Courage

There are a few passages in the Bible which list the “really bad” sins. Of course, in a very real sense, no sin is worse than another: all sins which aren't atoned for by Jesus will keep us from eternal life. But for some reason, in Revelation 21:8, we're given a list of characteristics of those who are sentenced to eternity in the Lake of Fire (otherwise known as hell). We're told that the damned are guilty of what we might expect: murder, witchcraft, sexual morality, idolatry and lying. But one item in particular caught my attention: cowardliness. Cowardliness? Sure, being a coward is nothing to be proud of but does it really belong in the same class as murder, witchcraft and adultery? Murderers are destined for the lake of fire – but so are those who where afraid to stop murders?? There must be a mistake here.

But no, that’s what God says.

So what could He mean? Could He mean what He says? That those of us who are afraid to do what He tells us to will not be spending eternity with Him? That if we fear the consequences of doing what He tells us more than we fear Him there is no place for us in His Kingdom?

This reminds me of Jesus saying that those who love Him will do what He commands (John 14:23). Many of us don't like to think of Jesus as anything but all smiles and hugs. But it would seem to me that it is the same Jesus speaking in both the Gospel of John and in Revelations. Saying we love Jesus but refusing to do what He says for whatever reason (cowardliness being only one) is not actually loving Jesus. And that doesn't end well.

Death

Whenever someone dies, God is heartbroken. You’d think that after billions upon billions of deaths over thousands and thousands of years, He would have become somewhat numb to the whole idea, somewhat used to it. And besides, He’s God: it’s certainly no surprise. And yeah, He’s God, so He could stop all the dying if He wanted to, if it really bothered Him so much.

But it does bother Him. And it doesn’t get easier with time. Each new dew death is another tragedy that breaks the heart of God. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Man was made to live forever with Him.

And He could stop it. But that would be like repealing the law of gravity. That’s not the universe that God made. This universe is predictable: you step off a ladder, you fall. You turn away from God – the very creator and source of your life, you die. It’s so simple and yet so tragic.

God doesn’t change His mind or change the laws that define His perfect creation. But He can always add a new law.

The new law isn’t really a law but it acts like one. It’s a promise. It says that, if you step off that ladder, God Himself with fall to the ground so you don’t hurt yourself. The law of gravity – which requires that an object fall to the ground – is upheld – but not by you.

And the new promise doesn’t change the fact that, if you turn away from Him, death is the result. It’s just not your death anymore. It’s His.