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Archive - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
"The happiest day"Hi everyone!
This is for silent readers and opponents to universalism in particular. This message is also for folks who are "on the fence" about the ET (eternal torment) and UR (universal reconciliation) issue.Here goes--
Let's say for the sake of discussion that the doctrine of "once saved always saved" turns out not to be true after all. There are many Godly and gracious-hearted theologians who would like to believe it, but cannot, and surely they must have SOME valid reasons for not embracing it, right? Probably the majority of evangelical Christians do not believe in once saved always saved. I'm not saying that they are correct in their conclusions, but for the sake of discussion, let's imagine that it turns out that the doctrine of "eternal security" is false.
Now.
Do you have a mega "gift" of screwing up like I do, by any chance? If you aren't living above sin at least 98 percent of the time, then perhaps you should keep reading...
Let's say that "Job's troubles" fall on you, and instead of trusting God, you bail out on Him and wind up dying in some hideous act of sin... And let's say that you find yourself in the deepest hell in agony of pain, regret and despair. And now let's say that after awhile, the Lord shows up, and in inexorable tenderness speaks to you saying, "Child, I know that you deeply regret what you have done, and I love you too much to lose you, so come with Me now. All is forgiven, and I have come to take you home with Me." And He then snatches you out of that place and saves you.
Would you be greatly relieved?
Would you be deeply grateful?
If you found out that Jesus loves you that much, would that cause you to love Him less?
Or would it cause you to love him--more?
What if you found out that He loves your non-Christian loved ones and friends that much? Would you be deeply grateful? Would that cause you to love Him less--or cause you to love Him more?
Well, my friend, that IS how much He loves you AND your loved ones--at all times and in all worlds--forever.
When this reality finally sinks into your weary and searching heart, it will be the happiest day of your life! That, I can tell you--by experience. And of course, loving God MORE than you've ever loved him, you won't be looking for ways to hurt his heart and "do your own thing" by following the impulses of your "flesh." Nope. Not at all. You'll be so madly in love with him, that the fleshly impulses will lose their power to dominate you as they did before.
No, you won't be instantly perfected. Of course not! But such deep healing will begin happening in your being, you'll be amazed by how much more victory you are experiencing in your daily life.
Closing out...
Just for a moment put on some new "glasses" (infinite grace glasses) and "see" Jesus Christ as the SUCCESSFUL Savior of the World. The Savior of the very worst of sinners... Which just COULD turn out to be YOU...right?
Got your grace glasses on now? Okay. Now sing this wonderful old song again, in your new understanding, and you'll see what I mean...
TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS,
LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE,
AND THE THINGS OF EARTH,
WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM,
IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE.And that is what happens when you finally SEE Him as the Successful Savior of even the worst of sinners. The "things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." You won't be looking for ways to screw up--no, you will be looking for ways to better know Him and please Him. You'll be looking for ways to extend His unfailing love to a hurting world.
Finally, try this one on for size:
(VERSE 1)
THE LOVE OF GOD IS GREATER FAR,
THAN TONGUE OR PEN COULD EVER TELL,
IT GOES BEYOND THE HIGHEST STAR,
AND REACHES TO THE LOWEST HELL.
THE GUILTY PAIR, BOWED DOWN WITH CARE,
GOD GAVE HIS SON TO WIN,
HIS ERRING CHILD, HE RECONCILED,
AND PARDONED FROM HIS SIN.(CHORUS)
OH LOVE OF GOD, HOW RICH HOW PURE!
HOW MEASURELESS AND STRONG!
IT SHALL FOREVERMORE ENDURE,
THE SAINTS' AND ANGELS' SONG!(VERSE 2)
COULD WE WITH INK THE OCEAN FILL,
AND WERE THE SKIES OF PARCHMENT MADE,
WERE EVERY STALK ON EARTH A QUILL,
AND EVERY MAN A SCRIBE BY TRADE,
TO WRITE THE LOVE OF GOD ABOVE,
WOULD DRAIN THE OCEAN DRY,
NOR COULD THE SCROLL CONTAIN THE WHOLE,
THOUGH STRETCHED FROM SKY TO SKY.Now, go back and sing the chorus again and cry for joy with me, okay?
May our good Father from whom "every family" in heaven and earth is named, cause all of us to plumb ever deeper into His grace that we may increasingly know the height, width, length and depth of His unfailing love. (Eph. 3:14-21)
Love to all--
CharlieP.S. Silent reader, do you need assurance that God loves you too much to lose you? That his love will reach into the deepest hell to save you, if need be? If so, drop in and visit www.sigler.org/slagle and continue to visit www.tentmaker.org and follow all the links to other sites where this WHOLE good news is proclaimed. I promise you..! When you find out that God really does love you that much, it will be the happiest day of your life!
Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff