Tag Archives: God’s love

Faith, Inspiration

WHAT I BELIEVE

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By Duane Hamilton

1. I believe in the God of the Bible

Any way you look at it, the universe is a miracle, and human existence manifoldly so. Evolution or creation are equally miraculous. I have reasonable, logical reasons for believing the latter.

2. I believe 1 John 4:7-8 (KJV)

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

As explained by a theologian, “God is Love” means that love, other-centeredness, is not just a facet but lies at the very core of His being. Love is God’s Essence. The most astonishing conclusion I reach is that everything that has happened, is happening, or will ever happen, even when we don’t understand, especially when we don’t understand, has been filtered through a proximate God who loved us enough to become Emanuel, God WITH us. Though sin and its sordid results are always with us, we’ve been promised their reign will one day cease. The old song says, “We’ll understand it better, by and by.”

3. I believe there are those who call themselves Christians but live selfishly.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matt 7:21 (NKJV)

But understand this, that in the last days, there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NKJV)

4. I believe “Love” is defined as valuing each person as Christ did when He laid down His life.

That sacrifice was not just for the unborn, the White Evangelical, the American. It was made for every person who has ever inhabited this earth. That means Red, Yellow, Black, White, Gay, Straight, Conservative, Liberal, Biden supporter, Trump supporter, WHOMEVER; if I am true to my confession, I must see them all through Christ’s eyes, and His utmost goal is their salvation. HOW DARE I (OR ANYONE ELSE) MARGINALIZE ANYONE CHRIST IS TRYING TO SAVE?

5. I believe Dr. King was right.

“Destructive means cannot bring constructive ends, because the means represent the-ideal-in-the-making and the-end-in-progress. Immoral means cannot bring moral ends, for the ends are pre-existent in the means.”

Excerpt From Strength to Love chapter on Communism., Martin Luther King Jr

To me that simply means you cannot use Satan’s tactics to bring about God’s kingdom. “By any means necessary” is a statement no Christian can ever utter. Only righteous means will ever bring about righteous ends.

6. Finally, I believe in the judgment.

“A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬ (‭KJV)‬‬

People fear the judgment, but that’s unwarranted. In a very real sense, God is putting Himself on the stand, inviting us to examine His dealings with mankind to see if anything but love and justice motivated any of His actions. Those who’ve committed to other-centered living, no matter what their failures may be, will be counted righteous, not because of themselves, but because of the Gift. Only those committed to looking out for number one, doing it “my way,” living self-centered need fear. For me, it’s extremely comforting to know that nobody ever truly gets away with anything.

Love, Agape Love, will triumph in the end.

The Truth About The Fate of The Lost

CONTEXT CONCLUSION-RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

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In our study regarding context, we have discovered that a “text without context is pretext.” When one verse is used to support a popular idea or doctrine without the preponderance of context, we can know we are on shaky ground. Context is on several levels:

1.) Lowest level: The passages surrounding the verse, the chapter, and the other writings of the author.

2.) Mid-level: Other writers of the Bible including the writers of the old testament.

3.) Highest level: Context of what has been revealed about God through His revealed character of love, mercy, and forgiveness.

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus tests positive on all three levels. But, how can we know it is a parable? Is it a literal example of a rich man in torture who is able to communicate with the living about torture to give warning? Is that the purpose of the parable?

Characteristics of a Parable

1.) Often there is a trigger by the Pharisees or person that starts the parable. In the case of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the religious leaders had heard Jesus’ parables and were not happy about it. Luke records in 16:14 that they “loved money and derided Him” (turned up their noses at Jesus.). The parable has its context in the fact that the Pharisees loved luxury and also changed the law to fit their desires regarding divorce (Verse 18). The parable was directed at them as a group through the abstract story of one man and a theoretical situation. He used a popular story often taught by them to show that wealth, position, and lineage were a sign of their acceptance of God. The poor and sick were excluded in their mind and teaching. But, Jesus reversed the character’s positions in His story.

2.) The Rich Man and Lazarus are among a string of parables. In the book of Luke, it is twentieth of twenty-five parables in that chapter.

3.) Many of Jesus’ parables start with the phrase “there was a certain man” as does the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. A certain man can be specific or non-specific. Again. you can know by its context. Some parables do not start with an introduction as being a parable, but we can know by context.

