In a Bible GemLight two weeks ago I mentioned that tax time can remind us that spiritually we can get an eternal refund or penalty. In the previous GemLight I wrote about the eternal refund anyone can have if they fully commit to Christ. In all fairness, and from the standpoint of the mercy of God, I definitely need to mention some of the penalties that one faces if they leave this world without having made Christ their king.

Do keep in mind that God wants no one to get this penalty, for it is written in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." So, if you have not truly made Christ King in your life, please accept and commit to the mercy of God who through Christ on the cross redeemed us from the eternal penalties listed below. There are other penalties not listed due to limited space.

And please do not point the finger at God, but at yourself if you choose to reject His mercies--you've judged yourself unworthy of Eternal Life. For those that are true Christians, we can rejoice that we have been redeemed from the following:

A. Shame--Psalm 83:17: "Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish."

B. Everlasting Contempt--Daniel 12:2: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

C. Torments--Luke 16:23: "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." Note that it is multiple torments. And for those that think they will be "enjoying" company in hell, they might want to think again for, if you are in much pain, you cannot enjoy anything."

D. Blackness of Darkness--Jude 13: "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

E. Flame--Mark 9:44: "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

G. Thirst--Luke 16:24: "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."