The people for eternal fires are destructive people who do not see how they can be so. Life cannot be controlled as easily and makes a bad tool. Life is constructive, while fire is destructive. While I am no eternal infernalist, the comparison is important. Fires need fuel and oxygen just like we do. Why does Matthew/Jesus use that term? Fire is often compared to life. Other places have naturally begun fires that burn until it rains or like the Yellowstone fires of 1988 that began in June and ended when the snow began on September 11th of that year. I do not know of many that are allowed burn themselves out. My mountains have suffered impossibly large fires that are eventually extinguished. The conscience of such people are scarred over like “the spirits who speak with the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4:2). The fire illustrates the way of death for the self-absorbed, inhospitable, and vicious who turn their backs on the poor and the vulnerable. The inhospitable goats find their way there in Matthew 25. Living in truth, grace, and love is the way to heaven. The red herring argument never stands up. Acceptance in our churches is telling people how to get to heaven. We are putting on the garments of immortality and eternity when we demonstrate truth, grace, and love in our lives. John promises a new eternal life that begins in this one. Paul argues the corruptible and mortal body must “put on” incorruptibility and immortality. In fact, the gospels and 1 Corinthians 15 tell us human life is finite and mortal. Anything with a beginning cannot be either of these things. We are neither immortal nor eternal beings. Giving life abundantly, he offers the community and turns Jean Paul Sartre’s hell (other people) into the kingdom. Jesus claims the people who thrive are those who have lives that are full. In like manner, people whose lives are merely self-seeking are not thriving. People whose experience of life is simply maintenance – work, eat, and sleep – do not thrive. John characterizes eternal life by such a comparison. It is the gift that comes from connection with the divine. When Jesus speaks of abundant life in John 10:10, he speaks of lives that thrive. Hunger, ignorance, addiction, and disease robs lives of this quality. People who are simply maintaining their lives are not able to pursue their happiness. I was asked recently what gives me joy in ministry. The rivers and mountains are not alive in themselves. For something to be alive the place that provides life must be older, far older than the living things existing on it. Interestingly, the mountains are younger than the river system flowing through them. The difference is human beings are considered alive while mountains are not. We make a comparison of two finite things. They just may as well do so as far as most of us are concerned.īeing finite in nature ourselves we point to something far older to begin thinking in terms of eternity. But no one believes they will exist forever. The Appalachians were hear before human beings entered North America. They are older than the Rockies or the Himalayas. My Appalachian Mountains have existed for a long time. The image I provided is something that supposedly stands as a sign for eternity. The word aionos could be translated as eon, very long time, or eternal.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |