Sep 09

Some people blame God for the existence of hell and for sending people there. But Proverbs 1 places the blame squarely on the shoulders of the ones who go there.

"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them" (v. 32).

Elsewhere, this same book of the Bible records an ironic secondary result of this self-caused destruction of one's self. Though Scripture clearly warns all human beings that refusal to bow to God's ways will lead to inescapable death in hell, many still choose to defy God and his Word and live a life apart from God. But even though they have been warned ahead of time, when the inevitable punishment comes at their death, then they cry out in great anger at God for giving them what they wanted: to live apart from him. Though they are the cause of their own destruction, they blame God.

"A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord" (Prov. 19:3).

How great a confession, then, do we see from the thief on the cross, when he admitted that he and the other criminal were receiving their just rewards, while Jesus had done no such crime (Luke 23:39-43). He was honest with himself and blamed no one but himself for what he was suffering. May you and I always do the same.

Scripture for today: Luke 23:39-43
Thought for today: God does not ruin people's lives; he gave his only Son to save those lives.
Prayer for today: Forgive me, Lord, if I ever blame you for the sorrows in my life due to my own sin.

SEP 09