End of the World Predictions

Some think God is unjust in creating such a terrible punishment for sinners.  And it is terrible.  Maybe you think that you deserve much less for just a few lies and the occasional cheating, and lusting and greed and spiteful anger, and ignoring God and what he has done for you all your life.  If you do, you are probably like the majority of people on the planet.

One of the main reasons people think this is because they have such a small view of the HOLINNESS of God, and the SINFULNESS of humanity.

But please, take a moment to consider these 4 things.

1.  As sinners who have broken God's moral laws and offended him, we are in no position to tell a Holy God how to punish sin!

2.  Despite our sin and rebellion against our creator, God himself has paid the debt for all sin by the death of Jesus (God in the flesh) on a cross.  If anything is unfair, that's unfair.  We did the crime but God paid the fine!

3.  Hell is a choice!  Your sins have been paid for, if you choose to ignore such a great gift from God (there is no greater gift) then you have chosen to go to hell. You have no one to blame but yourself.  Why would you want to turn down such amazing love.

4.  If you would humble yourself, repent (change your attitude to the things God calls sin, and therefore you behaviour) and believe the good news (put your trust in Jesus who died for your sin) then not only will God save you from hell, the day you die, he will welcome you into heaven to share the glory and pleasures of heaven forever.

How can this be said to be unfair?  God loves you.  More than you really know.  He went to extreme lengths to save your from the just penalty for your sin.  So, ultimately, Hell is a choice.  Hell is your choice.  So is heaven.  What will you choose?

Imagine that a murderer stands before the judge and says, "Your honour, people tell me that you're a good person.  I appeal to you goodness.  I am truly sorry and remorseful for what I did.  It was really bad and I know I hurt a lot of people.  But sir, most of my life I've been good person most of the time.  Please, forgive me and don't put me in prison."  The judge is likely to say, "You're right.  I am a good judge.  And because I'm a good judge I'm going to see that justice is served and your crime is paid for."

The very thing that the murderer thought would get him off paying the penalty for his crime, the judges goodness, was the very thing that caused the judge to make sure he paid for his crime.  A good judge will also make sure that rapists, drug pushers and users, arsonists, burglars, theives will pay for their crimes.

God who is holy, perfect and pure says that all sin must be punished.  If a human court will not let the guilty away with their crime, then how much more will the courtroom of divine justice ensure that the guilty are punished.  God says that no theif will enter the kingdom of heaven and that "all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 21:8).

God's justice demands your sins be paid for.  If you are not sure that you are a sinner and that you are guilty before God, do the good test.

Just one more thing...  God is not only just, he is also merciful.  In fact, his mercy triumphs over his judgement... if you see your need for it, believe and receive it (James 2:13)

The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
[No one can say God never gave them a chance]

 He will not always chide: neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
[ie. if God gave you justice, you would be in hell now!]

For as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
[no one has been able to measure how high the heavens (universe) is as we look up from earth]

As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
[You cannot get further apart than that - It could be north and south but the result is the same]

Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we [are] dust.
[God made the universe, we are a speck of dust on a speck of dust in a speck of dust...]

[As for] man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
[God is God and we are not - something to be remembered at all times]

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
[fear is a GOOD thing.  Fear stops you from crossing the road in front of a car.  It should stop you from crossing over from this life to the next with out getting right with God first.  Otherwise, you will get run over by the wrath of God.]

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
[keeping God's commandments won't get you into heaven.  However, God loves to reward and bless those who honour him be they know he is God and they are not]