God Will Not Kidnap You and Drag You Into Heaven
Kidnapping Is Illegal on Earth As It Is In Heaven
Why would such a loving God send people to hell?
Why would such loving people choose hell over eternal salvation?
God will not kidnap us and take us into Heaven. Spending eternity with God is a decision we make and, from then on, demonstrate daily. When we say a prayer for salvation, engage in baptism, participate in other acts of worship, and live in obedience to God’s word, we are deciding to spend eternity in Heaven with God, one decision at a time.
God Is Not a Slave Master
Definitions
Slavery: (i) submission to a dominating influence. (ii) the practice of slaveholding. Merriam-Webster
Slave: (i) a person who is completely subservient to a dominating influence. (ii) held in or forced into servitude. Merriam-Webster
Slave, Servant: Person totally responsible to and dependent upon another person. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary
If you were counting on God to force you into heaven, luck is something you've run out of.
Because you are not a slave, you will need to accept God’s salvation and choose, hour by hour, day by day, to live according to what God deems acceptable.
You see, slaves have an extremely limited autonomy, possessing only what is granted to them by their master. They are unable to make any decisions beyond what their master deems acceptable. Their master controls every aspect of their lives: they have no say in what they eat, when they sleep, their manner of speech, or even when and how to stand and rise (please disregard the exaggeration : ).
Now, based on historical context, along with the biblical and secular definitions of slavery, as well as the concept of being a slave, it becomes evident that it is not a favorable condition. Slavery is not an inherently good thing. As we accept this undeniable truth, we can understand why God did not created us into slavery. As you read further, you will gain an understanding of the significance of keeping these definitions in mind.
God Will Not Override Your Free Will
Adam and Eve were free to choose God. They were doing just that until the serpent came along and made them question what God had told them. While some may believe that God should have told them several times and given them a more thorough explanation as to why the fruit of the tree shouldn't be eaten, the truth is that it isn't about the number of explanations God provided. It was about whom they chose to believe. They chose to believe the serpent, which is what led to their being cast out of a perfect place.
“Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 CJB
Adam, led by his wife, chose to believe the serpent, and as a result, they both experienced the very painful consequences of their belief.
Now, the question is, did they realize that when they began to deliberate on what God had told them, they were actually contemplating whether or not to exchange their absolute freedom for partial slavery? Would they have believed the serpent had they known that fact?
They were entirely free to make any choices they wanted, but after believing the serpent, they became partial slaves to sin.
Lessons:
• It wasn't how many times God advised them not to eat the fruit; it was whom they chose to believe.
• We are always free to make whatever choices we desire, but we are never free from the consequences.
•Eve had the option of eating the fruit. Just because we have the choice to do something doesn't necessarily mean we should exercise that choice, especially if we don't comprehend the consequences. While this might be an extreme example, the choice to commit murder is accessible to every human being on the planet. However, out of the nearly eight billion people, less than five percent choose to exercise this option.
God will not override our free will because He is God. He is the God of all truth, mercy, and love. Yes, He is all-powerful, the “I Am,” omnipotent, and all those other intricate terms we use to describe Him. And because He encompasses all these attributes and so much more, He is not a slave master.
Psalm 103:8-10 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. KJV
Psalm 145:8-9 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. KJV
The one thing we can all acknowledge as an absolute truth is that God is not a slave master, and He will not override our free will - our ability to choose. Everyone has the capacity to make choices, even a murderer.
Though the murderer may face harsh consequences for committing such a heinous crime, they still retain the ability to choose.
Why Does Such a Loving God Send People to Hell?
As evidenced by life and conventional wisdom, God sends no one directly to hell and destruction. It’s the choices we make daily that bring us to such a place. It’s no different than any other aspect of life.
If we daily choose bad foods instead of healthy ones, we eventually end up in a health crisis. If we choose bad relationships over healthy ones, we eventually end up in an emotional crisis.
Once, again, because God is neither a slave master nor one to allow the guilty to go unpunished, He has prepared a place for those who trust and obey Him, as well as for those who choose otherwise. We will all eventually experience the consequences of our beliefs.
Adonai is slow to anger, but great in power; and he does not leave the guilty unpunished. Nahum 1:3 CJB
The question of why God sends people to hell has led many to ponder the nature of God's character.
We tend to believe the parts of scripture that we hear most. We often hear more about the loving and kind God – the God who never gives up on those whom He loves, the God who sent His only begotten son to die for a people whose sins reach unto the heavens.
The "loving & kind God" gospel is true. God is loving, kind, patient, long-suffering, and forgiving, among other qualities. However, He has also destroyed kingdoms, cities, and peoples who rebelled against Him without repentance.
Tough Love
God will not kidnap you and drag you into heaven. Choosing to be with God is your decision.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
Fight For Your Well-being
I wish that obeying God at all times were easy, but surely that is not the reality. It's relatively straightforward to follow God's commands in areas where we have established discipline, but it becomes challenging when we encounter temptation in areas where our discipline is lacking or where we lack the necessary knowledge to navigate beyond the challenges we confront.
When we ask God how to proceed, sometimes He directs us to others who can better assist us. Other times, He directs us to study His Word because more often than not, the initial steps we need to take are found within one of those sixty-six books of the Holy Bible.
Take Action to fight for your wellbeing.
Create a Bible reading schedule and stick with it. Begin with 10 minutes and gradually increase the duration over time.
Consider using a study Bible and a Bible dictionary. Utilize the scriptures to elucidate their contents. When you encounter concepts that appear unclear, seek out additional passages that relate to your current subject.
Read the Bible every chance you get. It's wonderful to listen to ministers of the Word of God, but it's even better to read it yourself. You might not fully grasp what you're reading at first. However, as with anything you undertake, consistency is key to mastering it.
Prayer Appointment
Say a prayer for your salvation:
"Dear God, I come to you in faith, recognizing my need for a Savior. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son, that He died for my sins on the cross, and that He rose from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that you raised Him from the dead. I ask for your forgiveness and the gift of eternal life that only you can provide. I repent of my sins and turn to you. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior and Lord. Thank you for your grace and mercy. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen."
Share Your Progress
Was there a time you wished that God would kidnap you and deliver you from a bad habit, harsh words, or an issue you were struggling with?
How were you able to rise above the issue with God’s help one day at a time?
Answered Prayers
Is there something that God has brought to your attention this week that has made your realize he has not forgotten your prayers?
References
Draper, Ph.D, C., Owen, Ph.D, C., & England, Ph.D, A. (Eds.). (2003). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, Tennessee: Hollman Bible Publishers.
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Slave. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved August 15, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slave
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Slavery. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved August 12, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slavery
Scriptural Evidence
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Nahum 1:1-3 CJB This is a prophecy about Ninveh, the book of the vision of Nachum the Elkoshi:
Adonai is a jealous and vengeful God. Adonai avenges; he knows how to be angry. Adonai takes vengeance on his foes and stores up wrath for his enemies. Adonai is slow to anger, but great in power;
and he does not leave the guilty unpunished. Adonai’s path is in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Romans 10:9-10 ESV Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
John 3:16 ESV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Acts 2:38 ESV And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 3:7-10 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Revelation 3:20 ESV Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.