We are preparing ourselves for hell.  We are doing this in a manner that goes beyond wallowing in the glorification of murder, theft, pornography, and dishonest humor as a “God-given” right, through movies, television, music, and all manner of cultural outlets in the modern world.  We are preparing ourselves for hell by something much worse.

It has been said by one saint that unless we live in the uncreated light, we must question our Christianity.[i]  Another makes the case that unless we have unceasing prayer we cannot say we are firm believers.[ii]  Yet another admonishes us by stating the gifts of the Holy Spirit, “Apostleship, prophecy, healings, miracles, knowledge, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues…”[iii] are the signs of a true Christian, and lacking these, he says, he cannot say that anyone is a Christian at all.[iv]

It cannot be said that we must seek after these things, for, “These signs will follow them that believe.”[v]  But in this one phrase of divine teaching we know that faith is the prerequisite for manifesting these graces of God.

We do not show these graces because we lack faith.[vi]  Yet, “By grace are ye saved through faith,”[vii] so that it can be asked that since we lack faith, as demonstrated by the lack of those signs that follow believers, are we even on the path of salvation?

The type of faith we need is not much, for with faith we can move mountains, but not mountainous faith, but faith the size of a mustard seed.[viii]

Even these signs of grace are the lesser signs of a believer, for “the greatest of these is love.”[ix]  We lack faith, and thus also lack love.  Without love we do not stand in the image and likeness of God we are intended and created for.   Knowing this we must work out our salvation “in fear and trembling,”[x] for we have ceased to live a natural life.

Let us examine ourselves, whether we are in the faith.[xi]  The gifts of the Holy Spirit will cease over time, but love never fails[xii], and this is our measuring stick of our salvation.  We must do everything possible to increase in love by increasing our faith, and the love we seek is that of love for our neighbor and for God[xiii]. 

If love of the world excludes the love of the Father[xiv], then we must not be conformed to it[xv], being separate from everything opposed to love.  Again, if greater love cannot be shown than by a man giving his life for his friends[xvi], then we must bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ[xvii].  Lacking these acts of love, this is exactly how we prepare ourselves for hell, and lacking love is much worse than seeing a movie or listening to a rock band.

If we were to press forward in small acts of love, small acts of overcoming our discomfort, then in time we will have laid a foundation in love by increasing our faith, for the more we force ourselves the more we acquire faith, for the Kingdom is taken by those who force themselves into it[xviii].  The Kingdom of Heaven is salvation, salvation is through faith, and faith must work through love[xix].

Let us repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and within our loving hearts.

[i] St. Symeon the New Theologian

[ii] Unkown source

[iii] I Corinthians 12:28

[iv] St. Gregory of Sinai

[v] Mark 16:17

[vi] II Corinthians 13:5

[vii] Ephesians 2:8

[viii] Matthew 17:20; Mark 4:31

[ix] I Corinthians 13:13

[x] Philipians 2:12

[xi] II Corinthians 13:5

[xii] I Corinthians 13:8

[xiii] Luke 10:27

[xiv] I John 2:15

[xv] Romans 12:2

[xvi] John 15:13

[xvii] Galatians 6:2

[xviii] Matthew 11:12

[xix] Galatians 5:6