They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but ten thousand wouldn’t be enough to describe the painting the “First Day in Heaven.” It portrays a young woman with her arms wrapped tightly around the neck of JESUS. Her eyes are tightly closed and her mouth wide open. It’s obvious this joyful greeting isn’t one-sided, because JESUS has His arms firmly wrapped around her. It’s like one of those emotional scenes when a soldier returns from a long tour of duty and is met by the love of his life, but many times more wonderful! You don’t need a lot of words to share in their joy. Depending on your own relationship with JESUS, that perfect picture might bring you joyful anticipation or possibly a little fear and apprehension.
What! Why should I be afraid of a loving JESUS? I wouldn’t have thought this was in question until a lady disagreed with my description of what happens to a person who dies without accepting JESUS. She said “Such horrible way to describe Jesus… Please tell me in your heart of hearts who really loves a Jesus they have to love so they don’t end up in hell?” as if I had made up the consequences we all deserve for our sin. Sure we all love the perfect picture of a loving JESUS expressing that love, but he will also judge the unsaved for their sins.
I was surprised at the lady’s reaction, but was careful to address the error in her doctrine rather than attack her. I replied “I love JESUS because He died so I don’t have to pay for my own sins. The same John 3:16 that tells me of GOD’s love, tells me I don’t have to perish.” That GOD had to sacrifice His son so “whosoever believeth in him, shall not perish” (John 3:16) tells us we will perish if we don’t accept JESUS. The love expressed in that sacrifice, make the crucifixion the perfect picture of love.
I went on to say telling people “there are no eternal consequences for unforgiven sin and GOD won’t let you go to hell” is the worst kind of lie. It comes from the thief, and the “thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 KJV). The lady must have gotten her misguided belief from someone, or they just failed to correct her. I hope she has accepted JESUS as her Savior, because her “blind guides” won’t be there to defend her if she didn’t. That is why the truth of GOD’s Word is Good News!
My Pastor told me fear won’t bring people to JESUS, but GOD’s love will. The “Good News” of the Gospel is “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” because “God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17 KJV). With all the love and sacrifice that went into making our “First Day in Heaven” possible, you might say it’s a perfect ending to a beautiful story, but that story will never end!
Wayne Lance