A Cruel Lie

by Nathan Smelser

An aged gentleman says, "Well, I believe in God, what else is there?"

His health is dire; I had asked if he knew the Lord.

Folks: Observe the disastrous consequences of "easy believism."

This gentleman had likely been assured that as long as he believed in God, all was well. There is no need to go further, to learn the Word, to follow the Lord diligently.

But what does the Word say?

God will ultimately deal out "retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." (Excerpt from II Thessalonians 1)

There is a God to know. There is a gospel to obey. It therefore needs to be read or heard and understood. And then there is a life to live in Christ because one believes His promises (e.g., Hebrews 11, etc.).

Is God cruel to punish? Not at all! Every good thing we have and enjoy is a gift from Him! If we are the least bit understanding and grateful, we ought to want more of His goodness and to be willing to do the hard things that He asks of us to become what His grace is instructing us to become (Titus 2:11-14).

He created us, He suffered and died for us, He fills our lives with many good and beautiful things. But if we think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads to repentance, do we think that we will escape His righteous judgment? (Romans 2:3-4)

Given all that He has done and continues to do to draw us to Himself, God is not cruel to punish those who think little of His goodness toward us.
However, teaching "belief only" is a cruel, cruel lie that leads to wasted lives, regret, and sorrow. Without correction, it leads to eternal separation from the God who is the source of all good things: Those who do not believe and obey "...will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (II Thessalonians 1:9) What a description of hell!

Don't be separated from the God of all good!

May God give this gentleman and all of us even more time to learn and obey, and may we all diligently seek Him.