“Yes, you who trust Him recognize the honor God has given Him (Jesus). But for those who reject Him, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ And, ‘He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.” (1 Peter 2:7-8 NLT)
Implicit in the verses above is the vital issue of free-will! EVERYONE HAS A CHOICE! We who wisely choose to submit to the Lord’s authority, repent, seek forgiveness for our sins, and choose to follow Him will reside forever with Him in heaven. But, if you know and are following Jesus, don’t pat yourselves on the back too much, because NO ONE deserves to be in heaven except Jesus. He’s the ONLY human being who has ever lived or ever will that deserves the right to be in heaven with God.
First, because He IS God, but secondly, because He alone lived a perfect, sinless life. That’s what qualified Him to pay the penalty for our sin. Yet, we want to make it about us. “Why should I go to hell? What have I done? I haven’t hurt anyone, I pay my taxes, I’m a good person!” Compared to whom? The truth is you and I and every other person who has ever lived on earth, except Jesus, deserve to spend all eternity in hell with the devil and his angels.
But why? Is the average person really that bad? Yes, they/we are! How so? Let me ask you a few questions: have you ever lied, even a little “white lie”? Have you ever taken something that didn’t belong to you, even a candy bar or pack of gum? Have you ever used the Lord’s Holy Name in a manner that didn’t magnify and honor Him, even in anger as a curse word? Have you ever committed adultery in your heart by lusting for someone to whom you weren’t married? Have you ever committed murder in your heart by hating someone or wishing them ill?
There’re more, but how you doing so far? Even if someone might say they have always kept those commandments, they’d still be condemned, because (a) they lied and (b) they’re filled with pride, which, by the way, is also a sin. What’s my point? Just as Paul says in Romans 3:23: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” No perfect human being will be in hell, only the imperfect, unless, of course, they have the good sense to yield their lives to the only One who IS perfect, the Lord Jesus, while they still can.
The only payment for sin is death. The Bible says in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” “Death” in Scripture, often means “separation from God.” That’s what happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They sinned, so God removed them from the Garden.
Sin is still separating us from God and the only remedy for our sin is to receive what Jesus did on the Cross for ourselves. In His mercy, kindness, and love, Jesus laid down His sinless life in my place and yours, to give us the only hope of eternal life. None of us can ever pay the penalty for our own sin. That’s essentially what hell is – an eternal effort to pay a debt we cannot pay. And the agony of the realization that we had opportunity to be forgiven and given new life in Christ will literally haunt us for all eternity. It will drive us mad with the incessant guilt, shame, and regret, causing us to feel like we’re on fire and in utter darkness.
We can look at what Jesus did on the Cross and with appreciation, seek His forgiveness and purpose in our hearts to allow Him to cleanse us of our sin, fill us with His Holy Spirit, and enable us to live fruitful and productive lives to His glory, or say in essence: “No thank You, Lord. I’ve got this!”
It’s your call. Let’s look at this from one more angle tomorrow.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 