4.) The point of the story is usually said specifically at the end of the parable. The point of the parable is “ ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets (aka Scripture), neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ Verse 31

5.) Mark 4:33, 34 clearly shows that Jesus’ lessons of the kingdom were almost always couched in parables:

“And with many such parables spake he the word unto them: as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them; and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

What is a Parable and Its Purpose?

The Random House College Dictionary describes a parable as “a short, allegorical story designed to convey a truth or moral lesson.” Cruden’s Complete Concordance further expands this concept, saying  parables in the Bible were used “more generally than elsewhere.” We know that the Bible writers used situations both imaginary—as in the trees asking the bramble to be king over them (Judges 9:8-15)—and realistic in parables. Whatever form the parable took, it was only a vehicle for the moral lesson being taught.

Jesus recognized the value of parables in teaching the people. He desired to stimulate their deepest thought and contemplation, and He knew that if He spoke too literally, certain of His hearers would quickly forget His words. For some,  his speech sometimes contained stern rebuke.  No doubt he knew straight talk would anger them and they would attempt to silence Him by violence.  Jesus recalled the words of Isaiah 6:9 and told His disciples,

“Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”

Luke 8:10.

Cruden’s Concordance explains: “Our Savior in the gospels often speaks to the people in parables. He made use of them to veil the truth from those who were not willing to see it. Those who really desired to know would not rest till they had found out the meaning.”

It is appropriate here to ask to whom Jesus was speaking in Luke 16:19-31. Which category of people was He dealing with? The last verse before Jesus begins tells us.

  “And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.” 

Luke 16: 14

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, a class of men who were notorious all through the Gospels for their refusal to deal honestly with Him and the truths He taught.

We can be sure that of all the people Jesus taught, none were handled more guardedly than the wily Pharisees. They dealt in deception and subterfuge, but Jesus dealt with them wisely and truthfully. The safest way for Him to do this was by parable and allegory. Evidence that they did not understand many of His teachings can be found in Jesus’ prayer:

“I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hath revealed them unto babes.”

Luke 10:21

Examination of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Now we are ready to examine the story of the rich man and Lazarus itself, and try to ascertain the real message Jesus was seeking to convey through it.

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”

Luke 16:19-21.

Who was the symbolic rich man? The Jews had been blessed above measure by a knowledge of God and his plan of salvation for all mankind. They had received

“the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.”

Romans 9:4.

Only a Jew would pray to “Father Abraham,” as we find the rich man doing later in the story. The Jewish nation was clearly represented by this character.

By contrast, Lazarus symbolized all those people in spiritual poverty—the Gentiles—with whom the Israelites were to share their heritage. The words of Isaiah were well known to the Jews.

“I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:6.

Unfortunately, the Jews had not shared their spiritual wealth with the Gentiles at all. Instead, they considered them as “dogs” that would have to be satisfied with the spiritual crumbs falling from their masters’ tables. The metaphor was known. Jesus had used it before in testing the faith of the Canaanite woman.

“It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.” She responded accordingly: “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ tables.”

Matthew 15:26, 27.

The rich Jews had hoarded the truth, and in so doing, they had corrupted themselves. Only moments before relating this parable, Jesus had rebuked the Pharisees for their spiritual conceit.

And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:15.

What was to be the result of this terrible conceit?

22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

Luke 16:22-26

The Jews had enjoyed “the good life” while on earth but had done nothing to bless or enrich their neighbors. No further reward was due.

“But woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall mourn and weep.

Luke 6:24- 25.

Conversely, the poor in spirit, symbolized by Lazarus, would inherit the kingdom of heaven. The Gentiles who hungered and thirsted after righteousness would be filled. The “dogs” and sinners, so despised by the self-righteous Pharisees, would enter heaven before they would.

“Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”

Matthew 21:31.

The parable concludes with the rich man begging for his brethren to be warned against sharing his fate. Asking Abraham to send Lazarus on this mission, he alleges

“if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.” Abraham replies,

Luke 16:30.

“If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Verse 31.

Jesus thus rebuked the Pharisees for their disregard of the Scriptures, foreseeing that even a supernatural event would not change the hearts of those who persistently rejected the teachings of “Moses and the prophets.”

The miracle of raising the real-life Lazarus from the dead soon afterward confirmed the accuracy of Jesus’ conclusion. One did rise from the dead, yet the brothers of the “rich man” did not repent. In fact, the Pharisees even plotted to kill Lazarus after his resurrection. His very life was a reminder to them of their own hypocrisy.

