"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined then you are illegitimate children and not true sons." Hebrews 12:7 & 8 (NIV)
I remember reading that when I was about twelve years old, about a year after I had accepted Christ as my Savior. Flashing red lights seemed to go off in my head. "Well I must really belong to God because every time I even think about doing wrong I am caught and punished."
Through the years though I can honestly say that correction has kept me on the "straight and narrow for Christ," for the most part. The dangers of getting off God's path is that your life can take major dives, which sometimes can lead to mortal and even spiritual death. Such would be the case if you chose to totally deny God.
God is a Holy God. He expects us to accept Him and live as He asks. When we get to heaven there will be certain things God will not tolerate there either. Think about it- would you want sin and ugliness in a Holy and perfect place? God will not tolerate either.
"But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the first born, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
See to it you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him when they warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us in heaven?" Hebrews 12:25 (NIV)
"Therefore , since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)
When I was a child I couldn't understand why a loving God would send people to hell. Over time there have been some horribly wicked people who do unspeakable things to others. Some people choose to live a life of pure sinfulness. They have no regard for God or even other human lives. I totally understand why they can not spend eternity in God's light. They came from the darkness and would hate God's purity, light and love. Heaven would not be a blessing to God or His sons or daughters with these souls there. Hell does have a purpose.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked before us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.
Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and loose heart." Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
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