Apr 26 2010
You can’t scare the Hell out of anyone
Did you know that? Some preachers in pulpits and on the street have tried to accomplish this goal, but it is an impossible task. Yes, people do get scared of going to Hell, but this is never sufficient motivation to go to heaven (these are the only two options).
The reason that you can’t scare the Hell out of someone and scare them into heaven is because heaven is a place of love.
“Happy is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life (that is, eternal life in heaven) that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared (in heaven) for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Heaven is a place for people who love God. It is not for people who merely don’t want to go to Hell. No one wants to spend an eternity in conscious torment. But this says nothing about whether or not they love God. There are lots of people who get in a jam and call out to God for help (soldiers in fox holes, divorcees, those who go bankrupt, those who are strung out on drugs, alcoholics, etc.). This says nothing about their love for Him. This only says that what they really love is earthly comfort and security and peace. Everyone naturally wants to get out of adverse circumstances and so if God can help, why not use, I mean, ask Him?
The point is that these people use God as a means to some other end. They do not want/love God. They want to get out of their uncomfortable or painful circumstances in this life. They love something else and they are willing to use God in order to get what they really want. It is easy to see what the real god is in this case - and what is the object of their love.
Hell is a place for people who belittle God by using Him as a means to an end rather than an end in Himself. When someone uses you to get something that you have, basically what they are saying is that you are not worth…