A Picture of Hell

# 233 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. Saul, having rejected God as evidenced by his persistent disobedience, is now rejected by God. The Holy Spirit which had been given to Saul by God, is now removed. What a frightening experience for Saul. All the good things we talked about yesterday, yes and even more are all removed. No longer able to outwit the enemy, no more protection from affliction, no more obstacles for the enemy to overcome, he now has free access to Saul. But even then, the enemy is only allowed to go as far as God allows. The enemy is never allowed to supplant the eventual good and perfect will of the Lord. Later on we will hear of Saul's lament over this departure of the Holy Spirit when he says in 1Sa 28:15b, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams.” It is a terrible thing to be cut off from the living God! And the distressing spirit that came upon Saul from the devil absolutely terrified him. No wonder David pleaded with God after he was caught in sin with Bathsheeba, Ps 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. This section of Scripture serves as a grave warning to all who will hear. All who reject God in this life, will be rejected by God in the next. Jesus said in Lu 9:26, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.” The terror of Saul caused by the lack of anything good and the absence of God, will be owned for eternity for those who reject His Son. Ps 73:19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. Therefore repent! Come back to Jesus and be spared the terrors of hell.