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A Reasonable Hell
The reality of hell as a place and
state of unending suffering is firmly supported by the
teaching of the Word of God regarding the nature of God, the nature of Satan, and the nature
of man.
The perfections of
God's character are beyond human comprehension. The pagan religions fashion gods accordingg to the various aspects of pagan life
and culture. The pagan mind pictures a certain facet of life's experience and imagines a
diety related to that sphere. Thus there are gods of sowing, of
traveling, of procreating, and on and on. However, the God of the Bible is all
sufficient and adequate for any and all situations, contingencies and cultures.
As the Architect of all life and matter
God is central in the universe. On Him all depends. By the word of His power all
life and all that occupies space has its existence.
Gen. 1:3, 6, 7, 9, 11 etc. with Heb. 1:1-3. All things came into being
perfectly and according to His wise
master plan. Psalm 8; Col. 1:16, 17. He alone is Sovereign, and as such He orders all things as he well
pleases. The apostle Paul vividly reminds us of this when he says that God has mercy upon whom He will and hardens
whom he will; and, "What if
God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of
wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of His
glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory". Romans 9:18-24. Who will presume to
contend with such a Sovereign?
This divine Sovereign is not perfect and
infinite only in power and authority, but
also in holiness (His moral perfections), and demands the same of His
creatures, saying, "Sanctify
yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God." His infinite perfections extend also to righteousness
(perfectly just in all His dealings), which
demands His righteous judgment against evil. However, His perfect holiness and righteousness cannot surpass His infinite
love, by which He provides salvation in Christ from His righteous
judgment against unworthy sinners.
If in fact the eternally Sovereign
God extends eternal bliss to those who render themselves to Him by faith in
Christ, then it necessarily follows that the contrary awaits those who disobey the Gosspel of His love in Christ. II Thess. 1:5-9.
My friend to what or to whom have you rendered yourself? The righteousness of
God demands that He condemn the unconverted with the antithesis of the eternal
blessing and bliss of the repentant
believer. Nothing else befits one who terminally offends God's perfect holiness, righteousness and love.
Ezekiel (28:12-15) describes Satan in
his original state as the most beautiful, powerful and intelligent angel. God endowed
him with liberty of will so that he might, out of purity of heart, live in holiness, righteousness and true love,
and thus glorify ', his Creator forever.
Isaiah (14:12-14) relates how that glorious
angel fixed his mind on his own glory and in his arrogance rebelled against
God. There is room for only one true Sovereign 'in any realm. Of necessity Satan
was cast down from his heavenly position. From
that time he has
been the implacable opponent of all that is holy, righteous and of true love. All his counsels and purposes seek to
frustrate the holiness, righteousness and love of God.
In observance of
His perfect righteousness God prepared hell for Satan and ail those who trail after him. In thhat place of torment they will
experience the everlasting agonies that correspond to their unbelief
and malignant works. Matt. 25:41-46. This is the just judgment pronounced by the
Most Holy Judge of all souls.
The Genesis record
shows that man was created innocent and with the capacity and desire to enjoy
communion with his Creator forever. Man was also created with the capacity to choose his own waays. God desired in man a creature who
would freely respond to His holy counsels and purposes
with appreciation and love. The Creator's perfect purpose is
that man should obey Him and thus enjoy His glory, communion and bliss
forever.
However, in his disobedience man chose
to follow the counsels and purposes of Satan, and continues in that way to this
date. In consequence unregenerate man receives the same infernal inheritance as
Satan as described in Rev. 20:10; 21:8. Coming
as it does from the righteous, holy and eternal Sovereign, this condemnation is
the only one that is reasonable and just.
What is more, man opts for this
condemnation. The unconverted are already under that condemnation because they
brush aside God's Calvary love, abhorring and
retreating from the light in Christ that can save them. Because he opts for
darkness now in this life it will be his eternal portion also and always
in hell.
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