Why reject His gift?

“Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. And she has rebelled against my rules by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries all around her; for they have rejected my rules and have not walked in my statutes. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not walked in my statutes or obeyed my rules, and have not even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you, therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, am against you. And I will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations. And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again. Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers. And I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds. Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will withdraw. My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity. A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; a third part shall fall by the sword all around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them. (Ezekiel 5:5–12)

In those days the wrath of God on idolatry was expressed in pestilence and famine, war and death, and being displaced — also with death. The news these days tells of famine, wars, and God's people fleeing to safer places as immigrants. Is the reason for these events rooted in God's anger with human idolatry?

It could be. However, His wrath on sin was borne by Jesus Christ. No one has to experience these horrors, or at least not as judgement for sin because the Lamb of God suffered and died for all of it. “No condemnation” is fully available to those who put their faith in Him.
Therein is the issue — lack of faith in the One who said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

To reject freely offered pardon makes no sense. Why say NO to the grace of God? Why face judgement without mercy? Why risk the horror of famine so severe that people eat people? Or go to war that slays those who say NO? Why be scattered from home and safety just for the desire to worship self and money and whatever else but the Lord who loved us enough to become one of us and take our place on the judgement seat?

The Bible calls the fruit of such a choice “hell” because there is no God, no grace, no peace or joy in such a destiny. While the modern church does not usually preach a ‘turn or burn’ message, maybe we should. Telling people that God loves them seems to have made far too many decide that such love gives license to do whatever they desire rather than worship the only One who can free them from the bondage of such an attitude.

Jesus, in the past two weeks You have put me among hundreds of people. I can say most of them are ‘nice’ and friendly, but only a handful declare and demonstrate faith in You. The future looks scary for a world so full of people who ignore or reject Your offer of forgiveness and freedom by faith. May Your Spirit keep working to convince them otherwise.

Eternal destinies . . .

The idea of eternal punishment is unpopular with liberal scholars and difficult to accept. However, it is clearly taught in the Bible. Jesus and the Apostle John say more about this subject than all the rest of the Bible. In devotional reading, and in reading Revelation, I am looking for what Jesus says to me. How is this Scripture about eternal damnation practical for my life?

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:6–13)

First, the message from God is eternal and for all people. No one can say, “This does not apply to me.” Each person on earth is accountable to “fear God and give Him glory” and to worship Him. He created us; we did not create Him. This is good for me to remember also. In any situation, the one who creates is more knowledgeable and has authority over his creation. There is no wisdom in resisting the plan of God for my life!

Second, the source of temptation and sin has fallen. Yes, like a chicken that has been beheaded, the devil and his demons flop around as if they are alive and well, but Jesus had defeated all enemies, typified here by Babylon. I am free from their power and do not have to give in to their demands on my life and loyalty.

Third, there is wrath for those who do not heed the will of God on their lives. Just as there is eternal blessing for those who do, there must also be an eternal consequence for all who ignore and refuse the Lord. If I cringe at that thought, then I do not realize the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, or God’s legitimate right to do what He wills with those He created. Christianity is mocked for believing that a God who loves us could send us to eternal torment. Again, this reveals a total lack of understanding of God, of sin, even of love.

As for those who follow Christ, we are not perfect in ourselves, but blessed in Jesus Christ and because of His mercy, our sins are forgiven. These are the sins that would otherwise keep us from the presence of God because He is holy and we are not, but in love He sent Jesus to die in our place, to suffer wrath on sin in our place. That is love, not tolerating sin and blessing us despite ourselves and forgiving us based on His own willingness to be our substitute.

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Dear Jesus, this message from God is also my message, not from me but given to me by You to tell others. It is an eternal message for all time, for everyone without prejudice. The telling of it ought to be the practical application of this passage every day of my life, every time You give me an opportunity, in season and out of season. Just as the message says, I am to fear You and give You glory, worshiping You with all my heart.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- God loves me and takes care of me, not because I’m worthy but because Jesus is.

- the Lord hears and answers prayer.

- knowing my prayers are important partly because of Satan’s attacks to try and stop me from praying.

- safety driving in crazy traffic in this Christmas pre-season.

- special prayer partners who bless me so much.

What about hell?

Without naming names, a handful of prominent theologians have decided that a loving God will not punish anyone. Therefore there is no hell.

Granted, this is not a popular topic. Most of us do not like to talk about or try to defend eternal punishment. I’ve sat in Bible studies where the subject came up and the subject was quickly changed. If anyone had anything to say, it was usually an explanation that life here ended for those who had not put their faith in Christ, but God would save them as they drew their last breath.

Here is what Jude has to say about it:

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 5–7)

His first example of destruction might be interpreted as physical destruction yet the word could also be translated as “perish” and carries the sense of being totally lost.

As for the angels who are kept in eternal chains, the word “eternal” means “always” — at least until they stand before God on His day of judgment. Since they skipped out on their assigned place, they cannot be declared innocent. Unless God shows mercy, they haven’t any hope. Jesus indicated their fate when he talked about people who refused to care about others (sheep vs. goats):

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” (Matthew 25:41)

There is no possible out for the last example. The word translated “eternal” means just that, “everlasting” and is used more than 70 times in the New Testament to describe things that have no end. Eternal life is one of them as is the life of God. While our finite minds have a tough time with the concept of never-ending, this is about the God who has no beginning or end, about the life He gives those who follow Christ, and about the fate of those who have rejected that life.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28–29)

As I understand sin and the holiness of God, it seems obvious that God has the right to toss all of us into an eternity separated from Him. Apart from His mercy and grace, eternal punishment is justice for my sin and for any who reject His offer of redemption.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

The question should not be: Why does a loving God punish sinners? But: Why does a holy God even bother with any of us?

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Lord Jesus, I don’t even like thinking about the fate of those who reject You. This is such an unpopular idea and yet Your Word speaks of it. What else can You do with those who refuse Your gift of forgiveness and life? You do not force it on anyone. You said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:17–20)

I’ve no idea why You drew anyone, including me, to Yourself. I’m just glad You did and glad that there is a way of escape for all who are willing to say yes to You.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- eternal life in Christ, a free gift for me, costly for God.

- God changed my heart to love Him instead of rejecting Him.

- mercy and grace when I don’t deserve even the least of His mercies.

- every other good and perfect gift from God.