In the TV show, The
Good Place, Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason are the hapless foursome that
find themselves together in this other-worldly place. It is actually hell
although it looks like a nice version of a friendly place on earth. The show is
comedic, in that they are trying their best to be good so they can make it into
heaven, and they are trying many different schemes to get past the judge with
Michael's help (the demon in charge of them). All this to try different
experiments to earn enough points and merits to change things around, even
after they died. But sadly, the show is merely fiction entertainment, and
completely unBiblical.
In fact, Michael, says
more than once that the good place is not the Biblical idea of hell. Truly it
isn't. As you watch the series, it
starts to become like sci-fi -- the characters are stranded in some far-off
galactic place with no chance of escape, although in this case, they will
survive for eternity. And time no longer determines life span. As you get into
the latest series, the foursome have already been around for hundreds of years,
and their memory has been erased several times. In a real sense, it is a chilling
thought to be at the mercy of merciless demons and never being able to escape
their torture. Yet in this Good Place, somehow there is still hope that they
can change their fate and make it into heaven once they figure out how.
I wonder how many people give
much thought to heaven and hell these days? Clearly, the Bible is the ultimate
authority when it comes to these final destinations. We may not want to think
about it, but it doesn't change the facts. We are destined to go to one or the
other place. There is no such thing as a "good place," just as there
is no such thing as being being good enough to get there if there was such a
place.
Scripture is clear:
Tit 3:5 Not by works
of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Tit 3:6 Which he
shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
What an incredible gift of
God! He paid the price for our sins instead of us having to earn it. All we
have to do is receive:
John 1:12 But as
many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to
them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God.
We must be born of God!!
Once we area His, we get to share eternity with Him in His heaven made for all
those who know Him and love Him. This is what Jesus said to His followers:
John 14:2 In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also.
Clearly, heaven is for all
those who have a personal relationship with Jesus here and now on earth. The
heaven most people want and think they are entitled to is only prepared for
those who truly love and know God.
The alternative is hell --
a place void of life and outside of the presence of God.
Judgment Before the
Great White Throne:
Rev 20:11 And I saw
a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the
heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and
another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged
out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the
sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead
which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire.
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