HELL, NO

“Do you presume on His kindness and forbearance? Do you not know that God’s kindness is an invitation to you to repent?” –Romans 2:4

If we repent of our sins and give our lives to Jesus, we will receive glory, honor, peace (Rm 2:10), and eternal life (Rm 2:7). If, however, our hearts are hard and impenitent (Rm 2:5), if we “selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness” (Rm 2:8), we will receive “wrath and fury” (Rm 2:8), “affliction and anguish” (Rm 2:9). With flaming power, the Lord “will inflict punishment on those who do not acknowledge God nor heed the good news of our Lord Jesus. Such as these will suffer the penalty of eternal ruin apart from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thes 1:8-9). “Those who have done right shall rise to live; the evildoers shall rise to be damned” (Jn 5:29). “The angels will hurl them into the fiery furnace where they will wail and grind their teeth. Then the saints will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let everyone heed what he hears!” (Mt 13:42-43)

God’s love is so great it is terrifying (see Heb 10:31). God’s love presents us with an awesome, ultimately irreversible decision with everlasting consequences. Repent and decide to live for Jesus.

PRAYER: Father, take me home to You.

PROMISE: “Only in God is my soul at rest; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.” –Ps 62:2-3

PRAISE: As Pope, St. Callistus displayed such extreme and unusual mercy to repentant sinners (cf Lk 15:22ff) that he endured bitter opposition from other leaders.