deacon or a church member did not keep them out of hell. And that's the tale of my message this evening, friends. Deacon in a devil's hell. And it is my hope that someone here, within the sound of my voice, will be brought off their false foundation of carnal security and be awakened to the fact that you were lost and on your way to hell.

Listen, friends, just because you're a church member, that won't keep you out of hell. Just because you sing in the choir, that won't keep you out of hell. Just because you teach Sunday school, that won't keep you out of hell.

Just because you serve as a deacon, that won't keep you out of hell. Hell is full of well-meaning church people who died in their sins. Does that statement shock you? Do you believe that just because somebody joins a church and serves in it, that alone will keep them out of hell?

No, friend. Church membership will not keep you out of hell. Neither will your long track record of service. Deacon in a devil's hell. That's a terrible thought, isn't it? Could I be talking to you? I didn't come here to win your approval.

I came here to warn you of your great danger of dying in your sins and being sent to hell by a holy and just God who will and must punish sin. Now, some of you don't believe in that kind of God. Your God wouldn't send anybody to hell.

Your God wouldn't act that way. I believe you're right, friend. Your God wouldn't send anybody to hell. But the God of the Bible would. Our text today can be found in Matthew's Gospel in chapter 22. You can turn in your Bibles there now.

The Marriage Supper and the Call to Come

It is the parable of the marriage of the king's son, where Christ is the bridegroom and God's messengers are out in the highways and hedges, compelling the lost to come in to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

But most are indifferent to the message. The gospel has no interest to them. They're getting along fine without God in their lives, so they refuse the offer to the wedding banquet. Reminds me of the man I met on a golf course one time.

This man had a filthy mouth. Every word that came out of his lips was a cuss word. He was a big man, husky and intimidating. I got up the nerve to ask him the following question. I said, what is your relationship with God like?

He let out a laugh and cussed and then said, my relationship with God is just fine. As a matter of fact, we have a good relationship. I leave him alone and he leaves me alone. And that's why people go to hell, friends, because God leaves them alone.

So in this parable, in Matthew's gospel, we see a king who made a supper for his son, a marriage supper, and invitations were sent out to come to the banquet. But most folks despise the invitation. Then we see divine indignation on the part of the king.

And we see that each man's life will one day be tested because God is the searcher of hearts. Picture in your mind, friend, that great wedding banquet. All are gathered at the long table laden with delicacies.

It's a feast ready to be enjoyed. And in comes the king. He passes by each table and nods a greeting to each guest. But when he comes to your table, he stops. He looks at you. He examines you. Before the king came in, you were fine and happy.

You were enjoying the conversation at the table. In fact, you were telling everybody at your table how long you've been a deacon at your church and you feel pretty good about yourself and your surroundings.

And now you're ready to enjoy your meal. But your happiness is interrupted by the king who stops at your table and searches your heart. Now you feel naked. You have nothing to say to the king. And the king addresses you and says so all can hear.

Friend, how come you are here without a wedding garment? And you look around and everybody there at that banquet has on a wedding garment but you. And you realize with horror that you lack the robe of righteousness.

Everybody else has theirs but you don't. Your heart sinks like a stone. Suddenly you feel like somebody just kicked you in the stomach. You feel sick. You can't talk. Then the king summons several angels to come by your side and they fasten you with cords.

They bind your hand and foot and take you away from that banquet room where there is light and good food and enjoyment to be had in the company of the king and his son. Those angels carry you out of there while you're kicking and screaming.

You're weeping and you're gnashing your teeth. And the next thing you know you are in outer darkness which is hell itself. A deacon in a devil's hell. Could this be you? Do I need to read us this striking passage of scripture?

Reading Matthew 22: The King and the Wedding Garment

I believe I do. Allow me to read us chapter 22 from Matthew's gospel at this time friends. Because it is here in the word of God that some of you may be awakened to your own lost condition as the spirit of God applies the gospel to your heart and pierces your conscience with conviction of sin.

Here now is the word of God. May the spirit of God be pleased to attend the reading of his preached word. And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding and they would not come.

Again he sent forth other servants saying, Tell them which are bidden. Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen, and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come unto the marriage. But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise, and the remnant took his servants and treated them spitefully and slew them.

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth, and he sent forth his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned up their city. Then saith he to the servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment, and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for many are called, but few are chosen. That is a striking passage of scripture, friend.

It's a passage from God's word which has eternity all over it. Life and death sit together at that banquet table together. And then the king comes in. And when the king comes in, friends, all false foundations are broken up.

There's no excuses made on that day. The mouth of the guilty will be stopped. The angels bind that unconverted guest by his hands and his feet, and they carry him away to a place of eternal misery and punishment, a region of outer darkness, where there's weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Reality of Hell and Final Judgment

Weeping speaks of great loss and grief. Gnashing of teeth signifies great anger and regret. And that is what hell is like, friend. You will gnash your teeth together in anger and regret. You will weep, but you will be in a place of darkness where no one can see your tears.

