Post by Cindy on Jan 20, 2016 12:55:51 GMT -5
The Lord has been showing me over the last few years how love permeates every page of His Word, whether it's showing us what His love looks like, or how He wants our love to look like His. Although most people think of a God who will send people to Hell as being anything but loving, He's shown me a number of times too how He embraces even the unsaved with His love, even those who will ultimately refuse Him for eternity. One of the first things He showed me awhile ago was an answer to why the bad guys so often seem to have all they need, while the saved suffer. Proverbs 24:19–20 among other scriptures shows us one of the reasons the Lord allows those we consider bad or evil to have good things in this life; mainly because whatever good they have now, is the only good they will ever know. They don't understand that they're like a little child who's offered either a penny or dime. They take the penny because it's bigger, not realizing that the dime, although smaller, is worth 10 times as much. They scoff at eternal life and all it offers, thinking this life is the only one that matters because it's all they can see, and so they wind up in Hell for eternity, surely wishing with all their hearts that they'd chosen differently. Knowing that has really changed how I see people who seem to have it all and yet are not saved. My heart really breaks for them much more now, and I realize that I'm truthfully much richer then they'll ever be.
What the Lord pointed out to me today in His Word is different though, and showed me yet again how great His love and mercy are. I was studying the parable of the sower, which was the first time He spoke in parables to the people. In Matthew, before He begins the parable He says: “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Matthew 13:12–13) In Luke's version He says:
“His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’” (Luke 8:9–10) There was a great crowd of people listening to Him that day, as usual. Some were His disciples, others would be in the future, and others were the pharisees and leaders who were so antagonistic toward Him. Still others were simply curious, and more simply wanted miracles, they wanted to be healed or fed or have problems solved somehow, but weren't really interested in anything spiritual. Jesus was fully aware of that and didn't want them to be judged any harsher then necessary, or suffer anymore then they had to. That's why He spoke in parables. To those who's hearts were soft and who desired to know God, they would understand the spiritual meanings behind His stories. Those who's hearts were hard, wouldn't. Our spiritual condition determines just how much or how little we will understand of God's Word. (that's one reason why we gain more from the same verse as we grow in faith) Therefore, speaking this way was actually an act of grace and mercy on His part, because those who refused to acknowledge Him as Messiah would be judged less severely than if they'd understood more of what He'd said.
Jesus gives us an example of this a little later: ““Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.” (Luke 10:13–15)
This showed me even more how loving and tender is the heart of our God. He has no desire that anyone should suffer. That's not His Will. By this, I'm not suggesting that the unsaved won't go to Hell, for they will. Not because that's what God wants, He doesn't. He wants them to be saved; but because He is righteous, pure, holy, and just, He must therefore do exactly what His character requires Him to do, and what His Word says He will do. Therefore those who choose to spurn Him, whether outright or in secret in their hearts, will in fact, go to Hell. That's why the Lord our God constantly urges us to choose life, to choose Him! He never tells us that it will be easy. He always tells the truth, and let's us know that choosing Him will most definitely be worth it! How very blessed we are to have such a loving God!
“The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” (Psalm 145:9)
“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20)
What the Lord pointed out to me today in His Word is different though, and showed me yet again how great His love and mercy are. I was studying the parable of the sower, which was the first time He spoke in parables to the people. In Matthew, before He begins the parable He says: “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Matthew 13:12–13) In Luke's version He says:
“His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’” (Luke 8:9–10) There was a great crowd of people listening to Him that day, as usual. Some were His disciples, others would be in the future, and others were the pharisees and leaders who were so antagonistic toward Him. Still others were simply curious, and more simply wanted miracles, they wanted to be healed or fed or have problems solved somehow, but weren't really interested in anything spiritual. Jesus was fully aware of that and didn't want them to be judged any harsher then necessary, or suffer anymore then they had to. That's why He spoke in parables. To those who's hearts were soft and who desired to know God, they would understand the spiritual meanings behind His stories. Those who's hearts were hard, wouldn't. Our spiritual condition determines just how much or how little we will understand of God's Word. (that's one reason why we gain more from the same verse as we grow in faith) Therefore, speaking this way was actually an act of grace and mercy on His part, because those who refused to acknowledge Him as Messiah would be judged less severely than if they'd understood more of what He'd said.
Jesus gives us an example of this a little later: ““Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.” (Luke 10:13–15)
This showed me even more how loving and tender is the heart of our God. He has no desire that anyone should suffer. That's not His Will. By this, I'm not suggesting that the unsaved won't go to Hell, for they will. Not because that's what God wants, He doesn't. He wants them to be saved; but because He is righteous, pure, holy, and just, He must therefore do exactly what His character requires Him to do, and what His Word says He will do. Therefore those who choose to spurn Him, whether outright or in secret in their hearts, will in fact, go to Hell. That's why the Lord our God constantly urges us to choose life, to choose Him! He never tells us that it will be easy. He always tells the truth, and let's us know that choosing Him will most definitely be worth it! How very blessed we are to have such a loving God!
“The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” (Psalm 145:9)
“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20)
!!
