When I was saved in 2004 I realized that I did not know what I didn't know. Up until that point I had made two fundamental errors in my views of life and God.
1) I thought I was invincible, impervious to disease or accidents, and that I would certainly die of old age. I didn't realize the fragility of life until I received the news of my Grandpa's terminal case of cancer. It then occusrred to me that the few times I had been hit by a car while riding my bike could have resulted in death. I came to grips with the fact that at any moment I could have a stroke or brain aneurism. We are but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. James 4:14
2) I didn't understand the necessary punishment for my sin in light of God's holiness, and so I did not see my need for a Savior. Because God is Perfect, Righteous, Just, and Holy Holy Holy anything that falls short of His glory cannot be accepted into His presence. And so all who have not had their sins forgiven and Jesus' righteousness imputed to them before they die will be cast into hell, eternal separation from the goodness of God.
Hell is described as an eternal (Matthew 25:46) lake of fire (Revelation 20:15), where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (a.k.a. inconsolable grief and unremitting torment) taking place in complete darkness (Matthew 22:13).
But God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross as a willing sacrifice for the sins of all who would believe. Jesus accomplished what you and I could never do, perfect obedience to God, thus becoming an appeasing sacrifice who took the wrath of God while on the cross in the place of you, if you would but repent and believe unto Jesus for eternal life. Turn from your life of self-service, in essence worshiping yourself, and worship the one true living God of the Bible. If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23
Behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2
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