“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 118:1)
But only for those who have been born-again, who have trusted in the Lord our God, whose faith has been counted to them for righteousness.
All others will reside in the Lake of Fire for all eternity, in pain, suffering and hopelessness, for these there is no mercy, there is the eternal wrath of God.
There is, in a sense, a clause that runs throughout the entire Word of God, and that clause is the word “if.”
Many times, usually by those who hate our Lord, people will ask me not “Why do bad things happen to good people,” but “Why are there only two choices, either heaven or hell, and if He claims to love us so much, as John 3:16 says,” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” if He is compassionate, longsuffering and merciful, why would He send people, good people, to a place of endless suffering?”
Many of these are simply attempting to be contentious, they have heard the Roman’s Road, they know of His suffering on the cross, and even in part, in a way that reflects the truth of Romans 1:20, they understand the way to heaven.
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
Some of them are the lost waiting, as it were, to be found, but most are the wicked who want an answer, they want to know why this God of love, mercy and compassion would cast people into eternal darkness to suffer His wrath.
Explaining to them that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, offering them the truths of the Scriptures from the fall of Adam to the Lord Jesus Christ paying the penalty for all of the sins of mankind, how to call upon Him for the salvation of their soul is not enough for them, they want to know why there are only two places one goes after their last breath here and why this God who proposes to love all, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways;” (Eze. 33:11a) would send what they consider “good people” to eternal damnation.
If God loves us as He claims to, why would He create Satan to vex us, to tempt us, to divert our thoughts from Him who rules in all creation?
I have one answer for them, and even after they hear it, they refuse to contemplate the truth of it.
Would you rather not have free will?
There is no need to offer anymore to them, their hearts are stone, they have set their face against the Living God, foolishness in the extreme, but they deserve an answer and that answer, as all should in this life, should reflect upon them, and us, personally.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
Lucifer and all the angels were created with free will, every person ever born has been blessed with the same. The way of eternal life and eternal damnation is set before all of us, and in His infinite mercy the Lord our God has determined that each of us should be able to choose for ourselves which path we want to take.
He offers love, but forces it upon no one, there could be no other way, free will is perhaps one of the greatest gifts ever given to us.
Good people do not exist, my friends.
“And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark 10:18)
Without free will love cannot be given or accepted, mercy can never be understood by those who have never sinned, we had to be given a choice.
The end result of choosing to deny His Sovereignty, His offering of grace through faith is eternal separation from Him with whom all have to do.
“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.” (Job 38:4)
Submission to the Almighty because of love for Him who first loved us, or rejection of that love.
Without free will, neither would be possible.
