Destroying religion, bit by bit

We, those of us who have been around religious circles for a while, have all heard this phrase, that "Jesus has the keys to death and hell". (I think it's somewhere in the book of Revelation).

Well what does this really mean? Here is one thought. Since we know that hell is something, or somewhere, as evidenced by so many of Jesus other teachings, then why would he want, or need, the keys to it? Why would he want to go there? If somebody has the keys to a place, this infers that they will be going there at some point, and have access to it, and can go there whenever they want. It infers, at the least, authority to be there, if they so choose. So, He can go there any time He wants to.

Well,why? What is He going to do there? Isn't He the one who sent all those people to it in the first place? Or, it was His Father, at least, wasn't it?

Let me make a couple of suggestions, based on a couple of Bible verses that seem to be almost universally ignored. Jesus said, in the book of John, that a time is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of Man, and those who hear it will live. So, assuming that some of those dead are in this place called hell, apparently Jesus went to hell, spoke to them the word of the gospel, and those who heard it (accepted it?) lived. Just like He did (does) here on earth. Amazing. So much for the theory that all the people who lived before Jesus showed up on earth are burning in hell for eternity.

And, here is the other conveniently ignored verse. This one comes from 1 Peter 4, and says, " for this reason, the gospel has been preached also to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God". Wow! Like God is actually fair and just, and understands that there is deception and darkness that affects people and their decision making processes while they are here on earth, and so gives them the chance, when they are dead (physically) and can see it all clearly. This sounds like just what Jesus said, that He Himself went, or maybe even still, goes there, and preaches the gospel to the people who blew it and found themselves there. Just a thought. So much for the theory that everyone who dies without hearing the gospel is going to burn in hell for eternity!!

Maybe this is why He needs the keys!!

Danger Will Robinson

A dangerous thing to do-- Believe that the trial that you are or may be going through is ordained by God to make you stronger.

The trial you are going through is a result of living in this world. The goal that God wants for you from it and through it is to draw you closer to Him in absolute dependence and trust and love.

This doesn't happen when you believe that He has ordained the trial for you to make you stronger. That breeds pride. Pride is always very dangerous.

Living in this world has trials. God certainly does use those trials for His purposes, but His purpose is always to love you and to show you His love for you. That love MUST be your only goal through any trial you face.

God works through the trials that we go through to bring us closer to Him... FOR LOVE.

Real security vs. fake security

Fake security-- acting against your fear and insecurity to try to make it change

Real security-- trusting and being loved

Can your religion and let God love you.