Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
Anne Lamott said, “What is the difference between you and God? God never thinks He is you.” Therein is the problem, people think they know better than God. In some cases, they choose to believe there is no God, and the nonsense gets worse. Psalm 14:1a The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. However, sometimes in the midst of all the naysaying, there is a glimmer of reason and something precious comes out of the befuddlement of life.
I was driving on Vancouver Island with a coworker. We had to drive for a few hours to deliver equipment to customers. It was a divine appointment because the gentlemen I was working with began questioning me about my faith in Christ. We talked for hours and I answered his questions the best I could. A couple of weeks later, he phoned me and thanked me for helping him accept Jesus as his Lord. He said, “It’s something you said that made it clear to me.” I thought of all the great doctrine that had been expounded upon and I thanked God for all the wisdom He had given me. He went on to say, “What did it for me, was when you said, “It’s dumb to go to hell if you don’t half to.”
Well, there you have it, Saints, wisdom in its fullness. Talk about simplifying the Gospel. By simply sharing what Jesus has done for you, is the criteria the Lord has asked us to use when sharing our faith. 1 Pet. 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
If you think about what was said, it is dumb to go to hell if you don’t have to. Some people think that hell will be some big endless party where every vice is practised with a continual endless supply of fun, fun, and more fun. If all the sinful choices of so-called fun on earth eventually lead to deadly addictions, murders, larceny, and mayhem, then what makes a person think this will become satisfying fulfilment in eternal hell. Truly, only a fool would buy into this party deal Satan has been selling.
Others have bought into the lie that they are not worthy of God’s love, and therefore, live aimlessly. Satan works overtime on that lie in particular. The devil uses every conceivable argument to deceive people into believing they are not loved by God. It will be so sad for some, who, through gullibleness, fell for this deception and ended up eternally lost because of not accepting God’s honest love for them. Imagine, having the choice of believing God or Satan, and choosing the lying devil. Talk about foolishness gone to seed! Prov. 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. Let’s face it, Satan does have a credibility problem.
Pastor Tom Gardner says, “Satan will use an ocean of truth to float a lie.” Satan is a master of bending the truth and falsifying the word of God. Even though he comes to us acting as an angel of enlightenment, don’t believe him, because there is no love in him. The word says clearly that he is a liar and that is his true nature. John 8:44b When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
God invites us to choose Him through Christ and accept the finished work of the cross. Our heavenly Father is at work continually and very patient with us so that we come to a place of repentance and receive real life. 2 Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Wow, our Lord does not want any of the billions who live on earth to perish. Talk about abundant love.
God invites us to choose Him through Christ and accept the finished work of the cross. Our heavenly Father is at work continually and very patient with us so that we come to a place of repentance and receive real life. 2 Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Wow, our Lord does not want any of the billions who live on earth to perish. Talk about abundant love.
It is dumb to go to hell when God has made a way for us to not go there. We just have to choose who we are going to believe, and receive God’s gift of life. May God’s blessed wisdom be on us all. Amen!
Well said , my friend
Thanks for writing this Norm…
Thank you miss Carolyn
How true. It is dumb to go to hell if you don't have to..
Blessings
I LOVE this blog Norm! I laughed out loud a few times reading the story of you and your friend. I am going to use “it’s dumb to go to hell if you don’t have to”. Thank you for sharing.
Carolyn Larratt
Good advice Clay. It's dumb to be dumb:)
Thanks Norm! I decided to make a list of dumb choices I've made or am making in hopes of avoiding all the dumbness in my life. In 2020 I'll be smart. :-)
Clayton's list of Dumb.
It's dumb to eat food you don't need.
It's dumb to be non-active all day.
It's dumb to speed.
It's dumb to tailgate.
It's dumb to text and drive.
It's dumb to lash out at someone you love in anger.
It's dumb to not forgive.
It's dumb to think you are god.
It's dumb to choose death. Choose life and be smart.