“In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.”- General William Booth
It seems hell is becoming an ‘optional’ belief in some circles. It is tempting. How could a loving God reserve that sort of judgement for his own children?
C.S. Lewis suggested hell was reserved for those who were ‘rebels to the end’. The sort of children who would not relent, not repent, and never, ever ask Jesus for anything.
I was wondering what Robert Picton’s ( one of Canada’s worst serial killers) mother thinks of the trial. Would she want her son punished? Would she support justice, even if it meant the punishment of her own son? I don’t know.
What I do know is that I trust God to make the decisions that I cannot. I trust God to decide the righteous and holy thing to do. I trust God to determine the eternal outcome of people’s souls. I trust Him with my own.
A favorite saying of mine goes, “Heaven isn’t a cash payment for following Jesus. It’s just where the road goes.”
If heaven is not a cash payment for following Christ, then maybe hell isn’t a punishment for those who reject Christ; it’s just where that road takes you? ‘Rebellion leads to death’.
Repent. Live. Follow Jesus. Trust God.
