As a kid, I only knew that God is love and never once did I ever think that God was mean. However as I got older, I start hearing alot of people question God's love. The same question was asked, Isn't God mean for making hell?
Bill:
Would you say that the leaders of our country are mean for constructing prisons? No, its your choice; you don't have to go there. [Deuteronomy 30:19; Psalms 9:17; 86:5; 145:8-9; Proverbs 11:19, 21; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:13-15]
Besides, hell was not prepared for man but for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). God never intended for man to go there. Even now, He is preparing a place for us in heaven (John 14:2). It is only by man's stubborn will that he rejects the provision God has made for our access into heaven. It is arrogant of man to desire to go to heaven yet demand his own terms of access. If you want to live in God's house, you come by His way and not of your own (Luke 13:3; John 3:36; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Tim. 2:4-6).
Why is hell so horrific? Because God's attribute are not present there. Many do not realize that the good we all enjoy is from God. Good doesn't exist apart from Him. James 1:17 states, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights."
The same word, hetoimazo (Greek word meaning to prepare), is used in Matthew 25:41, where God prepared hell for the devil, as is used in John 14:2, where Jesus says, "I go to prepare a place for you" (emphasis added). God prepared heaven as His eternal home, filled with all the attributes of His holiness and glory. But in God's preparation of hell, He removed all of His attributes, or goodness, from that place of torment. Spiritual deaths means to be seperated from God, and be seperated from Him is to be seperated from all good. As a consequence, this is the result:
- Hell is dark because God is light (1 John 1:15)
- Hell is only death because God is life (John 1:4)
- Hell is hatred because God is love (1 John 4:16)
- Hell has no mercy because the mercy of the Lord is in the heavens (Ps. 36:5)
- Hell is only weakness because the Lord is the giver of strength (Ps. 18: 32)
- Hell is loud because "My people will dwell in...quiet resting places" (Isa 32:18)
- Hell has no water because water is the rain of heaven (Deut. 11:11)
- Hell has no peace because Christ is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)
However, if you want nothing to do with God, then there is a place prepared that has nothing to do with Hid goodness. His presence is there (Job 26:6; Psa 139:8; Prov. 15:11; Rev. 14:10-11), in that it is before His face. However, His goodness and influence are removed. He looks down upon it from Heaven. Of course, God is in all places and sees all. I am simply saying that He has withdrawn His goodness from hell.
Proverbs 15:29 says, "The Lord is far from the wicked." In 2 Thesselonians 1:8-9 we read, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." However, there is one additional thing in hell. God's wrath is present in the form of fire. The fires of hell are representative of His wrath (Deut. 32:22; Ps. 11:6; 21:8-9; Isa. 30:33; 33:14; 34:9; 66:24; Jer.4:4; Mal. 4:1; Matt 13:49-50; 18:8; Mark 9:43; John 15:6; Jude 7; Rev. 14:10-11; 20:10-15). The reason for this wrath is because sin must be punished (Romans 6:23). God took out His anger on sin at the cross, as He poured out His wrath on Jesus. However, if we don't acknowledge Him and receive Him as our Lord, then we will take the punishment (2 Thess. 1:9-10; 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev 14:10-11; 20:13-15). It is our choice.
We need to understand that good things are not just here by a series of coincidental random events but because they emanate from the presence of God (Ps 90:2; Matt. 5:45; Luke 6:35; Col. 1:16; 1 Tim. 6:17).
Many will look at the trees, the sky, the ocean, and so forth and comment, "Isn't Mother Nature wonderful?" Well, it is not "Mother Nature," but rather, "Father God" who provide all of the beauty we enjoy.
Just as prisons have been constructed to protect the innocent from those who are the lawbreakers of the law here on Earth, hell has been prepared for the offenders of God's law. The simple solution is, don't break God's law. "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3; see also John 3:36; Rom. 10:9-10). Proverbs 27:12 says: A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.
Remember this point: Just as prisons were not the first thing in mind when men came to this country, so too hell wasn't God's first intent when He made the earth and man. Nevertheless, hell exists---and it will be your own fault if you go there.
Salvation is a free gift, but we must receive it in order to be saved. God loves you and is a good Father. He is trying to keep you out of hell and to divert you from your misguided course.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
--Isaiah 61:1
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