By Harold
Smith inchrist@ns.sympatico.ca
A question often asked of those who share the gospel is: If God is merciful, how can He put people in Hell forever? Would He not be unjust in doing so?
The answer to that question is that God sends no one to Hell. We send ourselves to Hell if we fail to place our total trust in Christ alone for our eternal salvation.
Who can blame a judge for sending a criminal who knowingly breaks the law to prison? He really put himself there. The judge responds to written laws and assigns punishment to those who chose to break them. So does God.
Psalms 9:17 states, "The wicked shall be turned into hell." The word "turned" in Hebrew means "to turn oneself." It is in the active voice, which means they are performing the action themselves. "The wicked is driven away in (or by) his own wickedness," says Proverbs 14:32.
Isaiah 3:11 says, "Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hand shall be given him," These verses make it clear that it is not God but wickedness that put a sinner in Hell.
God says in Ezekiel 33:11, "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." Ezekiel 18:23 says, "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?”
God would be most unjust if sinners did not go to Hell. How much more would a Holy God, who hates sin, be unjust in not giving the just rewards to all spiritual criminals?
Despite what some suggest, God is not cold but provides a way to Heaven. He sent His Son to take our sins upon Himself and died for us. He offers forgiveness of sin to all who trust in Jesus.”
Have you trusted Him yet? Will you spend eternity with Him or in Hell? It is your choice that will determine whether Jesus Christ will be your Saviour or Judge. Make the right choice, and choose Him today.