The Challenge of Taking the Parable Literally

Today many Christians believe that the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a historical account of two individuals’ literal experiences in the afterlife. Based on this belief, some people teach that those who are consigned to the fiery torments of hell will never stop burning throughout all eternity. As with the parable of the trees and the bramble (Judges 9:8-15), however, serious problems arise with a literal interpretation of the story elements.

Can we believe that all the saints are even now gathered in Abraham’s bosom? If they are, in whose bosom does Abraham rest? And if there is really a great gulf fixed between heaven and hell, how could the rich man possibly have been heard by Abraham? Perhaps more disturbing, how could the saints enjoy the comforts of heaven while enduring the cries of the wicked being tormented?

Another dilemma that arises with a literal interpretation of this story could be called “the mystery of the empty graves.” If this is taken literally, apparently neither of the two leading characters spent very long in the grave—both being whisked away rather quickly to their respective places of reward. Their bodies obviously came along, for we find the rich man lifting up his eyes, and desiring to have his tongue cooled by a drop of water from the finger of Lazarus who was resting, as we have seen, in Abraham’s bosom. Enough graves have been exhumed in recent years to know that the bodies of the deceased are carried neither to heaven or hell after burial. They finally turn to dust and await the resurrection.

From these few examples, we begin to see that in this parable, Jesus was not trying to explain the physical realities of the afterlife. Instead, He was referring to the unfaithfulness of the Jews regarding their assigned responsibility. As stewards of the special message of truth, they utterly failed to share it with the Gentiles, who were eager to hear it. In fact, the entire chapter of Luke 16 is devoted to the subject of stewardship.

Beginning in verse one, Christ gave another parable about stewardship of money or property.

“There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.”

After dealing with the principle of being entrusted with material goods, Jesus opened up the issue of being entrusted with the truth. By the parable of another rich man, He graphically illustrated how they had proven just as unfaithful with spiritual riches as the steward had been unfaithful with physical wealth.

To attempt to stretch the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to cover the doctrine of hellfire is to miss the point Jesus intended to convey. The Bible speaks with unmistakable clarity on the subject of hell in many other places. Nowhere do the Scriptures teach that the wicked will continue to suffer in the fires of hell through the ceaseless ages of eternity. Rather, they will be utterly destroyed. Jesus never would have compromised the integrity of the Holy Scriptures by teaching a doctrine contrary to its own overwhelming testimony on the subject.

The Truth About the Fate of the Lost

The truth about hell and the fate of the lost may be ascertained by examining even a few of the many Bible texts that speak directly on the subject. Before examining these, however, we must remember that

“the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life.”

Romans 6:23.

There are only two alternatives for every soul. Those who accept Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice will live forever; those who do not accept Jesus will die. If the wicked suffered without end, eternal life—however painful—would be theirs. But we know that eternal life is available only to those who accept Jesus.

Consider these clear texts of Scripture that speak of the reward of the wicked:

“But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.”

Psalm 37:20.

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.”

Malachi 4:1.

“And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:3.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Matthew 10:28.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

2 Peter 3:10.

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8.

Many other texts could be cited, but these clearly illustrate that the ultimate fate of the wicked is eternal death. Notice that the Scriptures choose the strongest possible words to describe the complete destruction of the wicked. In no way should these clear words be misunderstood by one who honestly desires to know the truth. There is a fire reserved for the wicked, but a fire so hot it will utterly destroy all who are engulfed by it. When the fire has done its work, it will go out. Eternally burning fire is not taught anywhere in the Bible—not even in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. (Some people have wondered what the expression “forever” means in the usage of Revelation 20:10. Other similar passages demonstrate this merely to mean as long as a person lives. See Exodus 21:6; 1 Samuel 1:22; Jonah 2:6, etc. Also, the expression “eternal fire” may be understood in terms of consequences rather than duration, as in the example of Sodom and Gomorrah in Jude 7).

It would be tragic to miss the actual point of the parable by removing it from the setting in which Jesus gave it. Let’s accept the lesson He was trying to teach and apply it to our own lives. Are we doing all we can to spread the message of salvation to others? Do we have a genuine love for those around us, and have we invited them to share our spiritual inheritance? If we hoard our riches, like the Jews of old, we will become self-righteous and corrupt. In contrast, by active, loving service, our relationship with Christ as well as with others will become stronger and more meaningful.

