...and cast him into the dungeon...And

in the dungeon there was no water, but

mire: so Jeremiah sunk in mire.

Jeremiah 38:6

In Ancient Venice a man by the name of Antonio Contino built a bridge called the "Bridge of Sighs". This bridge connected a prison and a palace together. Here is a little illustration of what it would have been like in the late 1500's.

One morning a man woke up and left his house as he walked into a little market he saw the fruits and vegetables laying out. With people purchasing items. The man did not have his breakfast that morning so he went over picked up an apple and began to eat it. The store keeper saw him and came after him, but the man took off running out the door into two soldiers. He tries to get away but they carry him away and throw him into the darkness and stench of the prison. Other men lay around him groaning. Days went by then the prison doors opened and guards led the man through a passage over the "Bridge of Sighs" to the palace where he would be judged. The man pleads for his innocence but is found guilty and condemned to the dungeon. The guard gruffly takes the arms of the man and pushes him through another passage over the "Bridge of Sighs". As the man nears the dungeon he sees a sign over the door that says: "Abandon hope all ye that enter herein." the guard gives the man a final hard push into the dungeon. The man falls to the dirty ground and the doors slam shut and the bolt locks. The words repeat in the man’s mind: "Abandon hope all ye that enter herein." "Why didn’t I do the right thing when I had the opportunity?" the man cried to himself but now it was too late.

This story will sound very familiar to some people concerning another matter and if you do not get saved your dungeon will be hell. A good question was asked in the book of Job:

But man dieth, and wasteth away;

yea man giveth up the ghost, and

where is he?

Job 14:10

There are two places heaven or hell which one do you want to be in?

A true story that is somewhat similar with the illustration I have just given you is found in Luke chapter 16 verses 19-31. A man lived his life, he didn’t care about the Lord who would die for his sins and his time ran out and he was cast into the prison called hell.

"And in hell he lift up his eyes being

in torments...And he cried and said,

Father Abraham, have mercy on me and

send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of

his finger in water, and cool my tongue;

for I am tormented in this flame.

(Luke 16:23,24)

What punishment there is in hell! In 2 Peter 2:17 it says:

There are wells without water,

clouds that are carried with a tempest;

to whom the mist of darkness

is reserved for ever.

Let me go through your life as if you died not saved. During your life you had heard the gospel you heard how Christ died for your sins to save you from hell; if you would only realize your lost state and trust the Lord as your Saviour. You didn’t do that and now your in the prison called hell suffering the same things as the man in Luke chapter 16. But in Revelation chapter 20 you know how that someday you will be brought out of this prison to face the judge who could have been your Saviour. Because you refused him during your life you are all ready found guilty this will be your sentence.

"...Depart from me ye cursed, into

everlasting fire,..."

(Matthew 25:41)

Notice the word everlasting? Punishment never ends. Maybe you say; "no that’s not me, God would never do that." Think about this verse

For if God spared not the angels that

sinned, but cast them down to hell

and delivered them into chains of

darkness, to be reserved unto

judgement....The Lord knoweth

how to reserve the unjust

unto the day of the Judgement

to be punished.

(2 Peter 2:4-9)

If God spared not the angels in heaven why would he spare you if you don’t trust him as your Saviour? Do you know what’s even worse? Read this:

...and he shall be tormented with fire

and brimstone in the presence of the

holy angels, and in the presence of

the Lamb.

Revelation 14:10

What will it be like to suffer such great pain but to look upon the Lamb of God who died for you. The nail prints in his hands and feet. Oh how awful! You could have been with him, instead of in the eternal prison house! The Lord also says: "...where I am, thither ye cannot come." (John 7:34)

What awful dread, will this be your eternal story or will it be a brighter, happier one? For the Lord also says:

Wherefore He is able also to save them

to the uttermost that come unto God

by him, seeing he ever liveth to make

intercession for them.

(Hebrews 7:25)

You are a guilty sinner but you can be saved and set free if you would only realize that when the Lord died on the cross he died for you to save you from hell and the lake of fire.

You have two choices and one chance

what will it be?