reply to post by OldDragger
You seem to think the creation should be the center of the purpose and attention, rather than the Creator. If a potter makes from a lump of clay a
vessel to use in his shop to make other vessels and a vessel to display for the show of his handiwork, you don't fight for the right of the first
vessel. Then, O man, why question that a Creator who chooses to reveal Himself and His nature to the universe by magnificent and common uses of
vessels of dust. Angels fell as they believed themselves wiser than the Sovereign. Servants made of fire thought themselves worthy of honors that
only are given from the one who makes them, so He chose dirt, men of low esteem, to show His glory while dispelling any hope in self-sufficient or
prideful thoughts. God is loving, yes. He is also just. Behold the goodness AND severity of God. Goodness to you, if you continue in His
goodness...His freely given Way that would conform you to His righteous standard by His own power and grace...and severity to them who believed not,
and thereby thought in a proud argument that they would save themselves or claim their ideas greater than the plumb line of goodness: God Himself, so
they are by pride left to the results of their own self salvation, which is nothing more than hard hearted rebellion against the established and
unquestionable rule of God, who is good and just and loving. Should a baby-raper get heaven? What of a murderer? What about an adulterer that
cheats on his wife that trusts him? What about the one who snubs the Author of all truth, grace, goodness, and love, and thereby scatters rather than
gathers...hates rather than loves? Would a judge be just that said to the murderer of your mother.."I am a forgiving judge, so go free, in fact
here, have a reward", though no penalty be paid and no repair of the man who killed? Is that just? Is it loving? Love would offer the man an out,
pay the price, while changing him to be as he should be so that he would walk worthy of such a grace. Let's not forget that sin is sin not because
it breaks some moral code that is changeably interpreted by fickle men, but because it transgresses and infinitely good God. That is the standard.
Heaven is heaven because God is there, who saves the weak, brings justice to the downtrodden and poor, loves unfailingly and effectually, humbles the
proud, and lifts the humble. You borrow the very breath to speak against His wisdom from Him simply because of His longsuffering to afford you every
opportunity for true goodness, as He delights to give it. However, make no mistake, He waits until an appointed time, when swiftly He will without
flinching or weeping repay what he now longsuffers, as justice would demand and rejoice in. God is love, but He is also just. He will be glorified
in His mercy that all men will admit was free to them, though many will have rejected in trade for what they wanted in life, but also He will be
glorified in His justice to purge out all that is evil, defiled, and contrary to true Good: Him. All the universe will rejoice in His works and
confess that He was right and true and good in all He did, and rejoice at the coming of a glorious kingdom where righteousness dwells. Be honest with
yourself. The reason you disagree is you would rather have something that is contrary to His decrees than His righteousness that Christ testified of.
You want heaven without God...that is what Utopian ideas are all about. A heaven YOU rule, but you are not good, nor myself, nor any man that the
Living and True God does not dwell in through Christ's cleansing and sanctifying work, so then without good, it isn't really heaven. Hence the
fault in the NWO scheme that though will stand a moment, is destined to fail.