Let us not make scary stories the basis of our Christian experience. Instead, let us understand that

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16.

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Is Eternal Torture in the Nature of the God Described as Love?

After all of this, the pivotal question must be asked,

Do you know God enough to know that He is a God of mercy and not a God who tortures his creation for rejecting Jesus? …even though He  gave man the freedom to choose.

Choose this day whom you will follow.

Joshua 24:15

Sin comes with its own penalty….eternal and non-ending death. This is in itself mercy. The sinner gives in to the carnal nature and chooses a life of pleasurable sin and its ultimate penalty of death rather than a born-again life of service in Christ that brings satisfaction and real joy.  The rebel to God’s Spirit will one day cease to exist in the lake of fire.  They choose this world and its temporary pleasures rather than Jesus and His eternal riches of life and discovery.

It is not what your choose, but rather who.  If you choose Jesus, then eternal life is yours.  Will you choose Him today?

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

Deuteronomy 30:19

Inspiration, Prayer

A CHILD’S PRAYER

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Daddy, I’m going to pray my cat comes home.”

This morning, I was reminded of my daughter’s prayer when she was only 5 or 6 years-old. Some things in your memory just stay with you. This is one of them.

On a bright fall day, before my children were born, I was finishing up a bicycle ride that started at my Grandmother’s house and meandered through a local park. As I stopped at a four-way stop sign, I heard the weak sound of a kitten. I looked around and saw nothing until I heard the “plop” of a little black kitten fall from a small tree growing in the median of the two-lane parkway leading to Shelby park.

The desperate meowing grew louder as she came towards me. Her little skinny body and the pitiful sounds melted my heart! When I picked her up and cradled her in my hand next to the warmth of my body she began to purr loudly. I rode the last mile to my Grandmother’s house with the little furry sweetheart close to my heart in my left hand and the other hand on my handlebars. A very dangerous situation that prohibited me from shifting gears.

We feed her. She lapped up the milk and anything else we pulled from the refrigerator. Once she was feeling better, she showed-off her tree climbing skills. We were impressed that such a little kitten could race up the big oak tree so fast! She seemed at home in the tree.

From that day forward, Puss (from the story of Puss N Books) became a member of our little family. She grew to become a sleek athletic cat who preferred the outdoors. She was there waiting when we brought home all three of our children. She was always curious and protective of the new babies. As they grew older, the girls would dress Puss in doll clothes and push her around in a baby buggy. She endured her role as their infant for a while but eventually would jump out and run off…The girls would giggle and laugh as Puss shook her legs to kick off the remaining doll clothes!

During any holiday requiring fireworks, we kept Puss indoors because fireworks would frighten her, but on one 4th of July, she escaped to her beloved outdoors early in the day and we couldn’t find her as the day grew darker and the fireworks began. But, we didn’t worry because she always showed up.

The next morning, Puss did not scratch on the front window of the living room wanting in as was her usual custom. Sadly, one day turned into a week and a week into a month. My heart sank as I imagined a hawk or coyote snatching her up!

I was surprised that my oldest daughter said nothing about her missing furry sister. Almost three months later, I gave up and decided to put away Puss’s food bowl that was left out just in case she came home. Her food had long since been thrown away.

As I was thinking about this, my 5 or year-old daughter asked,

“Daddy, where is my cat?”


“I don’t know. Sweetheart. I think she may have found a new home.”


“Well, I”m going to pray she will come home.”

So she, her Mom, and I knelt at the foot of the floral-design living room couch where my doubting heart heard the simple precious words of my sweet little girl petition the God of the universe to send her little cat home. As she prayed I wondered how to tell her that Puss would probably never return. But then I thought I heard a familiar desperate meow. My heart jumped as the scratching at the back door began, accompanied by another weak meow. My wife and I looked at each other in unbelief, but my daughter jumped up and exclaimed as she ran, “My cat is home!”

We fed the skinny cat who lapped up the milk and anything else we could find in the refrigerator, just like the first time I brought her home!


Coincidence? I think not. Had the cat been living in the woods off mice or fed at someone else’s home? Probably. But, God in His great wisdom anticipated the sincere prayer of a little girl and sent Puss home.

