done lurking ready to roll

[redhotmagma]

Hello all,

I've been lurking here for the past few weeks, taking in massive amounts of information. 

I just wanted to share my transformation.

I grew up in the church, but remember from a young age seeing the unjustness of ET.  I remember trying to imagine eternity at the age of 4, and not being able to grasp it.  I'd think of how fortunate I was to be born in America into a christian home, and how unfair it was for those who were born in India into Hindu homes.  How could they come to Jesus when they would, just like I would listen to their parents teachings.  How unfair it was to go to hell for eternity, if you might hear about Jesus once or none at all.  God wouldn't do that surely.  I remember pondering God's soverignty and His mighty power, but yet couldn't or wouldn't do anything for those kids in India.  Of course I was told that thats why we need to spread the gospel, yet I'd see all the closed offness of our church.  We would learn about the power of living in Christ, yet there was no power.  I remember asking my teacher about "Every knee will bow, Every tongue confess" and being told it was submission.  It never felt right, something was off.

In my teen years I rebelled, sex drugs and rock and roll.  That didn't feel right either.  I always believed in God, and trusted Him, out of obedience.  I came out of that lifestyle, but never had victory over lust.  I couldn't fathom how me a guy could be in love with Christ.  Why would I want to be His bride? 

Fast forward, I'm married to an amazing woman with an incredible daughter, I've got success, a great lifestyle (I only work 17 hrs a week).  I just couldn't love God.  I couldn't give Him my life.  Lust was destroying me, totally making me depraved of mind, it had taken control.  I was out of control, and heading for an affair if something didn't change.

In December 2010, in my lowest I'd been, even having thoughts of suicide, I cried out to God.  I told Him "I can't do it anymore, I will give You my life completely, no matter the cost, I just need you to show me something.  Why can't I give myself to you?"  In that moment He told me "Eternal Hell".  That thought hadn't come into my mind in years, in fact I was expecting to find something I was doing or not doing was the problem.

I went and did an internet search on "is hell eternal" found my way to this site and and a couple others, through that sweet word Aionian.  I was hesitant because this is heresy I've been told, but everytime I tried to find any refutation, I found how weak it is.  God had been telling me this my whole life, yet I was so scared to seek the truth and be in that heretic camp.  Of all the crazy rabbit trails I've gone down in trying to understand the Bible and God better, Universalism was the one I couldn't bring myself to seek out, it was off limits.  Oh that I had done that search earlier, but of course it is all God's will and time.

I can finally say I love God with all my heart, not that I believe in Him only.  What a difference it makes to see God for who He really is.  It makes me so sad to see His name dirtied by ET.  If we could all see His character not marred by a "doctrine of men".  How beautiful, How lovely, How amazing

[legoman]

Wow, what a great testimony!  Welcome!

[Taffy]

 :icon_flower:
Welcome  Friend Jump right on in - the waters cool and fresh :icon_flower:

Blessings :icon_flower:

[Pierac]

Welcome home brother!  :hihat:

Paul

[reFORMer]

The "Love God and your neighbor" thing is much less possible when, in your world, ceaseless torture for ever is the destiny of many, if not most of the human race.  In that "Eternity" all those "damned" are certainly not with you in your heaven.  They reside in the place next door.  They are your "neighbors" who, if you love them as you love yourself, you couldn't be happy knowing they are being tortured.  You wouldn't rest or find satisfaction until you found a way out for them.  Since they can never get out you are faced again with the impossibilities, even of basic discipleship, that arise when your perception of God is as a "Master Torturer."  Of course, you'll have to overcome your conscience too, since God is going to make you in His image, another torturer.  "...another fine mess you've gotten us into"

[WhiteWings]

 :icon_flower:
welcome in the magma chamber  :laughing7:
Take a seat on the ledge of brimstone.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Welcome.....

[jabcat]

What a beautiful result!  God's blessings.  Jesus, Savior of the world!  Welcome, James.

[PaoloNuevo]

Hello all,

I've been lurking here for the past few weeks, taking in massive amounts of information.

I just wanted to share my transformation.

I grew up in the church, but remember from a young age seeing the unjustness of ET.  I remember trying to imagine eternity at the age of 4, and not being able to grasp it.  I'd think of how fortunate I was to be born in America into a christian home, and how unfair it was for those who were born in India into Hindu homes.  How could they come to Jesus when they would, just like I would listen to their parents teachings.  How unfair it was to go to hell for eternity, if you might hear about Jesus once or none at all.  God wouldn't do that surely.  I remember pondering God's soverignty and His mighty power, but yet couldn't or wouldn't do anything for those kids in India.  Of course I was told that thats why we need to spread the gospel, yet I'd see all the closed offness of our church.  We would learn about the power of living in Christ, yet there was no power.  I remember asking my teacher about "Every knee will bow, Every tongue confess" and being told it was submission.  It never felt right, something was off.

In my teen years I rebelled, sex drugs and rock and roll.  That didn't feel right either.  I always believed in God, and trusted Him, out of obedience.  I came out of that lifestyle, but never had victory over lust.  I couldn't fathom how me a guy could be in love with Christ.  Why would I want to be His bride?

Fast forward, I'm married to an amazing woman with an incredible daughter, I've got success, a great lifestyle (I only work 17 hrs a week).  I just couldn't love God.  I couldn't give Him my life.  Lust was destroying me, totally making me depraved of mind, it had taken control.  I was out of control, and heading for an affair if something didn't change.

In December 2010, in my lowest I'd been, even having thoughts of suicide, I cried out to God.  I told Him "I can't do it anymore, I will give You my life completely, no matter the cost, I just need you to show me something.  Why can't I give myself to you?"  In that moment He told me "Eternal Hell".  That thought hadn't come into my mind in years, in fact I was expecting to find something I was doing or not doing was the problem.

I went and did an internet search on "is hell eternal" found my way to this site and and a couple others, through that sweet word Aionian.  I was hesitant because this is heresy I've been told, but everytime I tried to find any refutation, I found how weak it is.  God had been telling me this my whole life, yet I was so scared to seek the truth and be in that heretic camp.  Of all the crazy rabbit trails I've gone down in trying to understand the Bible and God better, Universalism was the one I couldn't bring myself to seek out, it was off limits.  Oh that I had done that search earlier, but of course it is all God's will and time.

I can finally say I love God with all my heart, not that I believe in Him only.  What a difference it makes to see God for who He really is.  It makes me so sad to see His name dirtied by ET.  If we could all see His character not marred by a "doctrine of men".  How beautiful, How lovely, How amazing

PTL!!!

For the gift is not like the curse... if condemnation was for all men, how much more will God's free gift bring justification for all men? By one man's act of disobedience, the many were made sinners, so also by one man's act of obedience the many will be made righteous.  :HeartThrob:

[Nathan]

 :welcome:

I just read your intro . . .great word of liberation.  Embrace His grace and don't let go!!

[urpilgrim]

A little late to welcome you.... but welcome none the less :mshock:

From your input on the Rob Bell thread, I gathered that you are from the Detroit area. I'm from Windsor, Ontario. Nice to have someone else on this journey in the same neck of the woods.

Been in contact with other folks up in Almont MI from saviourofall.org, who also teach UR

PM me if you wish too take this futher

Grace and peace
Robert

PS Nice testimony  :thumbsup:

[thinktank]

I heard from prophet kim clement that good things will come out of Detroit and that it will help to restore the economy of USA. So I guess that will help the rest of the world too. I still believe that a recovery is still possible.