Future Tense - Week Four

Future Tense – Week FourFear seems to surround us at every turn: the pandemic, the election, education, physical security and financial stability. With all the chaos surrounding us, our spiritual questions and fears can grow and distort. This week, we’ll address the fear of the future by examining:The question of how could a loving God send someone to hell.The condition of mankind.That God is a loving God, and He wants a relationship with His people.“How could a loving God send someone to hell?”God is a just God. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)God will never give an unjust judgment to any person.“Would God send someone to hell who has never heard the gospel?” (John 14:6)Understanding the condition of mankind is necessary.Romans 1:16-18  Paul speaks about the how the gospel is the power of God, and it’s for everyone. Paul used two Greek words to describe the wrath of God:“thumos” – “to breath violently – to pant with a temper, anger.”“orga” – “God’s holy aversion to all that is evil.”Romans 1:18  God considers people who see the truth of His existence and turn their backs on it as ungodly.Romans 1:19  God makes this obvious to people and puts the evidence of His truth in the conscience of everyone.Romans 1:20  The evidence of God is all around in nature, and people have no excuse not to believe in Him.Psalm 19:1  The heavens and skies tell of God’s existence.Every person who seeks God will find God. (Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 29:13, Acts 17:26-28)God is a loving God, and He wants a relationship with His people.This brings us back to the question, “How could a loving God send someone to hell?” (Matthew 25:41)Have you ever been rejected?For there to be an authentic relationship between man and God, God had to give mankind the freedom to choose or reject God. When someone loves you who doesn’t have to love you, it’s meaningful.  You have a free will. You can choose to love God or you can choose to reject God.So, why would God send someone to hell? People send themselves to hell. You have a choice. You will choose your eternal destination, not God.God chose everyone. (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:19) People must choose Him back.The hard question isn’t, “How could a loving God send someone to hell?” The tough question is, “How can anyone reject a loving God?”