Some would say it is because the Christian has an unrealistic belief in the place we call Hell - out of fear, we choose to serve Him instead of to burn unrelentingly in eternity.
Well, the thought of eternal, unquenchable death is shuddering; take the estimation of one Father Pinamonti in his work, Hell Opened for Christians:
"Everyone that is damned will be like a lighted furnace, which has its own flames in itself; all the filthy blood will boil in the veins, the brains in the skull, the heart in the breast, the bowels within the unfortunate body, surrounded with an abyss of fire out of which it cannot escape."
OUCH.
I'm certain that Atheists have had fun with that quote for a couple of centuries.
The good father has given us a very descriptive account of Hell and the place is to be feared; it is rightly described as the Second Death by the Apostle John.
Yet, it is not fear of eternal death which gives me a desire to love God.
I love God and serve Him in my life for many reasons but one that has come to the surface in recent times is because of His Remarkable Restraint.
Of all the things God is and all which He does in my life and in the world today, I am thankful the God I serve abounds in grace and mercy - which is not only demonstrated by my salvation, but also His restraint toward the world.
While we struggle on earth why things happen to good people, failing to realize God sees what we do not, moves when we do not and loves when we cannot - God simply holds back from showing all of who He is and what He can do because He knows what He has in His future plans.
Take for example the great Lawgiver himself, Moses.
Moses stood before a Burning Bush - and while in Moses' eyes it was fantastic; the Burning Bush was very limiting to God.
Any time God comes to our level, He limits Himself - but He does it willingly and for a purpose.
As God limits Himself, He is also restraining Himself - for example, Jesus could have called legions of angels to aid Him; but He did not and chose to suffer our greatest limitation of all - death.
In the faith, we are involved in a relationship, but this relationship we enjoy with the Lord is one of unequal partnership.
God knows all of us; yet, I doubt on this earth that we will ever know all of God.
God holds back out of mercy.
If God was loud and obvious all the time, He would be more like a bully or a tyrant than a loving Father. As God is now, He is an encouragement not a threat.
In the above quote, Eternal Death is described as a threat to those who do not believe; while it is a threat, there is also another side of the same truth - Eternal Life.
These are opposite sides of the same coin - yet, both executed by the same Lord.
In an age that is full of noise but empty of God, I personally don't need threats - I need an encouraging Father full of compassion and grace.
My guess is that most other seekers in our era desire the same.
When we were children, we played "Hide & Seek."
When we were hidden, we would call out that we were 'Ready,' and others came looking for us.
From a child's perspective, the fun of the game is not in the hiding, not in the seeking; the fun in 'Hide & Seek' is when you are found.
Who in the world wants to play the game and go undiscovered?
In the same manner, who wants to travel the earth in the journey we call life and remain untouched by God and His grace?
The fun of faith begins when we are found.
Jacob once wrestled with the Lord all night; when dawn came, he was injured and walked with a limp for the rest of his life.
Certainly, the Lord restrained Himself or Jacob wouldn't have lived another second. While Jacob was unaware of the power of his opponent, I picture it something like a sumo wrestler and a child lining up to do battle.
The wrestler could kill the child, but has remarkable restraint because he seeks only to make a point.
When it was over, Jacob had a new name and stated that God had been in the place and he did not know it.
If we are missing God's presence in the world, in joys and sorrows - could it be that we are looking in all the wrong places?
God's restraint is an act of grace and mercy; but His restraint is not God hiding from us.
In fact, I would argue that there has never been a greater time to discover God than in the age in which we live.
As I look around at the people, places and things He has directed in my life - I can see the Lord everywhere; softly speaking, gently guiding.
And this is accomplished through the Holy Spirit.
In Scripture, there is a passage which speaks of a boy who is possessed by demons. He suffers from this condition for a long time; the demon even throws this boy into the fire at times in an effort to injure him.
The Holy Spirit acts in the opposite manner.
In yet another act of restraint, God's Spirit enters our souls and gently asks that we not hurt Him; for, we can grieve and even quench the Holy Spirit.
From each person of God, we see His compassion, His love, His desire - we see someone who deeply cares and One who is very gentle.
You see, Christianity is not a religion of do's and do not's; it never has been.
Our faith is a faith based on a relationship; and while it may be unequal - it is full of His grace, mercy and love.
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| KSA Easter Friday 2009 |
Until next time, win one for the good guys.
Excellent again brother.
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