For those who live lives of violence and revelry, the murderers and rapists, it’s safe to say they have a keen understanding of where their end leads. Scripture is clear that the Creation itself declares God’s existence and qualities, and the Spirit has placed eternity in the heart of all men. In spite of the greatest of efforts by the secular humanists and professed atheists to deceive the multitude, the spirit of every man is aware of God’s presence and essence. Conscience alone will convict such men to eternal fire, and no recourse will be attested on that fateful last day.
Likewise, the Kingdom saint, those “radical” believers who sell their possessions and give to the poor, selflessly pour their lives out as a drink offering to the Lord, committed to holiness and righteous living, wanting nothing other than to glorify their God who sent His Son, their loving Savior to the cross in their stead, they know their fate ends in glory in the presence of the King, forever praising His glorious name. Heaven’s gate is wide open for those who have sold out, surrendered all: their wants, their dreams, their wealth, their pleasures, their hurts, and even their sin, to their loving and worthy God.
The murderers and rapists, the “bad sinners,” certainly deserve hell for their deeds, most will agree. In Scripture, the devilish ones were called out as “sinners and tax collectors,” the most repugnant of all of society. Today, we single out the abortionists and homosexuals, or maybe the terrorists and child molesters. Regardless of their sinful label, there is a general cultural consensus as to the horror of their sin and the justice in their eternal consequence.
Yet most folks are not open “sinners,” the vile by the standards of the world. Sure they cuss at times, and may have a temper under their oft jovial demeanor, but for the most part, they are good people. They work their job, pay their bills, care for their family, and mind their own business. Their personal entertainments are sealed in the privacy of their hearts and homes. They aren’t hurting anyone with their appetites. Certainly hell is not a fitting place for such as these; but heaven? Hmmm.
Then there are “normal” Christians, you know, the ones who you can have a regular conversation with, not all that “in love with Jesus” freaky talk, out trying to “save” everybody all the time. They are “real” people, not the holy rollers. They might drink a beer with you, watch the game, and don’t try to make any pretense that they are any better than you–they don’t judge. Yes, they go to church, and might even occasionally read their Bible, and financially support their church with their excess. They are normal folks, they are not perfect, but who is, they surmise? They prayed to receive Christ as a youth, and were baptized in short order. But they didn’t turn into freaks. Life went on as usual: work, play, sleep, work, play, sleep…
So what of these folks, the “normal” Christians? With the sides of the line so clearly discerned, those doomed to eternal torment, and those blessed with God’s glory forevermore, what of all of men falling somewhere in the middle? Certainly God’s grace is extended to the “good” people, especially those who profess the name of Christ. No doubt, we may conclude, the line is so very clear…or is it?