Posts Tagged ‘Greater Good’

What greater calling is there than to devote ones life to encouraging, and helping others to live their up to their full potential? For in so doing we pattern ourselves after that which was shown us by Christ. In lifting up our brothers and sisters we not only give to their lives a greater hope, but in the process our lives are enriched by them. No matter how small the deed, what we reap conditions our souls for eternity.

We have so few real choices in this life, that it is incumbent upon each and every one of us to devote every opportunity we can find to enrich the lives of ourselves and those around us with whatsoever is good, and kind, and uplifting; working all things for the Greater Good of shaping our souls. No gift of caring is too small to share with another….and the rewards reach into eternity!

John15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Phil.4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

1Cor.13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

If God is the only standard for Good…how can there possibly be a Hell created by Him? How can the Greatest Good create a place like Hell to cause eternal suffering?

Matt.19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

It is not conceivable that the Greatest Good which is God, could possibly create a place that is outside the bounds of His Mercy. It is one thing to be outside of God’s Grace because of being lost in unbelief, and quite another to be sent to a place of torment for eternity, that was created by the very God who is portrayed as the Greatest Good, with no hope of ever being reached by Him.

By the very act of God pouring out His Mercy on mankind, He takes that which is sinful and changes it into that which is pure by Grace alone ….therefore all that is sinful can at some point be covered by God’s Grace. The doctrine of eternal Hell as a place created by God that excludes God’s Mercy from ever reaching it, is impossible in a universe created by a God of Love.

The way I like to think about God’s universal Love is that those who are lost keep seeking until they find the door provided by Christ’s death on the Cross….once that door is found reunion with God happens. This is far different from the idea of a place created by God where lost people are sent to, forever slamming the door on any hope of reconciliation from that point on. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is the perfect example of God’s eternally reaching Love and Mercy that is always there to reach out to a lost soul.

Does the Bible teach violence? If one holds to the doctrine of Eternal Hell for the crime of unbelief, which is to be an enemy of God then the Bible does indeed teach violence.

Rom.5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

If the Greater Good is to love our enemies and to do good to those that hate us as the Bible teaches, how can God do any different? Jesus said that in order to be called children of God we must not only love our neighbors, but we must pray for and love those who persecute us….if that is the case then how can the doctrine of Eternal Hell be true? For if it is, God would be violating His own Word!

Matt. 5:39-40 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also….43- 45 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Can you think of anyone who would willingly choose torture over love? In my book, loving ones enemy does not include sending them to Hell….so how do we reconcile the teaching of Eternal Hell with Eternal Love?

As I was studying the Parable of the Good Samaritan an interesting question came to mind, it was: What compelled the Samaritan to manifest the Greater Good by showing compassion and mercy to the wounded man, whereas the Priest and Levite did not?

Luke 10:29-37 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spends more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinks thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

In the story Jesus does not tell us who this wounded man is or what his religion is, but we do know the religious and tribal affiliations of the Priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan. Both the Priest and the Levite were Jews of the tribe of Levi, whereas the heritage of the Samaritan was connected to their common father Jacob (Israel) before they split over religious doctrines around the 4^th century BC, and chose Mt.Gerizim as their place of worship. The Samaritan did not allow his religious beliefs to keep him from showing compassion on a stranger, whereas the Priest and the Levite did….the point that Jesus is stressing is that every living soul is our neighbor

Why Jesus chose a Samaritan to be the man who had mercy and compassion we can only surmise from the context of the Parable. The Samaritan showed by his action the Greater Good of loving his neighbor, this is the message that Jesus is espousing here….when we are confronted with a choice of which path to take, our pledge should be to always choose the path of the Greater Good.

If salvation for all is the “Greater Good”, and God’s will is that all be saved….then can God do anything less than Save All? If God has spoken even one time that all men shall be saved, can He do any less then save all men and still remain true to His Word?

1Tim.2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

John 17:2 As thou hast given him (Jesus) power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Rom.11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

If the Apostle Paul, being but a mere man desired the “Greater Good” for all men, and that is to be saved, can any less be expected of God?

Rom.10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

1Cor.10:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

1Cor.10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

We know with God all things are possible, and God works all things according to His own will, so if it is God’s desire that all men be saved….it must be so.

Eph.1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

If one can be saved….two can be saved, all can be saved!