God’s omnipotence is a hard thing for us to understand, but examples of the simple faith of a child demonstrate He knows our desires and needs before we ever ask for them.

“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

Hell, The Truth About The Fate of The Lost, What is God Like?

Lord Teach Me About Hell-Conclusion-Personal Experience

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God’s Character Maligned

Since my conversion to Christ over 40 years ago I have learned through God’s word (and practical experience) that our beliefs about God’s character affect our relationship with Him and our salvation.  I know people who turned away from God when a loved-one died either suddenly or slowly over time.  Maybe you do too. Some have stopped associating with Christians, praying, or reading their Bible because they feel God allowed (or caused) something in their life to make them sick, uncomfortable, unhappy or inconvenienced them.

If we believe God is angry and looks for reasons to keep us from peace or repays evil for evil we are sure to rebel.  Lucifer’s original rebellion in heaven included the charge that God’s character and actions were harsh, secretive and selfish.  Listen closely to the lies and charges of Satan in the garden as he worked to convince Eve about a false picture of God’s personality.

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.  For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3: 4-5

To paraphrase:  “Eve, forget this idea of dying….You are going to live forever.  God is someone who is not telling you all the truth.  He knows your eyes are going to be open when you eat this fruit and you will be like God Himself!  He’s holding back!  He is not as good as you think!”  Sadly, these are often the general thoughts of people who do not know God personally.

It is important that we know God’s character and His word, especially in the context of His temperament and our troubles.

Understanding and knowing God the Father and Jesus is vital to our salvation.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

John 17:3

Jesus Clears up the Wrong Ideas About God

To have a false conception of God is dangerous and will lead to death.   It is Satan’s desire to give the world a wrong impression of the only true God and Jesus. By doing so, the enemy turns people away from the source of peace and happiness.  If the storms of life come to the professed Christian and there is no trust (faith) in the goodness and mercy of God, apostasy is sure to come.

To “know” someone means you have an understanding of who they are.  After spending time with them, you learn to either trust them or not.  You know their heart; their emotions; and how they feel about you as a person.  Knowing someone takes time and events.  That is often why people wait about marrying.  They want to know the person and how they will respond to things like their family.

Let’s consider another question:

Is Jesus different from the God of the Old Testament? The answer is a resounding, “No!”

By the time Jesus arrived on the scene, the professional teachers and leaders had made God out to be something He wasn’t.  The life of Jesus was a demonstration of what God is like….in the flesh!  His actions showed us the will and the character of the Father.  God loved us and wanted us to know Him, so He sent Jesus on a mission of salvation that included the opportunity to know the Creator.

Jesus’ coming as a babe, a youth, a young man and an adult demonstrates how important it is to know the true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.

Yes! Jesus came to this earth to show to people the true nature of God.  He said, to his disciples, if you have seen me, you have seen the Father:

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 14:9

“By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,—God’s thought made audible. In His prayer for His disciples He says, “I have declared unto them Thy name,”—“merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,”—“that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26)

Desire of Ages p. 19

God desires for his Creation to know him.  Knowledge of God is both power and peace.  We are invited by Jesus to learn of him. When we take up the invitation, we will know more about God the Father.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Did you know Jesus was this kind of God? He wants us to learn from Him and about Him. Jesus is the perfect reflection of what God the Father is like!

Jesus offers us rest for our souls if, by faith, we come to Him. He is gentle and lowly in heart!  His burden is light and His yoke easy! How many Christians think the opposite?  Sadly, so many, even those who claim to be His followers, fail to go to Jesus when trouble comes…instead, they go to pieces!

Unending Torture in Hell Teaching Makes Unbelievers

 Someone once said that the concept of unending torture has turned more people into atheists than most anything else.  I don’t know if this is true, but it certainly must have a negative effect on a true understanding of God.

When I was young, I could see the gentle Jesus in the experience of my grandmother, but something would change all that and I would begin to see an angry God, with arms crossed, frowning at me for being such a terrible person. In my mind, He was looking for ways to make sure I was left out of heaven and burned at the stake.  As I got older, I went into total unbelief.  The Bible and God became a fairy tale created by men to keep society in line and have power over people. I hope the following will show how wrong I was and encourage you to search out God for yourself.  Here is how it started.

When I was about 8 years old, my saintly grandmother sent me to Vacation Bible School.  I recall loving everything about it except for the last day.

