The subject of hell, or eternal punishment, has always been an uncomfortable topic of conversation for most believers. I know there has been much debate recently about it’s existence at all and much of that discussion comes from the fact that we can’t reconcile the idea that a God who is as loving as we know Him to be could allow anyone to suffer like this.

The purpose of this post is not to argue the theology. The reality is I’m not the best qualified to do so as it is not an area I have spent a long time studying.

However as I was reading the book of Hebrews today I came across something that helped me understand the severity of not choosing Jesus and why the results of that decision have a consequence.

The writer of Hebrews does an incredible job at explaining how the system of temple sacrifice established by Moses to allow the people to stand before God has been replaced by a much better covenant through Jesus. The writer breaks down how the tabernacle and temple were shadows of heaven, the articles in them were representative of heavenly objects, and how the blood of animals (who were without sin) would cleanse them as the objects themselves heavenly. The book then tells us how the priests themselves would have to offer blood, as it was impossible to have forgiveness without it, and how Jesus’ blood that was shed was better than the blood of an animal. They point to the eternal rest Jesus entered which qualifies Him as a priest forever where the old priests would die and only hold office for a short time.

The details are incredible and I was so struck by the imagery and sacrifice of God as I read through this, the care and intricacy by which He honoured His justice but also administered His mercy. It is incredible.

After masterfully describing all of this the writer turns to our response to it all. They talk about the confidence that we can now have in approaching God because of this great sacrifice. Remember that before people would fear approaching God because they knew that their sin bore heavy consequences. There were times where the high priest didn’t come out from the Most Holy place because their sin couldn’t come before the Holy God (it’s why they often wore bells and had a rope around them – if the sound stopped the other priests knew they needed to pull them back out).

When you think through how incredible it is that we can simply come before God through Christ’s sacrifice with the gift of the Holy Spirit in us it seems crazy that we would ever try and reject Him. But, as the writer goes onto talk about, many do. They ask some pretty tough questions;

When we do reject God after all that what else is left?

What other sacrifice can be offered when the most perfect one has already happened?

Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:28-31

It’s hard to argue when you consider all that God has done right?

I know the thought of eternal separation from God still feels uncomfortable for us but let me try to tell this through a fable of my own creation.

Dave is a soldier serving overseas in the army. Like so many others who are serving he has ways and means, orders and rules, that direct how He is to act in his service. These ways and means have been passed down through generations of soldiers by those who have gone before him. They are designed for his protection and flourishing, not just for him, but for all who serve with him. Dave however isn’t a huge fan of these ways and means. He finds them restrictive and he doesn’t like the fact that he can’t do what he wants when he wants. Many times during his service Dave flaunts the directives and ends up in trouble. Each time he messes up his commanding officer steps in and makes amends for his mistakes. They do it time and time again. This officer loves Dave and wants to see him become who was created to be. The see the man that is in Dave even if Dave doesn’t often see it himself. The top officers trust the commanding officer, she has had years of exemplary service, and because of her interventions Dave continues to serve but, and it’s a big but, he doesn’t ever seem to learn or appreciate what this officer is doing for him regardless of how many of his colleagues remind him.

One day however Dave goes too far. In a combat out in the field Dave doesn’t follow the plan and wanders off only to find himself captured by the enemy. His unwillingness to follow what was best for Him but instead choosing to do what he wanted has now landed him in a grave situation. The very best Dave can hope for is some kind of rescue or exchange that could free him but he knows his true reality is likely to be death. Dave suffers and waits to see what will happen to him. In his suffering he takes little responsibility for his actions, instead he curses and gets angry about how others could have done this or that to save him.

In the midst of his despair he remains unchanged.

After days and days, he didn’t know how many, a miracle happens. Blindfolded, he gets bundled into some kind of jeep, is driven down a bumpy road for a number of miles and is finally thrown out by the roadside. He is alive and well, a few bumps and scratches but he is alive. After what only was a few minutes Dave hears the voices of his own colleagues. They remove the blindfold and once his eyes adjust he can tell that he is safe and back with his team. He is pretty disorientated and is take to the field hospital.

After a few days of recovery from the ordeal Dave finally begins to ask questions about what happened.

Why was he released?

Why didn’t he die?

What happened?

He is of course overjoyed to be safe but noticed that while others were glad he was back they also seemed sad. One of the officers begins to tell him what happened. They tell him that his commanding officer was distraught when she learned of Dave’s capture. As the commanding officer she took responsibility for what had happened even though it was Dave who had ignored her directions for the operation. After weeks of search for where Dave was held the commanding officer decided to give herself up for Dave. She made contact with the enemy and offered herself, a decorated soldier responsible for strategically taking many of the enemies lives, for the life of Dave – a lower ranking solider who hadn’t accomplished a lot. The enemy took the deal and delivered Dave back safe in turn for her.

Sadly the fate that Dave thought he would receive was handed out to his commanding officer. After a very public shaming by the enemy she was killed. She laid down her life to save Dave’s. She died a hero and was honoured by the army by being given the highest award that a soldier can be given.

Dave processed all the info.

We might expect in this moment that Dave would have the deepest gratitude toward this officer. We perhaps would expect an outpouring of emotion, a sense of grief, even guilt from Dave in this moment but that’s not what happened.

Dave was unmoved.

Unaffected.

Unmoved and most bizarrely of all,

Unappreciative.

He didn’t even show up to her memorial service when he returned home because ‘he had other stuff on.’ Those around him can’t believe it – nothing has changed within him.

He is still the same old person who is doing his own thing whenever he wanted, however he wanted.

This seems like a pretty unbelievable story but let’s imagine it’s true for a minute. Let me ask you a question.

What does Dave deserve?

He hasn’t changed. Even though he was warned countless times for his actions he refused to listen. Even though his commanding officer helped him many times before, he was unmoved. Even after the most serious ordeal which lead to the death of that commanding officer he was unappreciative. Nothing has changed.

How would you deal with an unrepentant Dave?

Would you offer him another chance?

Or would you simply leave him to it?

What does justice look like for Dave?

There aren’t many people who would be willing to stand up for Dave in the story. Most of us would have a ‘he deserves whatever he gets’ kind of attitude. Selfishness of this nature just grinds on us right?

But Dave isn’t far off how many of us have treated Jesus. Like any fable or retelling of a heavenly truth the parallels are not exact. Yes, Dave represents us and the commanding officer represents Jesus but they can’t fully tell the glorious and humbling story of Jesus’ sacrifice which wasn’t just for one but for all.

Do I deserve the same treatment that I believe Dave deserves?

No comment!

Look, I still don’t understand it all when it comes to the end of our days – only God knows that. However, today I think I have seen a glimpse that I hadn’t before. After all that Christ has done for me I can’t live unchanged, unaffected, unmoved and unappreciative. I can’t trample the Son of God underfoot, and if I do without repentance then can I complain what happens to me?

I’m so glad God is a God of mercy and justice.

Let’s not be Dave