Howdy pardner,
I would totally agree with you about telling someone that they are going to spend eternity in hell if it were up to me. BUUUUUUT the most enlightened, compassionate, caring and loving being ever to walk on this planet, (Jesus Christ), was also the one who talked most about hell. Jesus was not just a man but in fact, he claimed to be God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, who has existed from all eternity. Talk is cheap, but He demonstrated the validity of his claims by the many healing's and miracles that he did. Finally he even conquered death itself, by raising from the dead.
I thought it interesting that you said; "Who knows, except God, where that man's journey will end." I have to agree with you there but if Jesus is God then he does know. Not only that but he has warned us about hell and told us how to avoid going there. It is not a matter of some people being better than others, rather all of us have failed to meet the standard of righteousness that God's character demands. That is what the Bible calls sin. The wages of sin is death, not just for some, but for all.
You are probably saying to yourself; "I thought the Christian message was supposed to be good news, and your telling me that we are all doomed." Well if that were all there was to it, then it would be bad news, indeed. However, just as a diamond looks brightest against a black cloth, the good news about Jesus Christ really has meaning when looked at against the backdrop of sin. You see, because Jesus is God he lived a perfect, sinless life, thereby meeting that standard of righteousness that we were unable to accomplish by ourselves. Having lived a sinless life, He did something incredible, He laid that life down (at the cross), as a substitute, in order to atone, or pay for the sins of all who will freely (by GRACE), receive it (by FAITH).
Now, here is a scenario for you to think about. Suppose I knew that a particular train bridge was just washed out by a flash flood. I also knew that in fifteen minutes a train would come around the corner and would not be able to stop in time to avoid everyone being killed. What do you think would be the most loving thing to do? I think warning the train, and trying to stop it from certain disaster would be very appropriate, don't you? That is what Christians are trying to do. We don't always do it well, and you might think to yourself; "who's that jerk jumping up and down beside the tracks", but that's all we are trying to do.
Hope this hasn't put a burr under your saddle.
God bless you in your journey, Greg |
