What About Hell?

There’s a funny story about a trucker who was harassed at a truck stop restaurant by three big, burly motorcycle bikers.  And they were just awful!  Why they made fun of the trucker – they stole the trucker’s French fries – and then drank out of the trucker’s coffee cup. But surprisingly: the trucker just calmly got up – paid his bill -- left the restaurant -- and headed back toward his truck.  “Why he’s not much of a man,” one of the bikers said to the waitress.  “I don’t know about that.” the waitress replied. But he sure ain’t much of a trucker.  Why lookie there!  He just ran over three motorcycles as he drove out of our parking lot!!!”  God doesn’t drive over motorcycles; God doesn’t run over human life!  Rather God rescues human life.   The writer John solidifies this in both John 3 and 1 John 2.  “For God did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world…”  (John 3:17). And so “…if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense: Jesus Christ the Righteous One…”  (1 John 2:1+2).  

But the question remains:  will we receive the defense of the Righteous One?  You see pride is an incredibly powerful life-force.  Most of us do want ‘to do it ourselves’; we don’t think we need a Savior.  And so C.S. Lewis is right: in the end "There are only two kinds of people…those who say to God -- 'Thy will be done' -- and those to whom God says…'Thy will be done.'"   Catch the drift?   God fervently desires to rescue you from sin.  But if you don’t want rescue – God will not violate your way and will.   Paul describes folks in the early church who didn’t want rescue.  Why “…although they knew God, they… [didn’t glorify] him as God… [and so] their foolish hearts were darkened…”(Romans 1:21)…”Therefore God gave them over [to their] sinful desires…”  (Romans 1:24).   Translated:  God honored their choice, and let life proceed.  Sadly – reluctantly – painfully – God gave them over – to the natural consequence of a God-absent life – a life leading to additional darkness – a darkness commonly called Hell.

But it’s a choice.  In fact to the day we die, God pleads with us to receive his assistance.    “He who has ears, let him hear…”  (Matthew 13:43).  It’s as if God’s saying:  I don’t want you to experience either hell on earth -- or -- for eternity.  So please: listen – turn – repent – give up – surrender!

In December, 1974 an amazing thing happened.  Private Teruo Nakamura, finally surrendered to Indonesian authorities after years and years of resistance. And I mean years and years of resistance.  For you see Teruo Nakamura was not just any private, any solider – Teruo Nakamura was a Japanese solider; a World War II solider, who was still fighting World War II, 30 years after the World War II ended!  Seems Nakamura got convinced he was doing the right thing by still obeying his old commanding officer, who told him to fight it out, under ‘any and all’ circumstances.  And so Nakamura ‘fought it out,’ under any and all circumstances.   But it really was a miserable life; and so eventually Nakamura figured: there must be a better life.  And so when Indonesian rescuers came, Nakamura gave up the fight – Nakamura came out of his captivity – Nakamura finally surrendered.  Oh it took 30 long years, but Nakamura finally surrendered, convinced he needed a new commanding officer!

Its time for us to realize we need a new commanding officer.  It’s time for us to surrender!  For many of us have been fighting far too long, as well!    Bottom line: Jesus has won the war, so there’s no need for us to keep fighting the war.  And so:  listen – turn – repent – give-up -- surrender...to Jesus!   And avoid hell on earth -- and -- for eternity.