When discussing God with a non-Christian the question often comes up, “Why would a loving God send anyone to hell?” That question seems to make perfect sense in a society where personal accountability and responsibility are things of the past; where if you show up for class you expect to get a passing grade; or if you participate in a race or game you expect to get a trophy in spite of your lackadaisical performance; and when there are disastrous consequences for your unwise choices and actions you can always blame someone else – even God. The real question is, “Why would anyone choose hell instead of heaven?” Each of us is trapped in a world ablaze with sin. It seems like a wall of flames block our every exit. But a loving God provides everyone with one way out of danger to safety. When someone refuses to take that exit and continues to search for another way out until the flames finally consume them, who’s to blame? Is it the loving God who provided the safe exit, or the stubborn person who refused to take it to safety? Nearly everyone is familiar with John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” But the next verse also describes God’s loving desire that everyone who accepts His grace and mercy will be spared from hell. It reads, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” That is the real action of a loving God.
In the next few days we celebrate the coming of Jesus, God’s Son, into the world as an infant born in a stable in Bethlehem more than two thousand years ago. His earthly life, death and resurrection form the escape route from judgement and hell that a loving God has provided for us – all of us. All we have to do is accept His mercy and grace and then follow Him into eternal life. It is a person’s refusal of God’s salvation that sentences them to hell, not the desire of a loving God.
Make no mistake; Jesus is coming back again. This time He will judge those who have refused His sacrifice and offer of salvation. “’Fear God,’ he (the angel) shouted. ‘Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all the springs of water.’” (Revelation 14:7) Our decisions and actions have consequences both now and for eternity. I have made the wise decision to follow Jesus and I pray you have done the same. Have a blessed Christmas celebration!