How do you believe the Lord looks upon parents who lovingly raise their children, in homes where that love is evident, where it continues even after the children have grown and moved on, having children of their own? And how do you believe He sees parents who abuse their children, who despise the thoughts of them, and inflict unimaginable pain upon them, how do you believe the Lord looks upon them? And now ponder this, if you would, what possible difference is it going to make if neither of the parents in these two scenarios never once bring up the subject or the person of Jesus Christ to these children? Which parents are probably going to die in their sins?
If you said all four of them, you understand the Scriptures, and you also have fought against these ideas at times. It goes beyond all logical thought to comprehend that good, honest, caring loving people who never accept Christ as Lord will not be going to heaven, but instead will suffer for all eternity in the Lake of Fire. It is one of the subjects that most Christians will not discuss at length, for it is so ingrained in us that good people are good, and good people go to heaven. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8)
Being good does not “fulfill the requirements” of grace, being good is an attempt to live by the law, the moral construct of man’s law, and it is the reason that Paul went to the gentiles (Acts 13:46) it is why it is written that the sons of Jacob would not live by faith, but held fast to the law, attempting by adhering to them, also known as “being good,” to enter into the kingdom.
Nearly every child is brought up to act, or behave well, to adhere to what their parents command them, to be good, and so that fashion of the law is carried over many times into adulthood. The education system, the legal system, all of them demand obedience, and when we obey, we are seen as good, those who disobey are seen as bad. This is so ingrained into us that even pet owners will say “good dog or bad dog,” relative to the actions of that animal.
Here then is the next question for you, does the Lord see you as good when you obey, and bad when you disobey? From those who cannot see the truths in the statements in this letter to you has come two evils upon the planet, “Love the sinner, but hate the sin,” and “God is love.” Both are so far away from Scriptural truths that it still amazes me when I hear people who profess Him as Lord saying them. Ask yourself this, where in the Word of God do you read that God punishes sin, but lets the sinner go free, and why would anyone believe that the highest and most profound attribute, if you will, of God is love?
The latter question is asked of me at least once a week, “Why, if God is love, does He allow pain and suffering?” The former statement not so often by the lost, but nearly always is said by those who say that Christ is Lord but have not taken the time to search the Scriptures. Both are brought about by the deceptions of our adversary, and both of them, along with everything else the father of lies does, (John 8:44) is meant to keep us from seeing the truth.
There are a lot of people in hell that thought that they were good enough, and there are more heading there every day, because they refuse to repent of what they see as a good life lived for others. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt. 22:14) And the reason that they are not chosen is because they refuse to admit that there is only One who is good.
