Sunday, September 10, 2006

Heaven and Hell - Part 1

 

The most asked question: Is there a heaven and a hell?

 

The most common reaction of so-called "intellectual" persons would be "how narrow-minded" one must be to believe in heaven or hell or to even bring a subject about the reality of hell, and what it’s like. „ ?  Other persons would judgmentally react and say "how can God be so cruel to create hell"?  "Heaven and Hell" is a subject that most people don't want to talk about mainly because of their ignorance. But the fact is that ignoring the reality does not alter the danger.  If you ignore the hissing does your ignorance save you? Does it make the poisonous snake change its mind about biting you? Or if your standing on the railroad tracks does closing your eyes make the on-rushing train disappear? We have a common Arabic proverb saying; "The Law does not protect the ignorant"!

 

As I always do, I will go back with you to the time of beginning when God created Adam and Eve. God gave them rule over of the earth; read Genesis 1:28-30. When Adam sinned, he lost his position and the earth was cursed. Thorns and weeds began to grow in the fields and men have known the terror of the earthquake and cosmic disasters. Men became under the dominion of Satan and by his sin, Adam so to speak "mortgaged" the earth and lost his right off possession.

To bring my point to a closer understanding, I will illustrate the mortgage of a house. If you loose a property, a house or land, and mortgage it, it really does not belong to you any more. Your name is still on the deed but it practically belongs to the bank until the terms of the mortgage have been met and the debt paid in full.

Today, the earth awaits the day when it will be re-deemed from the curse or from the mortgage. Paul explains in Romans 8:19-22. "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time".

We see around us the whole nature groaning in pain with the idea that no man can pay the mortgage that is against the earth. Creation groans in the "bondage of corruption and curse" awaiting one who can redeem it.  I will quote here from the Book of Revelation5:3 "And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book [mortgage], neither to look thereon. And I [John] wept much …(Answer) Weep not:  "behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed!"

Revelation 5:6 "and I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne …stood a lamb as it had been slain…" John looks for a Lion, "but sees a Lamb in the middle and was marked with nail prints in His hands and a scar in His side!"

This is the "Lamb of God that took away the sins of the world", this is Jesus the Son of God to whom everything in this world belong "All the world was made by Him" (John 1:10). He paid the debt of Adam with his own blood; he died for us on the cross to regain for us possession over everything. He rose victorious over death and grave and conquered death. "Death will be swallowed". All that Adam lost will be regained back.

The cry of David, "The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow" (Psalm 116:3) came to an end, by the declaration in Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost".

Paul explains it more in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57  "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Amen.

 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for my negligence in my walk with you. Lord, let me not base my walk in this world on what my eyes see or my ears hear, but upon the revelation of Your mercy, let me build my life on Your Word. Amen.

 




posted by Suzy Naber , @ 12:26 PM, , (3) comments


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Mariam from Jordan
September, 10, 2006 1:52 PM
This is indeed an interesting topic. Something that I think about quite often. for me it is not a matter of whether heaven and hell exist, it is a different question why does every religion think that they are the chosen ones and they will got to heaven while everyone else have to believe in their religion or they are doomed in hell. I see this quite often with the three monotheistic religions. Jews believe that they are the chosen people, Christians think that if we don't admit to the sacrifice Jesus has made then we have no salvation, and Muslims think that only they will go to heaven. Thank you for your post
Suzy from Jordan
September, 12, 2006 10:08 AM
I can personally comment to the Jewish and Christian beliefs. God has dealt with the Jews in the past because He was preparing a nation from which the Messiah would come. Adam failed to pass on the truth of God to the succeeding
generations. It is very interesting to study how throughout the history of the Old Testament, Satan attempted to destroy the Messianic line because of the promise of God to save mankind through a Savior. (Genesis 3:15). So God continued His program through a chosen people using them as the means through which the Messiah would come. Sin is an epidemic threat and God had to protect and separate a nation from wickedness and evil of this world. After the redemption has been available to all nations, all "those who believe on Him are called children of God.
Hope that this has answered your question. Also please read my "daily Word" about salvation.
Thanks for your comment.
Suzy

Mariam
September, 12, 2006 11:15 AM
Dear Auntie, Thank you for your comment and your personal note. I have had a discussion with one of my christian friends about this specific point, and she explained to me how after believing in the sacrifice of Jesus, it beceome illogical to believe in any other (future) religions. I understand this and I respect it. The very same points have been made with the same passionate belief by a Muslim friend. I found myself helpless infront of the strength of the belief of these two friends who are standing on two sides of the same coin! and so i found myself believing that religions are like languages, everyone has a language and communicates to God in the only language that he/she knows how to. You are right that God is just and He will be just and merciful in judging human being.

Auntie, please don't be afraid of hurting my feelings... your blog says the truth will set you free... I prefer honesty and truth where i will be able to learn something on protecting my feelings where i won't be able to learn anything :)