Why God Used Metaphors

Unlike similes, metaphors are sometimes harder to understand. We can grasp that a cowardly person could be called a chicken because we know that chickens aren't brave birds. But the Bible often uses metaphors to express inexpressible concepts.

The subject of hell is one which deals with unimaginable pain and anguish. Words fail to describe the utter horror and hopelessness of that eternal destination. Therefore, the writers of Holy Scripture had to use examples of terrifying situations which they knew from their own experiences.

Darkness is one which we all understand. Referring  to wicked teachers, Jude 1:13 (BBE) describes their fate as, "Violent waves of the sea, streaming with their shame, wandering stars for whom the darkest night is kept in store for ever."

Fire is another metaphor used to express the extreme pain which a soul in hell feels. John the Baptist spoke of Christ's final judgement on the wicked, using an agricultural example. He said of Jesus in Matthew 3:12 (BBE), "In whose hand is the instrument with which he will make clean his grain; he will put the good grain in his store, but the waste will be burned up in the fire which will never be put out."

Jesus also spoke often of hell and warned his hearers about it. Mark 9:42 and 43 (BBE) says, "And whoever is a cause of trouble to one of these little ones who have faith in me, it would be better for him if a great stone was put round his neck and he was dropped into the sea. And if your hand is a cause of trouble to you, let it be cut off; it is better for you to go into life with one hand than to have two hands and go into hell, into the eternal fire."

Hell is such a frightening place that even demons feared being consigned there forever. Matthew 8:28 and 29 (BBE) shows just how panicked they were at the Lord's presence. "And when he had come to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, there came out to him from the place of the dead, two who had evil spirits, so violent that no man was able to go that way. And they gave a loud cry, saying, 'What have we to do with you, you Son of God? Have you come here to give us punishment before the time?'"

Metaphors are why non Christians stumble when they try to understand our valid and legitimate concern about people headed for eternal conscious torment. That too is why I'm writing my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? So many individuals risk an excruciating eternity because they suppose they'll go to heaven. May this book steer them to the only one who can save them.

On Thursday, I hope to post about why hell glorifies God.

Must We Tell Sinners to Repent and Serve Christ?

One of the most dangerous doctrines infiltrating churches is called easy believeism. It teaches that repentance and total obedience to Christ's teaching is old fashioned and repulsive to the world's people. Many pastors believe that having large congregations of fair weather Christians is better than a small group of believers who are in love with the Master's teachings.

Even a casual reading of the New Testament shows that our Master wants total devotion, not mere ascent. Luke 14:26 (KJV) says, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."

The word "hate" is comparative, not a commandment. Our devotion to Christ must be so strong that familial affection is comparatively hatred. We love people but we absolutely adore our Lord.

Neither must we let money and other worldly attractions interfere with our service to the King of kings. Matthew 6:24 (KJV) quotes him as saying, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

So it is that one of our Master's commandments is to warn people against ending up in hell. Look at the extreme language he used in Mark 9:47 and 48 (BBE). "And if your eye is a cause of trouble to you, take it out: it is better for you to go into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to go into hell, Where their worm is ever living and the fire is not put out."

This warning must also be given to pseudo-believers. The Pharisees were outwardly holy but Christ exposed their hidden sins. In Matthew 23:14 (KJV) our Master tore a huge strip out of those pretenders. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."

Jesus was insistent about Judgement Day as well. Matthew 3:12 (KJV) shows how God will judge the disobedient, "Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

We mustn't fear telling sinners about God's wrath. As Christ said to his disciples in Matthew 10:28 (KJV)  "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

And since hell is so horrific, the Bible uses various metaphors. Darkness is one of those which describe the utter misery of the damned. Jude 1:13 (KJV) describes the fate of the wicked this way. "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

Hell is no joke. That's why I want to warn those churchgoers that they too could be imprisoned there forever if they don't repent and follow Christ. I'll explain all that in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven?On Thursday, I'll post about how to recognize the real believers from the pretenders.