Monday, November 7, 2011

Hell

A few things have been on my mind today and as i sat and folded laundry, they came together and bugged me enough to want to write about it.  First, we are so selfish in this world.  I say this not because anything was done to me, but because of what i see happening around me.  As i was driving and thinking today (apparently i do alot of that, eh?) I was thinking (more like dreaming) about Twilight. I am so stinking excited for it to come out in theatres that i am basically putting my head in the sand an refusing to even think about it.  I love it.  I am not saying its appropriate for others or something everyone should see, i just feel like i will be a lovestruck teen all my life!!  I mean, the though of sitting next to some 13 year old and hearing her say "I love Edward!" makes me want to scream. I honestly think i would lean over and argue that she doesn't actually love him, but that i do, in fact actually love him...i love him."

As i drove i thought about how the movies, and books and even our thoughts can make something out to be much more spectacular and amazing than it truly is.  The fact is, if Edward just happened to show up right now and wisk me away on a fairy tale adventure...it would hurt others.  We are obsessed with making ourselves feel good.  Its one thing to dream about a man (or vampire) but its another to up and leave your family for him.  And to be a mother and to leave...it infuriates me. I have no tolerance for it. None. There isn't an excuse big enough.

Another thing that started to irk me today was people's big opinions. The ones that don't really have anything to do with eternity.  I mean, to sit and have all these big opinions about animal rights??  Seriously, its laughable.  How can we worry about the "souls" of animals when we neglect the fact that we are not even on the path to righteousness?!?!  How?  I get angry when i see people waisting their time and energy on things that have no value when it comes to eternity. 

I am not saying that i think everyone should be perfect, or that i am even close to it. (obviously) And i am not saying that we shouldn't care for animals. (i mean, you know my crazy love for my chickens) I am saying focus on things from above.  

This life is passing. Fast.  And i cling to the verses in the Bible that teach about God's promises and God's commands.  How can we not?  I can not imagine my life with out Him.  If I had zero problems and millions of dollars i would be less full than i am now.  How can people focus on such petty things, such selfish things.   Affairs? Unfair treatment? Animal advocacy? Misspoken words?  Those are just the few that got me going today.  But obviously there are many more.

You know the old saying "life is short and then you die" Ya...thats the buggar of the truth...we die. But as christians, we take comfort in this.  Christ has promised us eternity in heaven.  But he makes it very clear that the road is long and narrow.  Its not this big ol road that we all are going to get to go down. We're not all just gonna make it into heaven.  Do people realize that??  I read my bible every day, i trust God 100%, i have a personal relationship with Christ, and i still feel fearful sometimes. Its not okay that i let myself do it, but i am human and i try to fight it.  I don't want to be afraid, but its the unknown and i am afraid of it. My tiny little human mind can't grasp heaven.  But i know i am going there.  If the Bible is true, which i believe it is. Then i will be in heaven someday. 

But the fear and the frustration that i feel is that not everyone else will.  People can call that judging, people can get defensive, people can say only God knows their hearts.  And i agree. Only God does, but thats the point.  If we look to the scriptures God makes it very clear in Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me , 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and preform many miracles?'  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers."  That is HUGE.  Even the people who are proclaiming to know him are doing it in vain and do not have a relationship with Christ. That scares me. That means just because people are nice they aren't guaranteed heaven. Its not about being "nice" or "good".  Not all people go to heaven.  And yet i have never sat at a funeral and heard the preacher talk about the possibility of that particular person going to hell. People would freak if they heard that. Freak.  I suppose the pastor would be blamed. Now obviously i am not saying that i think anyone should do that, i am just thinking about the facts. Where are we going to spend eternity?  Just because we (or someone that we love) dies, doesn't necessarily mean they are going to heaven!  That is hugly scary.

I believe that if any one of us was faced with eternity tomorrow we would be living life differently.  Why?  Why aren't we doing it now?  Luke 16:19-31 basically talks about a rich man who had a beautiful life and a poor man named Lazarus, who was full of sores and a beggar. Both died on the same day except the rich man went to hell.  He begged the Lord, who he saw in heaven, to send Lazarus to give him a drop of cool water to his lips. He was in torment and agony.But he wouldn't.  He begged him to allow Lazarus to go back to earth, to the rich man's friends house where the rich man had 5 brothers. He wanted to warn them so that they would not come to that place of torment. Hell.  The Lord said No because they had Moses and the prophets to listen to. The rich man begged and pleaded that if someone were to come back from the dead, then they would surly listen.  God answered that if they wouldn't listen to Moses and the Prophets then they wouldn't be convinced, even if someone rose from the dead. 

That is huge.  Hell is real and alot of people will go there. It is sad. It is a consequence of sin.  Our job, as Christians, is to love others and teach them about the good news of Christ.  There is nothing on this earth worthy of our attentionmore than the Bible.  I know i sound extreme, but i am.  I take it really seriously.  I would rather have a buggar of a life on this earth and be a "beggar" (but get to spend eternity next to Jesus) than live a life full of riches and basically experience heaven on earth...cause thats all i'd get.  Earthly heaven. Not eternity in it.

So the people that bug me the most and the ones i have the least tolerance for?  Those are the ones that i need to love because even if it were my enemy, i would never wish hell on anyone. I need to press on and show them love even when they show none in return. 

I guess i want to encourage all of us.  This life isn't a joke. Its not about how much fun we can have or what makes us "feel" good. Its about eternity.  Today, tomorrow and always. Lets not lose sight of that. And lets set ourselves straight... if we need a little straightening  "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

Lets get on that long narrow road together...