Until

A few new thoughts from the book that's kicking my butt...

The story of the lost coin
The story of the lost sheep
The story of the prodigal son

In all of the stories, the lost item or person was relentless searched for until  it was found. They weren't given up on or considered out of the love of God. Whether these stories are literal or metaphorical, I think there is merit to looking at what is being communicated in these stories. My take (thanks to "Love Wins" and the Scripture it presents): God does not want anything or anyone to perish, and is all about restoring what's been broken. These stories, and the entire message of the bible in my mind, is God telling us that he wants us. Every single one of us. He desires no one to be apart from Him for eternity. SO, here are the big questions...

What/Who says that God can't pursue people's hearts even after our physical death?

What if the "hell" that we're talking about is really a place of refinement, but not permanent if the person doesn't want it to be? What if it's until your heart is "melted" because of God's love for you? A time where you live with the realities of your decisions, and a time to see what existence is like without the beauty and grace that we are offered through Christ?

What if the idea of "eternal damnation" isn't really God's judgment, but the choice of the individual? A heart condition?

What if God's judgment, is Him saying "If you are going to dwell in my wholeness and fullness, you will not bring sin and suffering inside." "You are welcome here, but not until you can live in that grace."

In the last part of Revelation there is a vision of a city, supposedly representative of heaven, where the gates are always open... What if that means that newcomers are always welcome as they decide to embrace God's love, and have a deep heart condition change? (Rob Bell said in his book, not to dwell on that gate too much because you can go crazy with analysis, and I agree, but I think it's interesting to at least ponder)

What if choosing to believe in Jesus in this time, saves us from even worrying about any self-inflicted torment- hell- and the message of Christ isn't "believe or be damned," but "believe and embrace the fullness life and God's love?" Wouldn't that change the way that we share the Gospel and live our lives?

AND, Who says that the way we've been taught about heaven and hell, and the absolute permanence of hell, is actually what it is? Is God's love not deep enough and vast enough to keep pursuing relentlessly even after death?

See, Rob Bell makes a great point in his book, that I think I am really starting to embrace. Here it is (not quite verbatim, but close)... "If the message of Jesus is that He is saving us from God's wrath, how is that 'good news'?" A brilliant question. How is that "good news? Isn't that just fear, instead of fullness?  What if the "good news" is that Jesus' sacrifice is deeply sacred and meaningful no matter if it's now, or in the next life,  and that sacrifice was to bring us the fullness of God's love.... and God/Jesus will pursue us until no one will perish?

The lost coin was found.

The lost sheep was found.

The prodigal was anticipated and hoped for until he returned.

The gate is always open.

Maybe God didn't create billions of people that will spend forever without him, unless it's what they want. What they choose. Maybe God searches, hopes, and pursues our hearts until they are found. And maybe what we view as time, doesn't matter to God's pursuit. Maybe He's a whole lot bigger than we've made Him. Maybe he goes after our hearts until we're all found, whether now or then.

I realize this perspective challenges tradition. I want to put out the disclaimer, that I am searching, and asking questions, and I'm not claiming definitive answers at all. But for me, asking these questions is liberating and helping me view this life and eternity with more beauty, hope, and love. I'm about the journey, the twists and turns that come along with that journey, and the learning who I am and who God is along the way.