Luke 12:4-5 4 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
Fire and brimstone from Jesus! Most of us really don't want to picture Jesus this way. We like to hear about his unconditional love, but in reality, there is another side to Jesus too. Here he is in the midst of warning his followers that they will be persecuted for following him... and he brings up hell. Hell was the name of a place on the outside of town where infant sacrifices had been made centuries earlier and was presently a smoldering garbage dump. But Jesus also uses this place to describe the after life of those who reject God's love. The picture he draws of God is that God is active not only in the salvation of humanity, but God does the casting into hell too. Not a friendly picture. Nor a popular one. Fanatics believe this stuff, right? And yet, to follow Jesus, we have to listen to all that he says - not just what we want to hear.
Jesus uses this fire and brimstone image to contrast for his disciples that the persecution they face is nothing to fear compared to this place called hell.
I believe that many of us live in hell right now.... separated from God. Instead of experiencing abundant eternal life right now, we experience the smoldering garbage dump that chokes out all that is good. I believe followers of Jesus sometimes get stuck in this garbage dump instead of following Jesus out of it. I think Jesus is warning his disciples not to get stuck there. Jesus wants his followers to know that their coming persecution is nothing compared to living separated from God.
Are we living in the eternal life that comes from God or are we living in hell? Eternal life doesn't mean an easy life, but one that is wrapped up in God's love - hell means separation from God - eternal death. Hell exists here and now, but also in eternity. We can choose to abide in God's healing love. Or we can live without God and remain broken with all that is good in us being choked out. Choose life this day!
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The other gospels weigh in...
Matthew 10:28 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
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