Revelation 2:8-11

To the angel of the church of Smyrna: God knows they have fallen on hard times, but they are still blessed. He knows about those who claim to be Jews but are really followers of Satan. He encourages the church to have courage but warns them that the devil is about to mess with them, that they will have tribulation for ten days (this may be literal or may mean ten periods of persecution). He wants them to be faithful until death, and then He will reward them. He promises that he who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death in which unbelievers will be thrown into the lake of fire. The second death is eternal separation from God.  

Now, I know what you’re thinking. I’ve heard it before. Why would a loving God send his children to hell? Well, those of you who have children, do you send your kids into danger? No, but when they disobey, when they don’t listen to your warnings, sometimes they get hurt, right? We know if our kids would just listen to us, their lives would be so much easier. Don’t you think God must feel the same way? He tells us exactly how to live in order to have a better life, here and in the hereafter. Do we listen? Well, we try, but no, we don’t listen. We do our own thing, especially if it’s acceptable to the world in which we live. We choose our own desires, whether good or bad for us, instead of choosing God’s will. That’s when we run into danger, pain, and our own type of hell.  

Of course, God doesn’t want anyone to burn in hell, but He gives us the will to choose. Is it His fault that some reject Him? No. There are two doors:  one leading to God, the other leading to Satan. That’s it. It’s that simple. If you choose the wrong door, it is still you who does the choosing. God gives you free will. Whether or not you burn for eternity, well, that’s on you. You choose the door. If you choose God and His Son, then you choose everlasting life in Heaven with Him. If you don’t, well, you know the rest.

So those of you who wonder why Christians just can’t leave you alone, why do Christians care what religion you believe in or the fact that you don’t believe in anything at all, well, it’s because we don’t want you to burn in hell. It hurts us to think we failed you, that we couldn’t help you see the light. We blame ourselves for your horrible fate. We love you, and we want to spend eternity with you in Heaven. Now, which door will you choose? Because God will not choose for you.