“But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. ” (John 1:12 NLT)
It baffles me why people who don’t even believe in God use an argument against His existence that He “sends” people to hell. First, God “sends” no one to hell, we make that choice on our own. If you think about it, on some levels they should thank God that He doesn’t force them to go to heaven, that He allows them to spend all eternity away, not only from His Holy presence, but from even any influence of His presence.
Think about that for a minute. Think of the attributes of God and how they influence the world in which we live. He’s the fullness of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, compassion, and many other positive attributes of which the world is now filled and of which hell will be devoid.
A vengeful, angry, unloving god wouldn’t have given ANYONE an opportunity to be in a peaceful, joy-filled, place of unending bliss, though, presumably, that would be exactly what they would long for. A loving, kind, and caring Father God anticipates the needs we don’t even know we have, then meets them and offers them to us as a free gift.
What we do with that gift is up to us, but at least He clearly informs us of the consequences of our decision – OUR decision, not His. Which leads us to the crux of the whole matter: What’s YOUR decision? What is YOUR choice in this matter? Where will YOU spend eternity?
The decision is YOURS alone. At the end of the day, if you miss heaven, it will be NO ONE’S fault but yours. You can blame God for not being or doing what you wanted Him to be or do, or you can fall at His feet and thank Him for providing a way to Himself and to His eternal home, where, if not for His grace, one would not exist.
However, if you don’t even believe He exists, what’s the fuss. In the end you only get what you’ve always claimed to want – a place where God does not exist! And just to be clear, IF that’s your decision and you end up in hell, you can blame God if it makes you feel better, but my guess is, it won’t. You’re there by your own choice, not His, and the torment of that regret will literally haunt you for all eternity. PLEASE DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU! God takes no pleasure in you or anyone else going to hell and neither do I.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed
Walking With Jesus 