"...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
When people experience tough times, the best remedy is a strong dose of faith in the TRUTH of God relating to life after death. When we get a glimpse at what comes next, for all mankind, the battles we have to endure in this life become bearable.
For you who are struggling with tough times now and are uncertain why or what will happen next, take comfort in this. Christ Jesus suffered also, even death on a cruel Roman cross. He was rejected and abandoned even by the very disciples who had been following him for three and a half years. But he forgave them.
Later, in the midst of the suffering of his fellow Jews, Peter said to them...
"Rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4:13)
And Paul could say to all men in the midst of his terrible suffering...
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
Life after death. That is our hope, and it is the promise of God for ALL. But many people can't grasp onto this hope in times of trouble because they do not trust the very institution that should be a source of comfort in times of trouble - the church. Why? It is simple. The doctrinal error of eternal conscious torment, or Hell, that permeates these institutions.
The idea that an otherwise loving God would condemn even one person to endless and conscious torment PREVENTS people from trusting both Christ and the institutions that bear his name. Some may give Him lip service out of fear, but they do not love Him. They fear Him. Many attend, sing, pray, confess, and profess out of the fear of what might happen if they do not - rather than out of love for the One who loves and saves sinners.
Well, God WON'T eternally torment anyone. It is a lie, and those who promote such are destined to be "ashamed" when they appear before Him to give an account for their life and beliefs. Personally, I would rather be a pigmy from the deepest and darkest part of Central Africa on that day than to be one of those who promoted such a heretical and God dishonoring doctrine. The doctrine that robs sinful people of the hope and truth of the Gospel which would enable them to bear the burdens of this life.
“But the God of all grace, Who has called us to His age-lasting glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you” (I Peter 5:10).
When people experience tough times, the best remedy is a strong dose of faith in the TRUTH of God relating to life after death. When we get a glimpse at what comes next, for all mankind, the battles we have to endure in this life become bearable.
For you who are struggling with tough times now and are uncertain why or what will happen next, take comfort in this. Christ Jesus suffered also, even death on a cruel Roman cross. He was rejected and abandoned even by the very disciples who had been following him for three and a half years. But he forgave them.
Later, in the midst of the suffering of his fellow Jews, Peter said to them...
"Rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4:13)
And Paul could say to all men in the midst of his terrible suffering...
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
Life after death. That is our hope, and it is the promise of God for ALL. But many people can't grasp onto this hope in times of trouble because they do not trust the very institution that should be a source of comfort in times of trouble - the church. Why? It is simple. The doctrinal error of eternal conscious torment, or Hell, that permeates these institutions.
The idea that an otherwise loving God would condemn even one person to endless and conscious torment PREVENTS people from trusting both Christ and the institutions that bear his name. Some may give Him lip service out of fear, but they do not love Him. They fear Him. Many attend, sing, pray, confess, and profess out of the fear of what might happen if they do not - rather than out of love for the One who loves and saves sinners.
Well, God WON'T eternally torment anyone. It is a lie, and those who promote such are destined to be "ashamed" when they appear before Him to give an account for their life and beliefs. Personally, I would rather be a pigmy from the deepest and darkest part of Central Africa on that day than to be one of those who promoted such a heretical and God dishonoring doctrine. The doctrine that robs sinful people of the hope and truth of the Gospel which would enable them to bear the burdens of this life.
“But the God of all grace, Who has called us to His age-lasting glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you” (I Peter 5:10).