05/15/2011 - by Chuck Monan, Preaching Minister

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us ... Any spirit that permits compromise with the world is a false spirit.  Any religious movement that imitates the world in any of its manifestations is false to the cross of Christ and on the side of the devil.
~ A.W. Tozer

Nearly all of the problems with Rob Bell’s Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived are represented by the following excerpt:

Could God say to someone truly humbled, broken, and desperate for reconciliation, “Sorry, too late”?  Many have refused to accept the scenario in which somebody is pounding on the door, apologizing, repenting, and asking God to be let in, only to hear God say through the keyhole: “Door’s locked.  Sorry, if you had been here earlier, I could have done something.  But now, it’s too late.”

According to Jesus, this is almost exactly what God will say to those who are unprepared when the bridegroom returns:

At the time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight the cry rang out: “Here’s the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!”

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.”    “No,” they replied, “there may not be enough for both of us and you.  Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.”

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived.  The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.  And the door was shut.

Later the others also came.  “Sir! Sir!” they said.  “Open the door for us!”

But he replied, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.”

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
~  Matthew 25:1-13

Could God say to someone, “Too late”?  The Bible insists he can and will.  Bell insisting that “many have refused to accept” this scenario has absolutely no bearing on its inevitability.  If a person refuses to accept the implications of the law of gravity and steps off the Empire State Building, does that exempt him from falling?

Bell has been described by Ben Witherington as a “romantic” in hoping that God’s love overrides judgment and brings everyone together in heaven to live happily ever after.  Who wouldn’t find such an ending soothing, comforting and thrilling?

But does wishing for something make it true?  Especially if it contradicts Scripture?  If everyone is going to be saved regardless, why did Jesus have to die?  Why were the first Christians so prompted by missionary zeal?  And why is there such a sense of importance and urgency attached to our response to Christ?

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matt. 25:13).