Hell

I recently ordered and began reading J.C Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. Ryle is not only a gifted theologian but also a gifted pastor as he draws his reader in and points him to Christ through Biblical texts. Last night, I concluded the Lord's day by reading Ryle's commentary on Luke 13. Christ makes sweeping and direct statements in this chapter as he confronts human tragedy head on. As an aside, It is interesting that Christ has become a sappy, weak figure in modern culture. And yet, he is constantly being threatened with his life or even offending those who oppose God in the gospels. Christ speaks directly to those who ask him about the number who will be saved in Luke 13 and does not mince words. The scope of salvation is wide as it will encompass people from every tribe and every toungue, but the number is few. Christ tells us that the door is narrow. Such a response must have been startling then even as it is certainly startling today. Christ speaks honestly and directly about the fact that many will not finally be in the heavenly kingdom. There end will be in Hell.

These are tough words, and it can be extremely difficult for my fallen eyes to view that colleague, that friend, that family member who quietly lives his life and seems to be decently moral as one who is sitting under the just condemnation of a holy God. Yet, Christ never assumed innocence when addressing people. He viewed his audience as guilty (Repent, or you too will perish) until they were made innocent. Apart from such a work, people not only deserve hell but would never want heaven. Apart from Christ, we live life as if it is our own, as if the money, the comfort, the reputation we have has been merited. Yet, all the while we provoke the one holy, eternal, just God. We have exchanged Him for inferior things and he has been pushed to the peripherary. Such quiet dismissal of Him deserves His wrath instantly, and yet, he forbears. He waits. He allows the sun He created to shine on the righteous and the unrighteous. He even allows the rain to fall on the just and wicked. And yet, we become angry that he demands anything of us. We do not appreciate that He won't just leave us alone. Such action screams of rebellion no matter how quietly it is done. Such rebellion merits nothing but wrath.

Reflecting on Jesus' teaching about hell in Luke 13, J.C. Ryle said it very well:

"Earth is the only place in God's creation where there is infedelity. Hell itself is nothing but truth known too late."