I liked the teachers and the programs.  The cookies, milk, and rest time in the church were enjoyable.  Of particular joy to me was the arts and crafts where I was making a jewelry box for my beautiful mother. She was a single mom (My Dad left when I was 6 years old) and pleasing her was something I cherished. The jewelry box, made from a King Edwards cigar box, was carefully painted with a dark color and little small shells and decals carefully attached to it.  To this day, I can still smell the fresh paint on it!

On Friday, the parents were going to join us for cookies and milk and they would get to see what we had created.  I was so excited, but something would happen that would change my view of God for a very long time.  It would eventually turn me to unbelief and to embrace atheism.

As we prepared for our parents, the teachers told us that we were all going to gather in a room and listen to one of the elders of the church talk about God.  We sat around him on the floor with our legs crossed and our eyes bright with anticipation.

I can still recall his name.  It was Mr. Hale.  Mr. Hale wanted to know how many of us knew about God and how to have eternal life?  Only a couple of hands went up.  I was not sure, but I knew my grandmother would know.  She knows the Bible better than anybody! Maybe I should ask her tonight, I thought.

Mr. Hale then begin to tell us that we could have salvation and be free from the “horrors of hell” if we accepted Jesus as our Savior.  We should acknowledge it by responding to the preacher’s altar call on Sunday.  Then we should be baptized.  If we did, we would escape the “horrors of hell.”

Next, he began to describe hell as the place where “our flesh would almost melt, but it would keep burning.”  Our blood “would boil like hot water.  We would scream for mercy and find none.  This will go on forever and forever.”

I was scared.  This did not seem like the same God my grandmother was always describing in her stories.  Many of the kids began to sob.  Mr. Hale wanted us to raise our hands if we wanted to “go forward” when the preacher had the altar call on Sunday.  We all raised our hands!

As promised all of us kids went forward that next Sunday when the preacher made the altar call.  There were many “Amens!” and “Praise The Lords”  throughout the congregation.

After church, my grandmother seemed troubled instead of excited about my decision to be baptized and escape the “horrors of hell.” When we got home, she looked at me with those kind and understanding eyes and said these words, which many may think to be wrong, but looking back I think it was the wise counsel of a Godly woman who knew her Father well.

“Eddie, you are too young to know why you need to give yourself to God.  You don’t understand sin, repentance, and confession. When God brings conviction on you, you will know it.”

I was not baptized.

The description of hell by Mr. Hale was reinforced many Sundays afterward.  It may not have been described in such detail, but all the teachers and preachers said my soul was immortal and that it would spend eternity in one of two places:  Heaven with Jesus or Hell with the devil.

As I contemplated it, I began to see God as an angry old man waiting for me to make a big mistake so He could send me to the flames forever.  This was the God I knew for a long time as I tried to be good and earn God’s love.

After a while, the contradiction of my grandmother’s God and the God of Mr. Hale and the preachers led me to believe there is no God and perhaps the Atheists were right.  God is an invention of mankind to keep everyone in line and as a tool for power over the people.

Is God like Mr. Hale’s description or that of my Grandmother’s?  Is He like Jesus or like the strict destroying God of the Old Testament?  How do we reconcile the two?

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How Unending Torture Maligns God’s Character

We have seen in this series that Jesus did not teach more about hell than heaven (Did Jesus Really Teach More About Hell Than Heaven?) This is a false statement meant to insinuate the “horrors of hell” are so bad that you should want to come to Jesus on the basis of fear.

As we studied verses that seem to indicate an everlasting fire, we discovered that context is important in understanding everlasting fire….It is everlasting punishment, not everlasting punishing.  The fire is everlasting in its effect, not its duration. Lord Teach Me About Hell-Part 2-Difficult Verses

We also saw that “hell” is a word used by the Hebrews and Greeks to signify the grave.  But, it is also the ultimate destruction of the sin problem at the end of time. This hell is hotter than any because it burns up the earth and all its elements.  Lord Teach Me About Hell-Part 3 Eternal Death Not Torture.

Now that we have sufficient proof about the ultimate fate of the lost, let’s consider the character of God further and why it makes no sense for our Creator to burn people without mercy or rest for all of eternity.

