65:11,12
And now we switch back again. The salvation spoken of in the previous two verses is not for all. Those people who are universalists are speaking out of their own imagination, not any word of God. So they should be ignored. So here God makes it quite plain that those who forsake the Lord and worship idols will be destined for the sword. And the end of this verse make the situation plain, and answers the silly question “how can a God of love ...”.
First, God called, but they did not answer. God spoke but they did not listen. Instead they did evil in the sight of the Lord. Most of the “debates” focus on the nature of hell, this is very silly as we really have no idea about the exact nature of hell. The relevant Bible passages focus on God’s judgement on man’s sin. Whatever the precise nature of hell it will be what we fully deserve, so if we have an ounce of wisdom we will repent, and do so quickly. It might be argues that Dante like visions of hell put people off Christianity. Well Dante like visions are not very Biblical, but what people do need to focus on is the reality of judgement and our need to repent. And that is what we should focus on.
65:13
We continue with the clear distinction between those who turn to the Lord and those who reject the Lord. This distinction applies throughout the Bible, and it applies in the words of Jesus. Remember His sayings about “I never knew you” and the sheep and the goats, to mention but two examples. God’s servants will eat, rebels will go hungry. His servants will drink, but rebels will thirst. His servants will rejoice, but rebels will be put to shame. Some might object that this is unfair or cruel, but there is a simple solution for the rebels, end your rebellion. Repent and believe. No one is excluded from the blessings of God except by their own choice.
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