Jesus spoke more about Hell than He did about Heaven while He was here on Earth. It has rightly been said that, because He did, if there is no Hell then there is no Heaven. But it is also rightly said that Jesus Christ died and rose again to prove He is the only way to Heaven for every living person (John 14:1-3.) He said so and He only spoke the truth (John 14:6.)
Ray:
I'm a Christian but I'm fed up with life as I watch America self-destructing with more and more of the things I hate. In fact, this whole world has gone crazy. Pain and suffering are everywhere. Tragedy is commonplace. Atheists and all others who hate God are trying to delete Him from society. Jesus Christ has been reduced to a swear word. Drug trafficking, the sex trade, pornography, rape, murder, evil laws, have fully replaced the American flag. So, here's my question: Why didn't Christ come back for His Church before our nation lost its mind? In fact, why didn't He come back centuries ago and stop the devil and all the evil on this planet? If I was a loving God, I wouldn't have allowed the world to get into the shape it's in. Why has He allowed it?
Fed Up
Dear Fed Up:
I agree with the points you've made about our nation. The one true God seems to be receiving an eviction notice from more and more Americans. I grieve with you about that. However, please be assured that the questions you've raised about God, and what you wouldn't have done if you were Him, are questions that have been asked by sincere Christians throughout the centuries ever since the night Christ went to the cross for all who would receive Him (John 3:16.) Pain and tragedy have been a major part of this Earth ever since the very first sin in the Garden. So here is my response:
You're NOT God and either am I. If either of us were, we would understand what love is and we don't. We have to work at loving people, even our spouses, especially if they disappoint us in any way. God's love, not ours, is unconditional and is not based on day to day experiences even in the slightest (Romans 8:1, 18-19.). If that wasn't true, I'd still be wallowing in the pig pen I made for myself.. God's love is for the lost as well as for the saved in a way that we, at best, can only understand intellectually. We don't even understand our own love. He IS love..
"God is not willing that ANY should perish but that ALL should come to repentance" ...2 Peter 3:9.
Where you see pain and suffering, our loving God sees HELL AHEAD for all who don't receive Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, as their Savior (Romans 10:8-10.) God knows how hideous eternal life in hell will be.
You, like me, probably don't spend much time in the average day thinking about hell. But have you noticed that when Christ returns for us, the first thing He'll do is wipe the tears out of our eyes? (Revelation 21:4). Why will we all be crying when Christ comes and not shouting with absolute joy? Because we are then going to see every family member, every relative, every friend, every neighbor - people that we've loved - and every acquaintance too who has not sincerely asked Christ to save them while they yet live or lived here on this Earth - thrown into Hell (Revelation 20:11-15.) Every Christian will at that minute realize they could have shared Christ much more openly and lovingly, and reached at least some of these who are forever hell-bound with the message of eternal life with Him. If we hadn't been so busy with the things of this world, or so angry we quit caring about others, or so otherwise occupied day to day with trivial pursuits, we could have reached them with His love. Instead, we'll see them cast into the lake of fire. And the final thing we'll see and hear is them screaming on their way to the beginning of eternity in a never-ending nightmare far beyond any we could have ever known.. The horror and their absolute helplessness at that moment will make us cry like we've never cried before. THEN He'll wipe away our tears. And still we'll never grieve like God is grieving over the lost.
Please realize, had Christ come in answer to Christian's who prayed centuries ago or even a hundred years ago, you or I would never have been born and never known our Savior. Amazing grace!
Maranatha! But reach the lost until He comes.