Have you ever heard anyone say that before? I have, more than once. It has not come in times of stress, or even anger. In each instance it surfaced based on what was perceived as the preconditions to God’s plan of salvation.

The scenario has typically gone something like one or more of these …

(1) “God told the Israelites to kill their enemies, every man, woman and child (example Deuteronomy 20:16-17). I want no part of a God who promotes genocide.”

(2) “God is an egotistical maniac demanding that I follow His demands. I refuse.”

(3) “All my friends will be in what you call Hell, so that is where I want to be.”

(4) “There is no Hell and, even if there was, I have no interest in a boring Heaven bowing down to God for eternity.”

(5) “If God is so good why does He allow so many to live and die and then go to Hell, some who never even heard the word Jesus in their whole life? That is not a God I am interested in. I’ll take my chances in Hell.”

(6) “I am a good person, much better than most. If that is not good enough for God, then so be it. I’ll go to Hell rather than comply to His demands.”

(7) “I am not interested in a God who would allow Hitler to go to Heaven if he confessed a belief in Christ on his deathbed. No punishment for Hitler, yet Hell for those who reject Him. Well then, I reject Him.”

(8) “Hell may not be so bad. I bet I’ll do more fun stuff there than being controlled by God in Heaven. Nobody is going to tell me what to do for eternity.”

(9) “I have done so many bad things that there is no way God would send me anywhere but Hell.”

The Point

For humanity to reject their pride and independence, which puts them on the wide path to destruction (Matthew 7:13), God must and does intervene. Since we do not know when He will do that, as ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) we need to treat every opportunity as a divine appointment to turn the lost from eternity in Hell to eternity in Heaven. Don’t assume comments like those above are not a cry for help from one who is being drawn to Christ, kicking and screaming. Allow God to use you in the process of planting and watering.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 – I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.