Some may think “torture” sounds like too strong of a word especially in the context of a Holy omnipotent God and Creator.  They will try to separate hell from God, but hell as described Mr. Hale cannot exist without an omnipotent God allowing it to.  Wouldn’t you agree?

What would you call it if you were burning constantly and no one was there to put out the flames or give you relief?  That is the highest form of torture someone could think up.  Imagine if our prison system used flames that kept the person alive while burning their tender skin as a form of punishment?  Would that be called torture?  Would it be justice?  What is its purpose other than cruel torture?

Let’s think this through.

The unsaved could be someone like uncle  Harry who never went to church with his wife and children because he was an unbeliever and life kept him busy and with different priorities.  By society’s standards he was a good man; never arrested nor did he break the law. He visited a few prostitutes when he was young private in the army.  At one time when he was younger, he secretly looked at pornography, but as he got older, he lost interest.  He pays His taxes.  He is faithful to his wife and loves his kids and grandkids, but he never professed Christ.  He just enjoyed life and saw it as a few good years then he would turn to dust.

One day uncle Harry dies of a heart attack from years of not taking care of himself. He enjoyed food so much that he could be described as a glutton.  In many cases, the preacher will talk about Harry as if he is in heaven enjoying his gardening with the Lord, but in the sermon at church the next Sunday, this same preacher will talk about salvation in Christ alone, which is true.   The preacher would never describe Harry as being lost and in eternal flames even though the congregation could put two and two together to come to some simple conclusions.

According to most preachers, Uncle Harry is lost and will be tortured without end for his bad decisions and sin.

This seems to be the philosophy of many who live on this planet.

Jesus said,

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

Did you notice that Jesus talks about a way that leads to destruction? This would have been the perfect time for Jesus to say that the broad way leads to hell that would burn forever, but no…it is destruction.  Uncle Harry got his desire of enjoying his short time of life on earth, but then it will be over.  He does not have an immortal soul.

The soul who sins shall die

Ezekiel 18:20

Jesus said that the lost soul would be destroyed

But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

The hell here is the grave, but even if you wanted to think of it as the place of burning, the soul is destroyed!

Without a doubt, there are more on the path to “destruction” than those who are not.

Here is the first hint of the fate of the lost, the continued use of the word “destruction.”  “Destruction” and “Perish” are the favorite words used by Christ, Peter, and Paul to describe the fate of the lost (Collectively used 42 times).  This happens by fire, but there is no eternal life for the lost in flames.

True, only God can determine who is ultimately lost and who is saved, but Jesus gives us plenty of reasons to know the character and life of the saved compared the character and life of the lost.  Not all have death-bed conversion.  They are probably the minority.

“Wherefore by their fruits, ye shall know them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘ I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthew 7: 21-23

Notice, that even those who claim to “know” the Lord and done incredible works in the name of the Lord missed out because they practiced lawlessness.  These might be called hypocrites and religious. Their habits of sin showed they did not “know” the Lord.

At the other end of the spectrum are guys like Hitler and child molesters, and those who cursed and mocked God believing there was no accountability for their blasphemy.

If all are tortured if hot flames for eternity according to the Mr. Hale’s of the world.  Harry and Hitler (although hugely different in their lives) have the same fate and will live with no rest from the flames.  Every day is the same.  There are no lunch breaks, no sleeping, no vacations. no water.  No medications to help endure the pain.  Only intense, torturous non-stop pain and unending weeping.

Many teachers will try to minimize this by saying, “God does not send them to hell, they send themselves.”  But, even if it was so, it takes a miracle of God to keep them all alive so they can burn more.  It would take a miracle to keep the flesh from consuming.

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God’s Character is Longsuffering and Merciful

“I take no delight in the death of the wicked.”

Ezekiel 33:11

God does not want anyone to die or perish.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

There’s that word again, “perish.”  God’s longsuffering with us means He desires more people to have life and not “perish.”

Our God does not torture.  He wants people to come to repentance so that they will not have to experience eternal death (non-existence).  Their fate (death, perish, destruction) is horrible enough. But to root out the seed of sin, God performs his “strange act” of eternal destruction.

Do you know God?  Your eternal life depends on it! We are invited to learn about Jesus.  This takes a personal experience.  It is His loving kindness and its demonstration on the cross that draw us to Him.

Lord, thank you for your word and the life of Jesus that teaches us about who you are.  May we each have an experience with you that will lead us to trust you more. Amen.