A few weeks ago I wrote about Heaven and the wonderful book I read of the same name by Randy Alcorn. While I was reading that book, I naturally started thinking about the other eternal destination. Somehow I got the idea to text a few of my close friends a simple question: Do you think there will be more people in Heaven or in Hell?
It gave me pause, and I examined my own beliefs- or lack thereof. The doctrine of Hell has troubled me in the past, and I tended to push the uncomfortable questions aside to think about the more pleasant aspects of my faith (such as Heaven!). I had never really settled the issue in my mind- not the existence of Hell (to my mind Jesus and the scriptures are very clear on that point), but the nature of Hell. Is punishment really eternal? Are there levels of punishment in Hell as there are levels of reward in Heaven? Is the Lake of Fire a literal place? I don't mind that lake so much for Satan and his angels, but for people? And are most people going to end up there?
A friend and my pastor recommended that I read Erasing Hell by Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle, and I promptly went to the library, checked it out, and read it in one afternoon. Chan combines scripture with extensive cultural research in a way that is wonderfully simple yet insightful. The book merely confirmed my longstanding belief that Hell is real, but it also impacted me in two other ways.
What Erasing Hell showed me is that I often try to fit God into my human reasoning. When I think to myself, "How could God...I wouldn't do that...God can't really be that way...." I am revealing the ugly belief that my way is better. I am treading dangerous ground by trying to remake Him in my own image. Chan reminded me to go back to the God of scripture who is good,
holy, merciful, and just. His ways are not my ways, His thoughts are not my
thoughts. They are higher, perfect, beyond what I can fully comprehend.
He is the Potter, I am the clay; He is my Father and Creator. Even if the answers to my questions about Hell are not the answers I would like, I believe that God is who He
says He is and is therefore worthy of my trust.
Not that we shouldn't ask those questions... we should talk to God, tell him how we think and feel, ask for wisdom and understanding. Rather than having inner conversations with ourselves about how we would do things differently (or better), we should go to God and ask Him about the things that trouble us, whether it be Hell, suffering, or social injustice. Our intimacy with Him is built as we pour out our hearts and He reveals more and more of Himself to us.
Chan addresses many of my questions about the nature of Hell in his book, but few if any have definite answers. What the book did do for me is reset my focus on God's sovereignty and goodness. Instead of thinking, "God can't really be that way, that doesn't make sense," I am praying (at least more than I used to), "God, you are God, so what you do is right. Help me to understand you more. Give me insight into your character."
As for my initial question: I could be wrong, but I believe there will be more people in Heaven than in Hell. I believe God's grace extends farther and His mercy goes deeper than we know. "God can save whomever He wants, however He wants, but He always does so through the one avenue He Himself paved: His Son Jesus Christ" (Chan 160). That quotation leads to the second impact of the book for me... but it will have to wait for the next post!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
People need People
Will any one out there admit to liking that classic Barbra Streisand song, "People"? I will! My mom used to sing it a lot... "People, people who need people, are the luckiest people in the world." It's actually a profound statement.
There came a time in my life where I realized I wanted- and needed- friends. I was in college. I had many superficial relationships with people that I didn't have much in common with, and I knew there had to be more. I had heard about and seen best friends interact, but hadn't experienced it for myself (I am not counting the grade school/middle school best friends who made me sign a contract stating that I was in fact their best friend). So I started praying... and praying... and praying. "Lord, I would really like to have a best friend, someone I can really count on and trust; a kindred spirit, someone who gets me and accepts me for who I am..." Something like that anyway.
Several years later, after I left California and moved to Ohio, I found a church. And that church had a basketball team with some cute guys on it. One day I went to a game and finally met my best friend.
I wish I could remember all the ins and outs, all the events that created our relationship. Our first time hanging out was at Don Pablos, I do remember that! Since then we have had many fun moments centered around food. Once we ate ourselves into severe stomach pain at P.F. Changs, and I can't count the late night trips to Dairy Queen and Coldstone Creamery. We had a love affair with food alright. We shared a love of food, and now we share a commitment to eat right and stay healthy.
