The Naked Turtle



Wednesdays are Bible Study night and last night was my last day of studying with the D.A. Carson guide - "The God Who is There".

For me, the book has been hard with Carson going down lots of rabbit holes, seemingly only to elevate the number of pages in the book - BUT last night's talk was on the last two chapters, "The God Who is Very Angry", and "The God Who Triumphs"

First, let me start with the simple and undeniable truth that God LOVES people and doesn't want anyone to perish...

But PERISH THEY WILL if they choose a life without Him, without understanding and resting on the sacrifice of Jesus - the one who suffered and died FOR US.  Who took OUR punishment on the cross, and sanctified us with His death.

For "the wages of sin is death". And if God doesn't follow through on that promise, He would be unjust.

But listen to this description of Hell and what will happen to those who choose NOT to believe, who have "drunk the maddening wine" of their adulteries (adultery equalling putting anything before God in their lives)..

"The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes (sinful people) and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.  They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia" (about 200 miles) - Revelation 14:19-20

HORRIFYING!

And do you know, the person who talked MOST about Hell in the Bible - was Jesus?  As part of the Holy Trinity, Jesus KNEW that Hell existed, and He KNEW that for those who elected to endure the punishments of their sin without understanding that HE'D already done it, Hell awaited.

It is why He could openly say to his followers who (because they were followers) would be jailed, beaten, beheaded, torn apart by wild animals, and crucified, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill he soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both the body and the soul." - Matthew 10:28

Friends, like me - maybe you have family members or friends who aren't believers.  Maybe they're good and decent people and think that if there is a God, that is all that is required, and a relationship with Jesus is not necessary.  That sort of thinking will "be the death of them."

The last question in my study asked, "What are you going to do differently in order to share your faith."

And because trying to "live differently" hasn't been the answer for me, or for any of those people who are SO DEAR to my heart - I realize that I, must be a naked turtle.  

Like those first apostles, must be BOLD and courageous, no longer hiding in my shell - tucking my head and tail in so that I remain "safe", and "loved".  

Instead, I must be live my faith boldly, vulnerably, openly sharing both the LOVE of God, and the TRUTH of Jesus Christ.

XO - Susan


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