Punishment That Fits the Crime

A common question people ask is: "Isn’t eternity too long to suffer? Wouldn’t you think eternity is too long to suffer as penalty for a few short years of rebellion here on this earth?” That is a good question, but I have two other questions. First, on what basis then would you think you could ever deserve Heaven””eternal paradise, glory, peace, comfort, righteousness and life for eternity””for a few short years of having abandoned your life into the Blood of Jesus? How could it be that you deserve eternity in paradise in exchange for a few short years on earth? And yet, that’s easy to conceive, while eternal torment in exchange for a few short years of self-centered living, somehow is not. That doesn’t seem honest or logical, does it? Second, does a judge consider the punishment for a crime by how long it took to commit the crime? Or does he consider the penalty according to the drastic nature of the crime involved?

Let’s say that a person committed a crime that took only five seconds to commit. Would it be right for the judge to sentence him to life in prison for a crime that took only five seconds to commit? For instance, murdering your children or your neighbor? It doesn’t take very long to put a bullet into someone’s chest. And if someone brutally murdered your only child, you would have something to say about it if the judge only sentenced the murderer to five seconds in prison, wouldn’t you? Or even five years for that matter…

It doesn’t have anything to do with how long we sin, does it? It has to do with two things: What is the nature of that crime? And who was the lawgiver that declared it a crime in the first place?

If you did not obey your librarian, there wouldn’t be a whole lot that could be done about it. She doesn’t have much authority. However, your country’s government carries a lot more authority, doesn’t it? So, when I have wronged them, a greater punishment can be invoked upon me. Now, consider the punishment for those who defy Almighty God! Those who defy their Creator are in grave trouble. Because of the Majesty of the Lawgiver, the punishment is that much more severe and certain. We make ourselves out to be gods and we say God doesn’t count. "I’m going to do it my way. I’m free. I can live my life however seems best to me.” Making ourselves out to be gods is a very arrogant and serious crime.

God says that the ugliness of our pride, or jealousy, or selfishness, or slanderous tongue murders the only begotten Son of God. Would you say that’s a serious crime? It is, whether you think so or not. And that’s the reason why Hell is an eternal punishment and we are sentenced for forever, not just a short period of time. The book of Revelation uses the phrase "forever and ever” thirteen times. It is used ten times in regards to the lifespan of God, the lifespan of Jesus Christ and the praises of Heaven. The other three times it’s used to refer to the smoke of torment in Hell. So, however long God’s lifespan is, that’s how long Hell is””that’s how long torment is. Hell is a conscious, endless suffering.

If that weren’t enough (which it is), there is another way of looking at it as well. Our sins never stop with ourselves. They carry on into other people’s lives. Our sins hurt, affect, and influence other people. Our decisions and ways of living have an effect on and change the very lives of all those we encounter. For this very reason, there is no such thing as a small sin.

A wise man once said, "The sign on the doorpost of Hell reads this way: ‘Those who enter this door leave all hope behind.’” There is no hope once we enter those gates. Hebrews 10:31 says, not without reason, that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, a terrible and hideous thing to fall into His hands. There isn’t any nightmare you could have that would come close to the terror of living in Hell for one minute, let alone eternity.

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After reading the poem shared by narrowpath(A little poem about Hell) I have spent time in reading and seeking GOD on the topic of hell. I will freely admit this topic can be a struggle for me because there are those I love who remain in rebellion to HIM and if they do not turn from their sin and repent will go to hell. Its a very difficult thing to face and to accept and yet I know in my heart that GOD is just and that HIS ways are perfect, I know I can trust and have faith that every action HE takes, every judgement that HE makes is righteous. I shared this teaching here because for me it touches so clearly on how "my very human understanding and heart" can look at a loved one in rebellion and think, "its not fair that they should suffer eternity" instead of keeping my eyes on JESUS and knowing HIS ways are just!

The eternity of hell, the consequence of eternal separation from GOD reminds me to pray and to pray with out ceasing for the lost and deceived.

God bless
maryjane

Now, let’s consider another popular question…Have you ever wondered why a wonderful, kind, generous, loving, glorious God would allow such a terrible place to exist? It’s because this terrible place wasn’t meant for YOU!!! One of the reasons it’s so bad is because it wasn’t prepared for us. Jesus said it was prepared "for the devil and his angels.” He doesn’t want you to be there. That’s why it’s such a terrible, terrible place. Jesus said the road is broad and the path that leads to destruction, Hell, is broad. The vast majority of people will take that broad, terrible road that leads to destruction. But, THAT is not what God desires for you!