I remember this this one service where everyone was running around the church while the band played classic "shoutin'" music; she said she felt the Lord told her to change direction and she did- and ran smack into me! We went flying to the floor, laughing hysterically: we always did have a spiritual connection (ha!). Once we decided to fast TV together for a month; since then, we have tried to push each other and encourage each other in the things of God.
Then there was our mission trip to Jamaica- we sat in our hotel room during a hurricane and wrote about the kind of spouses we want. And so many other memories- talking every day the summer she went to Alabama and I had just lost my fiance; me forcing her to ride the Maverick at Cedar Point (even though she cried); throwing all those great parties for each other and our friends; her gently and persistently telling me that a certain guy was wrong for me even though I didn't want to hear it...
I needed her, and I still do. And not just for the food and the fun and the talking, but because she tells me truth. Because she pushes me to be a better person.
Have you noticed that there are not a lot of people out there who know how to be a good friend? Have you noticed that most people tend to take and not give. They talk mostly about themselves, and they get uncomfortable and disappear when things get rough for you. But my BFF- she listens. She gives. She cares. She's there. As Barbra sang so beautifully, we all need people- people like my friend.
If you have a person like this in your life- celebrate them, take care of that relationship, and thank God always for His gift. If you don't, pray and believe that the Lord will grant your wish, though it may take some time.
Why this blog now? My best friend's birthday was Wednesday, and I forgot. This is my way of celebrating her- and apologizing for my EPIC FAILURE!
Happy birthday, BFF! Luv ya!
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There came a time in my life where I realized I wanted- and needed- friends. I was in college. I had many superficial relationships with people that I didn't have much in common with, and I knew there had to be more. I had heard about and seen best friends interact, but hadn't experienced it for myself (I am not counting the grade school/middle school best friends who made me sign a contract stating that I was in fact their best friend). So I started praying... and praying... and praying. "Lord, I would really like to have a best friend, someone I can really count on and trust; a kindred spirit, someone who gets me and accepts me for who I am..." Something like that anyway.
Several years later, after I left California and moved to Ohio, I found a church. And that church had a basketball team with some cute guys on it. One day I went to a game and finally met my best friend.
I wish I could remember all the ins and outs, all the events that created our relationship. Our first time hanging out was at Don Pablos, I do remember that! Since then we have had many fun moments centered around food. Once we ate ourselves into severe stomach pain at P.F. Changs, and I can't count the late night trips to Dairy Queen and Coldstone Creamery. We had a love affair with food alright. We shared a love of food, and now we share a commitment to eat right and stay healthy.
I remember this this one service where everyone was running around the church while the band played classic "shoutin'" music; she said she felt the Lord told her to change direction and she did- and ran smack into me! We went flying to the floor, laughing hysterically: we always did have a spiritual connection (ha!). Once we decided to fast TV together for a month; since then, we have tried to push each other and encourage each other in the things of God.
Then there was our mission trip to Jamaica- we sat in our hotel room during a hurricane and wrote about the kind of spouses we want. And so many other memories- talking every day the summer she went to Alabama and I had just lost my fiance; me forcing her to ride the Maverick at Cedar Point (even though she cried); throwing all those great parties for each other and our friends; her gently and persistently telling me that a certain guy was wrong for me even though I didn't want to hear it...
I needed her, and I still do. And not just for the food and the fun and the talking, but because she tells me truth. Because she pushes me to be a better person.
Have you noticed that there are not a lot of people out there who know how to be a good friend? Have you noticed that most people tend to take and not give. They talk mostly about themselves, and they get uncomfortable and disappear when things get rough for you. But my BFF- she listens. She gives. She cares. She's there. As Barbra sang so beautifully, we all need people- people like my friend.
If you have a person like this in your life- celebrate them, take care of that relationship, and thank God always for His gift. If you don't, pray and believe that the Lord will grant your wish, though it may take some time.
Why this blog now? My best friend's birthday was Wednesday, and I forgot. This is my way of celebrating her- and apologizing for my EPIC FAILURE!
Happy birthday, BFF! Luv ya!
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3738472/musings-by-lisa-ree?claim=gsheknfuyx6">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
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