Hi, I was born anew /again in 1984.
Bit of a story.
My question is, if people are not born again in their life time here in this present world are they lost / and will perish forever. ( Also is misery involved, eternal punishment etc ).
It is something puzzling me at the moment regarding my outlook on my future days. ( I think I am being called to preach ).
Many thanks.
Yes, if people are not born again in their lifetime they are lost forever. Jesus was very clear about that. The story (not parable) of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16) shows the rich man immediately going to Hell (hades) at death and suffering. There is no mention of a second chance after death, or an intermediate state such as Purgatory.
Jesus taught that lost people physically go to Hell (Matt. 5:30), and that the fire of Hell is unquenchable (Mark 9:43). You mention Gehenna. Jesus used the term almost all of the times it occurs in the New Testament. It was very clear to the Jews of His day that Jesus meant a place of eternal fire, Hell.
If God is calling you to preach, you must do it. If you don't, you will always regret it. The thing is, the doctrine of hell should sadden you. Famous evangelist John R. Rice told preachers that if they could preach on Hell without tears, they were backslidden.
I've been preaching the Gospel for 50 years now, and do not regret a single second of it. My wife and I spent 33 years as missionaries to Japan. Now, if there is no Hell, and people can get saved some other way, we have wasted our lives. But we have not. We were thrilled to see many Japanese trust Christ as Savior. There is no greater blessing than to see the Holy Spirit save a soul from Hell through the blood of Jesus..
