In Luke 16 Jesus tells a story of a man being sent to hell where he was tormented in flames. How do we reconcile Jesus' portrayal of God's judgment being so harsh, with God's love?
God's love does not nullify his justice. These two aspects of his character were united in the cross through which He demonstrated His love by delivering from His wrath those who would believe, by killing His own Son in a sacrifice of atonement.
Yet there are those who claim to know Him, but refuse to recognize this aspect of His character, who may consider Him more of a mere Santa Claus figure. Such make God in their own image, according to their own concepts of God and not according to how He describes Himself in the Bible."And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Rev 20:10 Hell is a place of eternal torment.
Beware, for the kingdom of God (Christendom) is presently a mixture:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt 13:46-50Those who argue that a "good" God would never create a hell where people suffer seem to ignore the sufferings in the world as if God were not in control. For if a "good" God would not allow suffering, then why is there suffering in the world? Yet the sufferings in this world are nothing compared to the sufferings in hell where all hope is lost for any redemption. And many will be caught by surprise when Jesus says:
"Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Matt 25:41
Apr 12,2004
