Illusion of Virtue

What makes you angry about hell? For me, it's that so many "decent" people end up there. Almost nobody grieves for a tyrant or mass murderer when they die. We feel they got what they earned for their wickedness. But when it's an unsaved friend who perishes, people feel offended when they hear the truth about hell.

The Bible is crystal clear about God's holiness. His dwelling cannot tolerate any impurity. Speaking of God's holy city, Revelation 22:15 (BBE) reminds us that, "Outside are the dogs, and those who make use of evil powers, those who make themselves unclean, and the takers of life, and those who give worship to images, and everyone whose delight is in what is false."

People who claim to be believers also will be excluded because they never knew who the Lord truly is. Matthew 7:22 and 23 (BBE) reminds me of charismatics who are obsessed with signs and miracles. "A great number will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power?' And then will I say to them, 'I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil'".

What those who claim to be believers need to do is examine themselves. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5 (BBE), "Make a test of yourselves, if you are in the faith; make certain of yourselves. Or are you not conscious in yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, if you are truly Christ's"?

In truth, nobody is even close to being pure. As Isaiah 64:6 (BBE) explains, "For we have all become like an unclean person, and all our good acts are like a dirty robe: and we have all become old like a dead leaf, and our sins, like the wind, take us away."

Even more shocking is that we mortals dare to quarrel with our creator. Romans 9:20 (BBE) says, "But, O man, who are you, to make answer against God? May the thing which is made say to him who made it, 'Why did you make me so?'"

Some mainstream denominations even deny that Jesus was the anointed son of God. As we read in 1 John 2:22 (BBE), this is the test whereby we know who's genuinely saved. "Who is false but he who says that Jesus is not the Christ? He is the Antichrist who has no belief in the Father or the Son."

And if Christ doesn't return by Saturday, I hope to post about a song where a man witnesses a murder and fears for his life.