A Goodness in God’s Justice

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28.
How repugnant to every emotion of love and mercy, and even to our sense of justice, is the doctrine that the wicked dead are tormented with fire and brimstone in an eternally burning hell; that for the sins of a brief earthly life they are to suffer torture as long as God shall live….
Where, in the pages of God’s Word, is such teaching to be found? Will the redeemed in heaven be lost to all emotions of pity and compassion, and even to feelings of common humanity? Are these to be exchanged for the indifference of the stoic, or the cruelty of the savage? No, no; such is not the teaching of the Book of God….
The theory of eternal torment is one of the false doctrines that constitute the wine of the abominations of Babylon.
When we consider in what false colors Satan has painted the character of God, can we wonder that our merciful Creator is feared,… even hated?
The principles of kindness, mercy, and love, taught and exemplified by our Saviour, are a transcript of the will and character of God…. God executes justice upon the wicked, for the good of the universe, and even for the good of those upon whom His judgments are visited….
Those who have chosen Satan as their leader, and have been controlled by his power, are not prepared to enter the presence of God….
Could they endure the glory of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation were granted them, that they might form characters for heaven; but they have never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the language of heaven, and now it is too late.
To sin, wherever found, “our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29. In all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them.
The Faith I Live By p. 176
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Prayer Requests
—-Some seniors need to sell their home pray that it will sell quickly. thanks. M.
—-I have some very bad news.
Our Sheila (dog) is paralyzed, she can’t use her back legs. We don’t know how it happened. Tony and I drove to a specialist yesterday. They told us her disc is broken in her back. Will cost $9000 to operate and only a 50 50 chance she would ever walk again. I think someone got in our yard and beat her. I have her crated and am giving her herbs to try and fix her. Please pray for Sheila. I am heart sick, she is only three years old. Gillian
—-Please pray for the Colman family who were on the duck boat ride that collapsed. Only two of them survived. Tammy
—-Please pray for the Henry family whose house burned down. Two of the children died and mother and daughter are in critical condition. Kimmah
—-Southwestern Oregon had a powerful storm on the 15th that they say caused about a thousand lightning strikes. At this point, there are currently about 160 wildfires burning around us and the closest is about 5 miles away. They are evacuating areas west of where we live in Grants Pass. I ask please for prayers for all those involved and for the fire fighting personnel who are working so hard to get the fires out. It has become a formidable task. I pray God will provide what is needed. Kathy
—-my friend Sherry is having a real hard time. She started hallucinating. she thinks someone is going to kill her. It was caused from certain medication she was taking Please keep her in your prayers. Eva
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Dear Friends,
We all have days when we become discouraged, overwhelmed, and disheartened. On one such occasion, I was very discouraged and overwhelmed, yet I had so little that would cause me to feel that way. As I looked upon the reasons for my discouragement, I felt a little silly for allowing myself to get all worked up over something so little. Yet, here I was feeling overwhelmed and much like David when he prayed, “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? ” Ps 13:1, 2
How often the enemy of souls tries to shut us in with thick clouds of despair as he did with me that day. How many times we go through trials that seem beyond our ability to handle and there seems to be no way out. Sometimes these discouragements and trials are very real: sometimes they are only worry and lack of trust that all will be well (such was the case that day). It seems to us that no matter how much we pray, nothing is happening to change our situation. It seems like God does not hear us. Because of the darkness in which we are enveloped, we can see no good thing in our future.
Our Great Creator is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Ex 34:6 How He longs for us to have implicit faith in Him even when we are overwhelmed with discouragement. He greatly desires for us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” knowing that He is “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Heb 4:16; 11:6 No matter what our circumstances, our Loving Redeemer yearns over us and greatly desires that we come to Him with the simple faith of a little child. He, Who gave His life for us, will take control of whatever the situation we find ourselves and will rebuke the devourer for our sake. This childlike faith is of utmost importance for He told His disciples, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:17
May we come to our Dear Saviour in perfect trust no matter how dark our circumstances seem. When we find ourselves overwhelmed, may we remind ourselves of His great mercy and love. May we shut our ears to the whisperings of the evil one and look “unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2
Rose