Hi everyone,
I saw something this morning that I felt compelled to write about, so here goes...
Colossians 1:15-17 tells us, "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."
I saw a short video of preaching this morning on the reality that all creation—the sun, moon, stars, and the earth—obeys God. So when He calls us to Himself and we say 'no', then all creation will rejoice when He sends us to hell, based on that 'no'.
It troubles me. It is somewhat true, but there is an angle that is being missed in that short reel; it was only part of a sermon after all, and I don't know what else was said, and there is a danger of judging the whole message on a two-minute portion.
RELATIONSHIP.
Creation has no choice.
We do.
Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash
This is clarifying and terrifying in one moment. We, not the rest of creation, were created in His image. He made us to love Him, choose Him, walk with Him and represent Him to creation. The earth is the place we get to do that. It is the beautiful setting in which this relationship unfolds.
So why would He send us to hell?
Imagine if I didn't like you, showed no interest in you, or even worked against you. You would be a fool to welcome me into your home. If I feel the same way about your children, you would be worse than a fool to let me into your home.
God has made a way through the life and love of Jesus for any animosity to be over.
John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
He has done all He could to make a way, yes, even that massive curtain that kept us out of His presence in the temple was ripped from top to bottom on the death of Christ. It's as if God couldn't wait to open to door to us!
So the next move is ours.
If we choose to reject, ignore or despise His call, why would He welcome us around the 'family table'?
Why would He share His kingdom with us? He would be a fool to do so.
WE choose separation, not Him.
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Right in the moments Jesus was dying, He forgave those who put Him on the cross.
He made the first move.
We choose separation,
not Him.
Whatever hell might be, fire and torture, etc, to be separated from He who is Love itself, and be around the table of the accuser for all eternity would be hell.
But it's our choice,
not His.
Love demands the freedom to say no. This is why we have that choice. It is as unreasonable to blame God for our choices as it would be for a parent to be blamed for the choices of their children, or for us to blame the employer if we choose to not do our job, or to blame the authorities for sending us to jail for the crime we chose to commit.
But God is not a human parent; He is not a difficult employer, nor is He a heartless authority.
He IS Lord and King of all creation. He does call the stars by name. He does command the ocean where it should go. He is eternal, unchanging, holy, just, righteous. And He is perfect love who takes the time to know the number of hairs on your head.
And it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of this living God. (Hebrews 10:31)
He IS coming back to judge the living and the dead, and that is a good thing, particularly because He is loving, merciful and just. In light of all the injustice and evil in the world right now, the promise of His righteous judgment is good news, especially to those who are victims of injustice.
https://youtu.be/UcJuYwu53zY Take a moment to watch the song "So Will I" by Hillsong and consider:
Will you turn your heart towards Him or away from Him today?
For what it's worth, I can't imagine creation rejoicing when people wind up in hell. God doesn't. "As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live..." Ezekiel 33:11a NLT
We're welcome around His table, but it's up to us.
Much love,
Lynda xx
