It is better in every way, in this life and the life to come. We are not saved some mythical torture chamber we are saved from the "wages" of sin, that being death.
Just because everyone will eventually be saved, doesn't mean there is not a cost for living an ungodly life. There is the refining fire to remove all the chaff and dross, though it will have an end, does not mean it will be pleasant.
__________________ For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. (Romans 14:11- NASB)
The use in serving God is because you love him, not because there is some torturous punishment waiting to consume you without end.
I think Crak believes that God is a consuming fire, and that even though there is a punishment for the wicked, all will eventually be redeemed. I'm not sure I agree with Crak, although his belief does not seem to contradict biblical doctrine on the matter which makes me think twice about disagreeing with him.
I heard a story yesterday.This lady I know told me that she had a son in law that shot and killed himself a few years ago,she told me his story in tears.This boy was one of three children,his mom died on the couch when the kids were 4,3 and 2 years old and they were in the house for 4 days before the family found thier mother dead,and this boy was the 4 year old and he had been trying to take care of the other two children but how can a 4 year old do very well at that?Their father had already died a couple of years before.All three kids ended up in a orphanedge.When they were in the orphanedge they were abused by beatings,starving and molesting for all of thier child hood.When this boy was 9 years old his sister that was 8 was tied to a tree in front of him so that he could watch his sister be tortered in ways I wont mention because it was to awful.When he grew up he married my friends daughter,but the first time my friend met him he had walked 20 miles from his home in a thunder strom and she found him on her door step with blood all over his shirt,he was 18 years old and was living with his uncle who put small nicks in his chest with a knife,so my friend allowed him to stay with her.This young man never had a bad thing to say to any one and he never asked for anything from any one.EXAMPLE he was working and would not ask for a ride to work even though it was 12 miles to his job,and when she did take him he would waight 3 to 4 hours sometimes with out her rememering to pick him up,he would just thank her for the ride.She says she would buy hundreds of dollars on her kids for christmas and gaught him a 15 dollar electric razer and he was the only one to thank her and most people who looked into his eyes would call them sad or say he was born dead.The sparkle in his eyes was not there.When he and his wife would argue he could never say anything bad about her.His sister as of right now is in prison.Whenever his sister gets out of prison she does something to go back because she has been institutionalized for to long.That young man never heard about God and all his life from the beginning has been nothing but hell on earth.He never had a chance.Isnt there room in Gods heart for some one like him?P.S. WHAT ABOUT HIS SISTER?????
These are things that only God can sort through. I know many people who have sufferred abuse which has led to lifestyles that we would not consider appropriate...but it is my thinking/feeling that God will hold the abusers accountable.
This is so sad, but there are many of these same stories right here among those we know and love.
God is holy, just, and righteous. I trust Him to make things right in the end.
I just learned today that a 30-year old man that I used to work with committed suicide Monday. He was the nicest guy anyone could ever meet. He had a heart as big as the moon. He had a wife and a 6-year old boy whom he cherished. I haven't worked with him for over two years, so I am not sure of his current condition, but he was a believer and a great person when I knew him. My heart aches to wonder what circumstances were going on in his life that led him to this act of desperation. I am physically ill thinking about him.
One never knows. Life is so fragile. And I believe any one of us might be but one step away from a similar fate--were it not for Jesus. I cannot comprehend life without my Lord.
May God rest Curtis' soul and send healing to the family.
We fail all the time.
Hybrid Mode
