How does God give up on a man eternally as loving as he is?

In the Old Testament, God did not only let wicked men die without hope but he has actually been directly instrumental in the death of some of the said wicked men. Think of 99%+ of the generation of Noah that he wiped out with water? The many cases he sent Israel to take the lives of their enemies in war?

Does this help us understand why even in our day we may withness men dying without hope and we wonder if he cares that they so die without hope? Yes this is not to say we must sit back and watch but are still expected to do what Christ commissioned Christians to do to help the situation.

But we do need to come to understand why he so give up on men at times as loving as he is.

The same God who can delight in giving one child of Adam eternal life can in turn find rest in eternally damning another child of Adam. Not only by allowing that someone else take their live but that he can also by himself smite them.

Hey Kervin-

What is the point of your posts? Just curious.

Thought I may not have been clear. No, not curiosity - but I would gladly let it slide on 2nd thought.

If we look at Cain and Abel, we see two offsprings of the first man. In these, are two different hearts. One inclined to God and another that is not.

What might we say to have marked the difference here? What did Abel see that Cain did not? I know their parent's fall was Satan assisted, but what do we say of Cain's fall?

Mr Ravelhill just said Cain was a fool I think.

Please comments are still welcomed I would say (on 3rd thought?).

Did Cain know the cost of his choice? Or he was deceived as to what it was by Satan?

What helped Abel to see the worth of his choice?

There is much we are not told in the story.

Very few persons count the costs of their sin before sinning.

I don’t think God’s attitude toward their sacrifices had anything to do with what they sacrificed but rather the attitude of their respective hearts. He loves a cheerful giver. Cain was a bitter and jealous person. Kind of like Esau.

It is certainly possible that Adam and Eve had a hand in Cain’s attitude. No one said they were perfect parents.

Maybe Cain could be in Paradise by now ?

I'm only saying that as I know what the fear of God does to you.

Noted, brother Todd, and quite plausible, brother David. Is it not safe to assume that no one should settle on a sinful life if they can be fully aware of the cost thereof?

Does the devil then play a huge role in distorting/withstanding the truth in us so that we end up making futile resolutions without fear?

Are many out there sinning peacefully because the devil deceitfully assures them that there is no wrath coming to avenge their evil work?

Is man's greatest flaw his heeding the devil's deceits like our two parents did in the garden?

I am not sure a true believer can "sin peacefully.”

When you reduce the living God down to a proposition, and focus on a single part of Him, rather than He Himself, you lose God entirely in the postulation.

God doesn't have love, He is love. God is also holy, righteous, merciful, loving, just, kind, patient, faithful - He doesn't have any of those things, He is those things. He also doesn't give any of those things to us, He gives us Himself and in that giving of Himself to us, we take on those attributes as we work out what He works in - He doesn't give us righteousness, holiness, salvation, He cannot because He is those things. Jesus is all.

The original question makes love something God has, interestingly so does much of modern Christianity. It separates God Himself from His attributes, because it's only then that men can debate them and force them into their systems, and make them something we can control, manipulate and have as our own possessions - it's spiritual selfishness.

God will do anything He desires, and whatever He does is perfect - men can only debate their idols.

At brother Todd, I meant particularly the impenitent sinners there (and yes I agree with you for believers). By no wrath to come I also include etheist who are made to believe there is no God - and thus believe no wrath to come to avenge for any of their evil commissions or omissions.

At brother Evan, this question came to me when one brother (my blood brother infact) expressed his grief at watching men die without Christ. I thought this was a solid concern (and common amongst Christians) and wished to explore it with him on the likeChrist Fellowship chatroom. But he had not gotten a chance to respond thereon largely due to being somewhat preoccupied by work (and exhausted afterward etc).

So the question is from an earnest heart that seeks to understand how the two responsible attributes of God intersect. In order to do this, I felt it was necessary to try and pinpoint where men ultimately flaws. For example it is clear that the devil played a huge role in the fall of the first men.

One could claim that they may not have fallen had the devil been out of the picture (though listening to the devil is voluntary and therefore is indeed hideous evil, I agree). Then I wonder: does the devil do the same through out generations? Judas was said to have been taken by him. Jesus said to Peter: get away from me Satan.

The idea is not to twist facts about God but to try and wrap one's mind around the same so far as it is given to man to do so.

Your question assumes that God is trying to do something, but failing to accomplish it. It brings God down to the level of a man. God's purpose cannot be thwarted, by men, devils, or any other created thing.

And, as far as Cain is concerned, Scripture's testimony is that he was "...of the wicked one", as were the pharisees in John 8. This truth also ties in as well with John 17.
"Ye are not of the world..."

To be "of" speaks of origin and belonging to.

Spirit of truth
Spirit of error
Children of God
Children of the devil
Sons of God
Sons of disobedience
Of the world
Not of the world
Father of lies
God of Truth
Kingdom of darkness
Kingdom of God
We are of God
They are not of God
Of the light
Of the night
Of life
Of sin and death
Of righteousness
Of judgement
Of fear
Of power
Of love
Of a sound mind

Brother Savannah, you may either have misunderstood me or I failed to be clear. I was hoping for an explanation that shows how God's love remains consistent in the midst of all cases of eternal damnations. I guess that is where brother Evan was going but just came in a somewhat judgmental tone, so I felt. Again probably because I could not be clear. But I have now shared the background of the question and hoped that it could by now show that I am not accusing God of anything as such. But seek essentially for confirmations that the devil plays that major role in the wickedness of the vast majority of sinners out there.

PS. This can help one to best pray for one