hell is terrifyingly real
Today's sermon was about Hell. Hell is terrifying. It was probably my biggest objection and obstacle in coming to faith. I would not believe that a loving god could send people to Hell eternally. Hell has become no easier for me. But I realized one day five-ish years ago, that God is God whether we believe in him or not. He is still the creator and thus perfect. I realized that any decision made by the one who created everything was a perfect decision. I realized that even though I didn't understand why it had to be the way it is - He did.
While I don't like hell any better now. I do believe it is real. But perhaps not to the extent I should. You see, when we really grasp what Hell means for people - for those who are bound for it, we would surely do ANYTHING to keep them from it. I can think of no person I would want to see suffer eternally. I know that God feels very much the same way.
God does not want us in Hell. Perhaps the saying "over my dead body" came from him. He literally died to keep it from happening. To go to Hell we must ignore Jesus' dead body that rose again. We must ignore his free gift of salvation. We must ignore his word that displays his endless love for us and pleads for our reciprocation. God could force us into Heaven, but that ruins the point of everything. He wants us to choose Him.
He gave us free will - he gave us the gift to choose our own future. But to give such a gift he had to give an alternative. Hell is nothing more then the complete absence of God. Maybe Hell shouldn't make us think that God is suspect, but instead help us realize the true magnitude of his glory. If Hell is what happens when God is no longer a part of the picture - doesn't it make you realize how beautiful his love must be? Earth is a small taste of God and a small taste of Hell. I like this line from Randy Alcorn: "Both Heaven and Hell touch Earth—an in-between world leading directly into one or the other. What tragedy that this present life is the closest nonbelievers will ever come to Heaven. What consolation that this present life is the closest believers will ever come to Hell."
Think of all of the beauty in the world. All of the good that happens. All of the love. The music. The tastes. The feelings. There are many amazing things. Without God, they wouldn't be. That is Hell.
Whether we like it or not, Hell is still there. I pray that the thought of that will remain on my mind at all times to ensure an urgency in my relationships. Tomorrow might be too late to tell someone about Jesus - an eternity in Hell could come upon them today.
While I don't like hell any better now. I do believe it is real. But perhaps not to the extent I should. You see, when we really grasp what Hell means for people - for those who are bound for it, we would surely do ANYTHING to keep them from it. I can think of no person I would want to see suffer eternally. I know that God feels very much the same way.
God does not want us in Hell. Perhaps the saying "over my dead body" came from him. He literally died to keep it from happening. To go to Hell we must ignore Jesus' dead body that rose again. We must ignore his free gift of salvation. We must ignore his word that displays his endless love for us and pleads for our reciprocation. God could force us into Heaven, but that ruins the point of everything. He wants us to choose Him.
He gave us free will - he gave us the gift to choose our own future. But to give such a gift he had to give an alternative. Hell is nothing more then the complete absence of God. Maybe Hell shouldn't make us think that God is suspect, but instead help us realize the true magnitude of his glory. If Hell is what happens when God is no longer a part of the picture - doesn't it make you realize how beautiful his love must be? Earth is a small taste of God and a small taste of Hell. I like this line from Randy Alcorn: "Both Heaven and Hell touch Earth—an in-between world leading directly into one or the other. What tragedy that this present life is the closest nonbelievers will ever come to Heaven. What consolation that this present life is the closest believers will ever come to Hell."
Think of all of the beauty in the world. All of the good that happens. All of the love. The music. The tastes. The feelings. There are many amazing things. Without God, they wouldn't be. That is Hell.
Whether we like it or not, Hell is still there. I pray that the thought of that will remain on my mind at all times to ensure an urgency in my relationships. Tomorrow might be too late to tell someone about Jesus - an eternity in Hell could come upon them today.
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