Mark 9:43-4843And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:43‑48).
WILL you turn to your Bibles, dear children, and read these solemn verses. Three times over Jesus speaks of “hell” as “the fire that never shall be quenched; where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” And He tells us it is better to cut off a hand or a foot, or to pluck out an eye, than to go into that place. And surely this is so; for what a dreadful thing it would be to be cast into hell fire, and to have our place there forever!
But what does Jesus mean by a hand or a foot, or an eye offending us? Well, the word “offend” means to cause to stumble, or to do wrong; and anything that would cause us to do this, must be given up. Even though as dear as a hand, or a foot, or an eye, we must let it go. In fact everything must be given up for Christ. He gave Himself for us, and it is a small thing if we give up all for Him.
ML 01/26/1902