Do you want to know what He does have in store for those who will totally and completely give their lives to Him? He intends for us to live in the fullness of Him where time doesn’t exist and joy overflows. I’m sure you’ve experienced a time when you were with someone or in some circumstance that was absolutely fabulous, a fantastic time. You looked at your watch and you thought it had been 30 minutes, but hours had gone by! Time didn’t exist. That’s the kind of relationship that Jesus really wants to have with us, and for us to have with each other, for that matter””where time doesn’t exist. We are so lost and overflowing in His joy and in a relationship with Him that we step out of the bounds of time. The pressures, the priorities, and all the demands of our circumstances, our worries, and our concerns””don’t matter. Isn’t that what happens when you are really in a situation of love and exuberance and joy that’s fulfilling and real and alive? You just lose track of time. "Wow! It seems like we’ve been here just a few minutes.” We’ve all had some point in our lives where God showed us that shadow of what it’s like to be with Him””if we would just open our eyes to see Him. Time doesn’t exist in His realm.

God knows that if we will take the time to be with Him that He will demonstrate His character to us in such a way that He will be absolutely irresistible. The qualities of His character are staggering. Being lost in time happens when there is something amazing about what is happening. There is something about being with Him that catapults you out of all the other things that you were encumbered and dragged down by. Suddenly you are dazzled by something that is outside of the realm of your normal flow of experience. Jesus is like that. He is inviting us to come walk with Him. "Come, let’s reason together. I will dazzle you with all My qualities of kindness, mercy, and everlasting forgiveness.”

"My personality will be so attractive to you that you won’t be able to stand it. You won’t be able to resist Me, so just come walk with Me a little while. If you will just isolate yourself a little bit, you’ll see My smile, you’ll see the gleam in My eye, you’ll see how the wind blows through My hair, you’ll see and hear and experience things that take you to another realm, and time won’t exist there anymore. You will see My leadership and My strength. You will see how I have a resolve against sin. You’ll see that I have a focus and a clear vision of what life is supposed to be. And you’ll hear the depth of My laughter and feel the warmth of My encouraging embrace. AND, I know how to take you there! Come follow Me. I’ll show you leadership. I’ll show you strength. I’ll show you an immovable character and quality of life that will dazzle you, that will make you want to come with Me because it’s safe and secure where I am. I’ll show you a kindness and a sensitivity that will see right into your heart and life. If you come to Me and lay down your miserable life full of yourself, then I’ll wash you, and cleanse you, and put My Spirit inside of you. Then, I’ll draw out the diamonds and the rubies and the jewels that are there. I’ll draw those things out. I’ll make you a queen, I’ll make you a king.”

Jesus has all these qualities. He is perceptive in 1,000 different ways and wise beyond words. This is our Master. This is Jesus. This isn’t some fairytale. This isn’t some story out there about some god that created the earth and sits on a big ole’ white throne and we are all going to be judged. This is about the person of Jesus and His Father who rule over us. If we will just be looking, if we will take the time to encounter Him, there is absolutely no way to resist Him any longer. The problem has been a lack of willingness to abandon ourselves into His very capable and loving hands. His trustworthiness is beyond belief. But we don’t always get close enough to see it because we get a little too busy, too selfish, too careless””we just won’t take the time to be dazzled and wooed by Him.

He wants to build an army of followers, but it’s not just some theoretical, logical, doctrinal issue””"Follow Me or you’ll go to Hell.” Well, that is true, but that has nothing to do with what Jesus came to show the twelve. Do you think they followed Jesus all over the countryside because He was wagging His finger at them and telling them to follow Him or they would go to Hell? Do you remember any scriptures like that? Is that what He did when He went and prayed to the Father all night? Did He say, "Father, show Me what I should say,” and then stand up and say, "You twelve, you come with Me or you’re going to go to Hell”? No. They wanted to be with Him because they saw something about Him that just amazed them. They saw His wisdom, kindness and patience. They saw strong leadership and an unwavering character. They saw someone who could take the pummeling of life and stand tall with just a little corner of His mouth smiling in the face of it, with courage in His eyes. And they wanted to be like Him””they wanted to be with Him. They weren’t going anywhere because there was nowhere else they wanted to be other than by His side. He didn’t have to threaten them, and He’s not threatening us either. He’s inviting us to see Him for who He is and to see the amazing qualities and the amazing personality that He has…so that we would want to be with Him, in this life and the next.

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Now here is the heart of this matter for me!! GOD wants to see us come to HIM! HIS desire is for us to know HIM and walk with HIM. Does that mean all will be saved? No, there are those that I know and even love that will be eternally separated from GOD. They will by their rejection of CHRIST and living for sin and self go to hell. My mission on this journey in life is to share JESUS. While they have breath in their body, I pray for the lost because I do not know what tomorrow holds but I trust that HE does and I am good with that. GOD is GOD, HE alone knows all not me. I don't have to change or rewrite what the BIBLE tells me clearly is true to fit my understanding, I just have to keep my eyes on HIM and walk by faith!

Again I just thought I would share with some few here.
God Bless
maryjane