Monday: No Middle Ground
All through the Bible, we are presented with one of two choices. Two options are presented here for us.
Read the following texts. What two options, what two choices, are either openly stated or implied in these texts and how are these options presented?
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
In the end, there is no middle ground for us human beings. Before the great controversy is completely over, sin, Satan, evil, disobedience, and rebellion will be eradicated. After that happens, each one of us, individually, will either have the life, the eternal life, that God originally had planned for us all to have before the creation of the world, or we will face eternal death, that is, ”everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). The Bible doesn’t appear to present any other options for us.
Which fate will be ours? That answer, ultimately, rests with ourselves. We have the choice before us, life or death.
| In the context of eternal life or eternal death, why is the biblical truth that hell is not burning and torturing people forever such a comforting truth? What would it say about the character of God were eternal conscious torment truly the fate of the lost? |
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While it is true that there is no middle ground - that there is only true and abundant life or absence of such (ie death) as per Moses summary conclusion in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Jesus summary statement in John 10:10 - it does not currently seem to most people that this is the case. Solomon too, in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, outlines that there are only two options and that only one of them is (ultimately) viable.
At the same time, it is understandable that many people 'live' (exist) under the illusion there is a viable middle ground because our world seems to be evidence of such in that 'life' just seems to carry on by itself. Related to this, the cry is often raised in Psalms as to why the 'wicked' seem to be the ones who prosper in this 'life' and the 'righteous' seem to be the 'losers'.
Unfortunately, the temporary 'probationary reality' that we are under in this world, where evil is 'artificially enabled' to 'thrive', is an unfortunate 'side-effect' of the restraining activity of God (2 Thessalonians 2:5-10; Revelation 7:1). However, were God to not undertake this temporary restraining of the full consequences of sin/lawlessness, humanity would have become extinct back at Genesis 3. The only way God could offer opportunity for the salvation of those within humanity who were willing - and at the same time ensure the permanent resolution of the Great Controversy/Cosmic Conflict - was therefore to restrain the inherent consequences of sin/lawlessness* and allow lawlessness to artificially continue. But this offering of such an opportunity and method of eventual permanent resolution comes at the risk of people thinking that there is infact a viable middle ground.
Awareness of the truth of the 'big picture' of life - of which the Great Controversy/Cosmic Conflict is central - is such a vital awareness needed if we are to see reality in the light of truth. No wonder Satan has devised so many ways to 'blind' people to this awareness - even amongst Christianity.
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* The inherent consequences of sin/lawlessness is preclusion of life due to disconnection from the Source of Life (God) and being out-of-harmony with the 'mechanisms' (cause-and-effect law/s) of life. Thus, sin/lawlessness is inherently non-viable.
As I understand Scripture, man has been given the capacity to obtain eternal life, this having been established at the 'Beginning of time'. I do not think it to ever have been a 'corporal' promise, but a promise based on the individual meeting the criteria required to obtain eternal life.
The reason why many hesitate to consider this dilemma of having only two options may be that one will need to sincerely deal with one's 'pride of life'. The question becomes: "Am I willing to submit my will to God's Way of Life?"; if answered 'yes' - true life begins, if answered 'no' - decay of life will continue ending with eternal death.
The intention to love or not love is expressed in the daily small and great choices we make; they express our heart's relationship with our Maker - choosing love for life, or non-love for death.
I see that only by choosing to accept God as our authority and accepting Christ Jesus as our Savior - loving Them by expressing loving kindness toward our fellow man -, can we partake of the fruit of the 'Tree of Life'.
The desire to walk in the Way of God to express loving kindness is the born-again disposition of those who please their Maker.
Good Day everyone.
Even when I did not have the full knowledge of God's Word, deep down inside, I did not believe that "hell" was/is a place that people who had died are sentenced to burn forever. This was/is another falsehood that the enemy had "beguiled" the world into believing; and it is very "sad" that the world, as well as popular Pastors, believe this "lie". You would think these Pastors would tell their members the truth, that "hell" does not exist "YET", and that your loved ones are just "Resting" until the Day the Lord Jesus returns; it's plainly there in the Bible. Many of these Pastors do know the truth, and just are scared to tell their members, because they are afraid to lose the membership and whatever come along with that (that's all I'm going to say on that subject).
But yes, when I heard over 40 years ago that when people die, they are just "Resting" or in a deep sleep, it give me great comfort. Also, I was relieved that my deceased mother and grandmother are not up in Heaven watching my troubles that I have experienced here on Earth. What kind of Eternal Life or Paradise would that be for them? To have to watch us that are alive, living and struggling, especially during the last two years in this Pandemic. What kind of Heaven would that be?
I always have a feeling, like I said, even when I didn't know the Lord as I do now, that He is a God of Love, that He would not let the dead suffer in that way. He has always had a plan for us to Live with Him forever; we are the one that derailed His plan. But He give us another Plan, His son, Jesus.
I just hope that we all choose LIFE, or choose Jesus, or choose to stay on the Narrow Path. And unfortunately, some of us will be tested to see if we will stay on the Narrow Path. So, please be careful how you judge the children of Israel, and others living today, we too have to choose to stay on God's side every day.
Be blessed.