“That’s mean! Just because I don’t acknowledge your existence, you will not allow me to spend my eternity in Heaven?”
I wonder what Jesus really meant when He said, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” I wonder if any of those who spat in Jesus’ face, or those who struck Him with their fists or slapped Him ever came to saving faith in His work on the cross. If they did, can you imagine the feeling of dread they must have had when they came to the realization of the Truth? The centurion who was guarding the cross and watched Jesus die proclaimed, “Surely this was the Son of God”. Even though this man was aiding in bringing about Jesus’ torture and death, Jesus asked for his forgiveness. Think about that for a minute. People reviled God in the flesh! Some men whipped and flogged the Son of God! People in the crowd spat upon the body of the incarnate! But this Jesus did not revile in return. He did not call upon legions of angels to incinerate those who physically abused Him. He did not call the winds to come down and blow the sputum back in their own faces. He said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” He loves us!
God’s will is that all mankind might be saved. He who is angry with God for allowing people to go to Hell has a misplaced anger. Really, your desire that no one suffer is the same as God’s desire that no one suffer. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (NIV) He is patient with YOU. If you are having a problem dealing with the whole idea or doctrine of hell, then you need to quit pointing your finger at God and point it back at YOU. God loves YOU so much, that He gave the ultimate sacrifice. John 3:16 “"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God is waiting for YOU!
We’ve all done things, said things or thought things that fly in the face of God our creator. We are full of pride, selfishness and hatred. We all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. But God is not at fault. He has given everything to provide a way for us to be reconciled with Him. It’s not that complicated. Believe in Jesus, acknowledge His Lordship, and realize that His death, burial and resurrection are for you. My prayer is that you would echo the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 3:8-11 “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Love to all,
Bro. Jay Johnson.
