Wednesday 3rd August - 2 Thessalonians 1

Today’s chapter is 2 Thessalonians 1, you can read it here

Tom writes:

So here is the doctrine of heaven and hell. God will be glorified in his holy people but will punish with everlasting destruction those who do not know God. There are surprisingly few verses in the whole Bible about what happens to those who don’t live as if they know God. So it is worth us dwelling on them here, especially as the popular conceptions about heaven and hell are so far from the biblical picture. On the one side is everlasting destruction and a shutting out from the presence of the Lord.  There debate over whether the destruction is everlasting in its duration (ie people are constantly experiencing destruction) or everlasting in its effect (ie it happens in a few moments but can never be overturned - the idea of annihilationism). I currently prefer the latter as I think it makes better sense in the overall sweep of the narrative of the Kingdom and the character of God. But I am conscious that either way, the fate of those who refuse to know God Is Not Good. I find that tricky. I suspect we all should find it emotionally tough. But among that tough emotion I’m determined to do two things; to still commit to understanding exactly what God has said and to find a way to celebrate its goodness; as the just and right actions of a stupendously good and loving God.

So what does Paul actually say? Well, the dividing line in eternity is the presence of God. Those who in this life showed they wanted it will be fully in God’s glorious presence forever and ever. Those who in this life showed they didn’t want it will get what they wanted; eternal separation from the presence of God. (C.S.Lewis has created very helpful images of hell based on this primary concept of the absence of God in his book The Great Divorce). Looking at eternity this way helps us see how wonderfully good this truth is. Delightful juices can surge though our bodies at the achingly beautiful image of what is in store for us who are in Christ.  He will come to be glorified among us. Jesus chooses to let us share in the most captivating and soul-soothing worship time that we will ever, ever know. And that will just be the start. Who knows what pleasure-filled stratosphere we will go into from there. And all we have to do to get this is believe the testimony of God’s word that the presence of God is the greatest joy we could ever know.

Question for reflection

How much does your life testify to your delight in the presence of God?