I have never been an advocate for the prosperity gospel or the health/wealth theology, but something struck me recently as I was adding photos to facebook.com. I was looking at all the things that I have had the opportunity to do. Go to Israel, spontaneous trips with my wife, Florida, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and even Wyoming. I have so many great memories that I realized that I have an abundant life. Scripture states that:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that theymay have life, and have it abundantly. - John 10:10

I have to admit that my life has been really good. I think that it all comes down to perspective. I didn't see this until I started to organize some of the pictures of just Chaundra and I. We have had an abundant life, Christ has afforded us to have a wonderful life. I think it all comes down to what and who you believe to be giving this life to you. The bible itself is a testament of redemption - essentially curses for those who forsake God and blessings for those who follow Him. I believe that the blessings that he is talking about come from that relationship with him and this verse is located around Christ’s death:

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. - John 10:11

We can have life because the Good Shepherd laid his life down for us. I don't really think that we truly know what life is. I think that that is where all the trouble lies. Scholars say that Adam didn't die right away so what God said doesn't make sense. "In the day that you eat of this fruit you shall surely die" (Gen 2) He ate it but still lived for a long time. I believe that God was looking at a spiritual life not necessarily the physical one.

It is like in the days of the prophets. The word means foretelling and forthtelling. It had a double meaning (contains a message for that time and also for a time in the future.) Isaiah and the sign to Ahaz in 7:14 - a child would be born of a "Almah" (Hebrew for = Young woman, Virgin). The word had two meanings. If you know anything about history, the first was for a sign to Ahaz, otherwise it wouldn't have made sense to him; and the second was the virgin birth of Christ.

Back to the aspect of abundant life! The death that God had mentioned was a spiritual death and a physical death. We experienced a spiritual death upon the age of accountability and eventually a physical death in what we call life. God breathes new life in us when we ask him to become Lord in our life.

But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. - Romans 10:8-10

I don't have abundant life because of what I have! I have abundant life because of Christ and the price that he paid! I have abundant life because I choose the people, friends, and family that I spend my life with. I have seen many a poor and rich unhappy because of want or have in their life, but I have seen life with those that have chosen the relationships that they have and make them the priority.

On my way home from work tonight I was thinking about the concept of Hell. Why was I doing this? Just for the ... well you get the point. Actually I was thinking about an article that I wrote on Bat the Idea on Atheism in America. It is amazing that with how wonderful God's creation is that people can look at the complex design of the world and the way that it works together, and deny a creator. I know that evolution has a strong case for people like this, and that they tend to trust what the scientist have discovered. Unfortunately, science can be just as wrong as any other study that is done.

Well back to the concept of Hell. Atheists believe that there is no God - as if you didn't know that. Why Hell? Because the concept of Hell has more to do with the separation from God then from the eternal punishment that is generally talked about concerning it. Essentially God is granting them their request - they don't have to put up with HIM for all eternity. Hell is the complete separation of man from God. To some that would be a delight, at least for now. I think that when they get the chance to see what they are going to miss out on, that is when the real suffering will begin. He gave them the choice in life to choose Him and He gave them the evidence that they need to find Him. Most people will not believe in God or not follow Him for the simple fact that they want to do what they want to do. Sin is fun, at least at first - we just don't like the consequences. Hell is a consequence of rebelling against a Holy God, and when we don't accept His Lordship in our lives - complete separation will be the consequence.

I am looking at it like this:

Example: Someone calls you up and says that "I have a Billion dollars set aside and all you have to do is pick it up at a specific time." You decide that it really is just hoax and decide not to pick it up. Next thing you know a camera crew is at your door asking if you got the message and did you pick it up. This is when you find out that it was really true and you just gave up a Billion dollars. How much would you be kicking yourself when you found out that you lost it just because you didn't pick it up.

I think that refusing God will be a billion times worse than this when we finally see Him. That is what Hell is really about. The gnashing of teeth, may be as simple as "UNNNNNNNNNNNN! I cannot believe I gave that up!" Enough that it wears our teeth thin. I don't wish this on anyone, but I cannot convince everyone about God's truth. I just need to tell them and let them decide for themself. Hopefully they will choose life and not eternal separation.