My scripture journal entry: “1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” Hebrews 2: 1-4 ESV There is an old joke about the man who was caught in a flood; as the waters rose a big four wheel drive truck came by and offered him a ride out, he said no thanks God will deliver me. Later as the water rose up and filled the first floor a boat came to the upstairs window and offered him a ride; he said no thanks God will deliver me. Then as the waters rose, he climbed on the roof and a helicopter came by and wanted to pick him up; he refused saying, no thanks God will deliver me. The waters continued to rise and he was swept away and drowned. He showed up in heaven and asked, why didn’t you save me like I asked? God replied, I sent a truck, a boat and a helicopter, what more did you want? God is calling out to people all the time, every day. He is showing himself in nature, in signs, in wonders, and in witness. Tales are coming out of the Middle East regularly of people raised in Islam who are having dreams and visions of Jesus Christ. People have come into remote tribes only to hear stories of them being promised in a vision that they would hear about a God that wanted them to know him. I think the premise that a God who expected everyone to know him and accept him is cruel and unrealistic is a poor and sad excuse made by people who do not want to think that they may be required to listen to the Gospel and surrender their lives to Christ. God wants to touch and change lives and I do not believe that it has ever been his plan to “send ignorant people to hell.” His desire is to offer salvation to all mankind and to reach down and pull us up out of the miry pit of our existence. The issue has never been God sending anyone to hell; it is people rejecting the message, the messenger, and the promise that has been freely offered.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 16:05:18 +0000
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