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?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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.

No One like Him!

Today Tozer’s words direct my thoughts to God in a way that is deeper than normal. He writes about holiness and says the original root word was about something beyond, strange, mysterious and awe-inspiring. That is, the holiness of God is heavenly, awesome, yet mysterious and fear-inspiring. I sit for a moment thinking about this — and worship. Who is like our God? No one. There is no one like Him.

Then Tozer says, “Now, this is supreme when it relates to God, but it is also marked in men of God and deepens as men become more like God . . . Holiness is not a condition wrought in us. It is simply the Holy One in us ruling, filling.”

When I read the command to be holy as God is holy, my mind cannot comprehend it. God says it and it must be possible, yet my knowledge of myself would produce laughter if this were not such a serious matter. As incredulous as it seems, it explains why the monks isolated themselves from the world and why many Christians stop at this point and throw their hands in the air. Capitulating to ‘being like everyone else’ is far easier and far more appealing than being a holy person like God. Who can imagine being mysterious, heavenly, and awe-inspiring?

Yet God says this is for each of His children — holiness and blessed in Jesus Christ . . .

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3–6)

The first phrases of this passage may be the clue to taking a better stab at it. Paul says, “Blessed be the God . . . who has blessed us . . .  chose us . . . predestined us . . . to the praise of His grace.”

My eyes are more often on myself and my performance. I focus on what I must do — be holy and blameless — and who I am rather than on the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ who makes all these things possible. It isn’t about my efforts or plans or glory; it is about what He does and can do and will do. It is about praising Him, bowing to His will, and giving Him glory.

^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You have granted every spiritual blessing so Your followers can be holy and blameless. I am Your child for the purpose of fulfilling Your plans and giving You glory. I must decrease. You must increase. Forgive the self-focus and keep my eyes, thoughts, words and all I do turned toward You.

What does the presence of God feel like?

When someone says, “I feel the presence of God,” how do they feel? How is God’s presence known? Do the hairs on the back of the neck stand up? Is there an emotional reaction? Does His presence feel oppressive? Or light? Or threatening?

The word “holy” is used more than 650 times in the Bible. Many of those references describe the nature of God. This word basically means “other than” or “different.” God is not like us. He is set apart, lofty, even mysterious. He is without sin and never makes mistakes. He is beyond our comprehension. Yet He made Himself known and we can see what He is like by taking a good look at Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s revelation of Himself, and the way we know Him.

That said, how then can we “feel the presence of God.” Is that feeling based on what He says about Himself? Or is it possible to “make God in our own image” and sense something that is not God?

He has been showing me that how I understand Him will have a definite bearing on what the “sense of His presence” feels like. If my understanding of God is as He revealed Himself in the Bible, “sensing His presence” will be the same as those who described it in Scripture.

On the other hand, I’ve been thinking about the people who describe God’s presence as playful, teasing, their buddy, and with other very familiar qualities. I’ve sometimes thought about God like that too, but is this an accurate understanding? For me, incorrect thoughts of God affect my worship, my obedience, and can result in me being less alert to His commands, and to His words of correction.

Biblical thoughts about God deepen my worship, heighten obedience, and affect everything that I do. They also bring a far better response to His discipline, as the writer of Hebrews describes . . .

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:25–29)

Job and the psalmist both wrote about this reverence and awe toward God. Job said, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28) and Solomon wrote, “To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:1–7)

John also wrote, “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4)

Scripture is filled with descriptions of God’s holiness and power, His grace and glory. While He made us in His image, that reflection is flawed because of sin. Without Christ, we don’t look like God as He intended.

With Christ, He tells us to obey Him and to be holy as He is holy. I’m to be different than I once was and different from those who do not believe, but I know that is impossible apart from Christ. Without Him, I am helpless and would be lost forever.

I also know that the Bible says that He will never leave me or forsake me. This is wonderful, yet I cannot find any description of Him as my playful companion. Instead, everything He says about Himself should fill me with awe. He saved me, the chief of sinners. I should feel a deep awareness of His holiness, but also remember my own sin and shortcomings with a willingness to be led, even rebuked and corrected when necessary.

Most of all, when those who wrote Scripture were in His presence, they fell on their face in humble adoration and worship. When I am aware of God’s nearness, I also should be filled with awe. This is God Almighty, the Creator of all things, the Mighty One who died for me, and the Lover of my soul who will never leave me or forsake me. This God is an awesome God.