Behold, the hand of Yahweh is not too short to save, and His ear is not too heavy to hear
Isaiah 59: 1, Concordant Old Testament
Every now and then there comes the news of the passing of someone who many would be so certain that they would be deemed to hell for the life that they lived here on earth. In my own time in the Christian religion and faith, I've been faced with those threats as well. People who have deemed the life which I live to be so sinful that God Himself would never safe me. So it was recently with the passing of legendary pro wrestler Terry "Hulk" Hogan. Growing up watching the antics of the World Wrestling Federation, I came to believe that Hulk Hogan had to live a life apart from God. I was wrong. For it was in his later years that Hogan became more vocal about his own religious and conservative political views. Who knew? Perhaps the millions of Hulka maniacs all over the world rejoiced in the knowing that Terry Hogan had chosen God over fame. I know for a fact that there has indeed been rejoicing in heaven over his choice to follow the Lord {Lukes Account 15:7}. Indeed, Gods hands are not so short that He cannot save {Isaiah 59:1}. I found encouragement over these words this week as I thought of a brother who, being native American, has never learned of the love and grace of the Father. All too often, we ourselves get into the business of condemning someone to hell based on what we see them think and do. I've seen far too many pastors condemn others to hell for what they perceive as unpardonable behavior in the sight of God. To that I would caution, we ARE NOT God. The apostle Paul has spoken to the truth that our own salvation is not based on our own merits, but on the love and grace of the Father {Paul to the Ephesians 2:8-9}. There is nothing that we will ever do, save from knowing and accepting the truth of the evangel of Christ, that will guarantee or own salvation. In His own time, God will reveal to those He chooses the truth of His Son and our life in Him {Johns Account 14:20}. This is indeed what occurred in my own life. Despite having been raised in the separation theology of the mainstream church, it wasn't until later in life that my life in the Father was revealed unto me. How many others had written me off as going to hell without Gods forgiveness? That I'll never know. What this has taught me is that not only is God able to save, but that He WILL save in His own time.
For this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our Saviour, God, Who wills that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth
Paul to Timothy (1) 2: 3-4, Concordant New Testament
It's called universal salvation, and it fly's in the face of the spoken separation theology coming out of the mainstream church. Separation Theology is the belief that is our own sin which has separated us from a relationship with God. This is indeed one of the lies spoken by those in the church. It is Paul who has written to young Timothy that it is the will of God that all be saved {Paul to Timothy (1) 2:3-4}. Yet whenever I speak to others of this truth of the forgiveness found in the Father, I usually meet my share of resistance. Even those who proclaim that they follow Jesus have had difficulty understanding a God who desires to save all of His children. What about the murderers? What about the punishment of the wicked? Folks, that is not our bone to chew. When it comes to decisions regarding who will be saved and who will not, it is God who takes center stage, not us. What right has God given unto us that we should sit in judgement of others? In fact, it is Jesus Himself who has spoken to the truth that we should not judge others {Matthews Account 7:1-2}. It is Jesus Who has been dispatched into this world not to judge, but that all may be saved through Him {Johns Account 3:16-17}. Too many people, Christians included, fall into the belief spoken by the church that the good will be rewarded and the wicked punished. That our salvation is based upon our own merits. But as Paul has spoken, it is the grace of the Father that decides these things. I wonder just how many people have looked at my friend and instantly decided that he will definitely be headed for hell based upon how they perceive his life. When given that chance, I will remind him that the hands of the Lord are never so short that He cannot save one of His own.
~Scott~