No one will care about your misery. You will be surrounded by misery. The cries of the damned will be all around you, filling your ears with continual noise and disharmony. It'll be so hot in hell, you won't be able to breathe.

It'll be so dark in hell, you won't be able to see your hand in front of your face. But all your senses will be active. You will feel thirst. You will experience pain. You will suffer agony. And the fact that you were a deacon in the church won't make a hill of beans in hell.

You probably thought you weren't bad enough to go to hell. That only serial killers went there. The refuse of society like sociopaths, hitlers, and mass murderers. The sewer of society. You probably think that you're good enough to go to heaven.

After all, you've never killed anybody. You've done the best you know how. And you've been honest in your dealings with others. You're not as bad as you could have been. Anyhow, God wouldn't actually send a church member to hell.

He's not a cruel monster. He's a being of love. Your God wouldn't send a good person to hell. But you have your definitions mixed up, friend. God doesn't send good people to heaven either. Only forgiving people get to go there.

Sin, Human Guilt, and God's Holy Law

Your trouble is, you may not have heard the true gospel in your lifetime. Because there's few today standing in our pulpits who actually preach the true gospel anymore. This is why you're going to hell, friend.

Listen carefully to what I have to say to you now. You were born with a ruined nature. And you entered this world under a curse. There's a poison in your blood which is an inclination to sin. And sin has separated you from God.

God is holy. His very name is holy. He requires perfection to get into his heaven. And you are not perfect. No man is. One day future, and a day of judgment. You will be held up against the strict and severe law of God.

And if you stand there in your own merits, you will fail that test. Because man is a guilty rebel who's broken the holy law of God. And God will not allow any rebels into his kingdom. A sinner is a traitor against the crown.

God is a just judge and he must punish sin. He is holy and he hates sin. And the sentencing of the law must be carried out. You will be in a courtroom. Your case will be tried. Evidence will be presented.

The books will be opened. Your life will be reviewed. The devil will be there to accuse you. And to present the evidence against you. He's your prosecuting attorney. Your sins will be stacked up against you.

And they will stack up high. High up to the ceiling. One sin is enough to damn you. And you have sinned time and time again. Through the course of your life. You were guilty, guilty, guilty. You need an advocate.

Christ as Advocate and Sin Substitute

In the person of Jesus Christ. Listen friend. I know I'm a sinner. And I need a sin substitute. In the person of Jesus Christ. And so do you friend, so do you. But it is a silent courtroom. Because you have no defense attorney.

No one's there to stand in your behalf. You were naked there. Without a robe of righteousness. And you were sentenced. The bailiffs come and escort you out. They bind your hands and feet. And carry you down to that pit of hell.

Which is endless horror and misery. Once you're locked up in that prison. You'll never get out. There's no exit doors in hell. A deacon in a devil's hell. A church member in a devil's hell. Your only hope is in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Only his blood can wash away sin. He is the pardon for sin. He hung on a cross for sin. My sins, your sins, are filthy wretched sins. Your sins were the nails that fixed him to that cross. Your sins pierced his holy side.

Your sins were the thorny crown on his head. Your sins were the spit in his blameless face. And unless you exercise repentance toward God. And faith in Jesus Christ. You will die in your sins. Outside of Christ.

The Urgent Gospel Call to Repentance and Faith

And be sent to a devil's hell. Now that's strong language. But I'd rather have you. Get mad at me. And come to the place in your life. Where you see your great danger of dying in your sins. And being sent to that terrible place of misery called hell.

I've done my job. As a preacher. I have warned you. Of a future judgment. And the consequences of dying outside of Christ. Go to Christ friend. Turn from your sins. Let me preach you the gospel now. And it is my prayer.

That the spirit of God will attend this gospel call. And that you just won't hear the voice of this poor preacher. But through the enablement of God. You will hear his voice. As it comes through to you.

Biblical Invitations to Salvation

In power. Authority. And majesty. Look unto me. And be ye saved. All the ends of the earth. For I am God. And there is none else. Ho. Everyone that thirsteth. Come ye to the waters. And he that hath no money.

Come ye. Buy and eat. Yea come. Buy wine and milk. Without money. And without price. Seek ye the Lord. While he may be found. Call ye. Upon him. While he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way. And the unrighteous man his thoughts.

And let him. Return. Unto the Lord. And he will have mercy upon him. And to our God. For he will abundantly pardon. Come unto me. All ye that labor. And are heavy laden. And I will. Give you rest. Take my yoke upon you.

And learn of me. For I am meek. And lowly in heart. And ye shall find rest. Unto your souls. For my yoke is easy. And my burden is light. All that the Father. Giveth me. Shall come to me. And him that cometh to me.

I will in no wise. Cast out. And the spirit. And the bride say. Come. And let him that heareth say. Come. And let him that is a thirst. Come. And whosoever will. Let him take the water of life freely.