Ok, I’m not sure that these thoughts I have are all theology-related, but it made for a snappier title than “Some Unpopular Random Thoughts I Had While Driving Down Franklin Road.” Here are a few for your reading pleasure (or possible displeasure, depending on your point of view).

1) Not everyone will get into heaven. If you read the Bible and hold it to any kind of place of authority, you must concede that not every person will be saved. The sad part is that there will be many religious, morally upright, seemingly perfect people who will say to Jesus one day, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we do miracles and heal the sick and give tithes and never miss a Sunday at church?” and His response will be, “Depart from me. I never knew you.”

2) God’s ultimate plan is not about you being happy and comfortable and rich. God’s ultimate plan is not ultimately about you. It’s about God. God’s overall plan is to bring glory to His own name and have as many people who will be able to bow and profess Jesus as Lord of their own will as possible. The good part about that is what what brings God the most glory also happens to be what is best for you and me. God is most glorified, a famous writer stated, when we are most satisfied in Him.

3) God does not favor America. Americans are not better than the rest of the world and God is not oblidged to bless us because we were once a Christian nation. God’s chosen people are the Israelites and if God favors anyone, it is a group of people Jesus referred to as “the least of these”: the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, the sick, the poor. . . .essentially the underdog. Those are the ones closest to God’s heart.

4) Suffering is a part of following Jesus. Jesus Himself said that if we followed Him, we would face persecution and trouble. We live in a culture that goes to great lengths to avoid any discomfort or suffering, but those are what draw us to Jesus and make us more like Him. Paul called it the fellowship of His suffering, meaning that we as believers really unite and bond strongly during difficult times.

5) God wants you to know Him, but not on your terms. Always on His terms. There’s no other way to know God and get to heaven than through His own Son, Jesus. If there were any other way, God would have spared Jesus the agony and torture of the cross. If we could have been saved by good works or good deeds or any self-effort, Jesus would not hav needed to die. Jesus did not say He was a way or even the best way, but the only way.

The good news is that the gospel is too good to be true and yet it is still true. The news that you are loved passionately beyond your wildest dreams by the God of the universe is true. The news that His love can rescue and transform anyone  at any time from any hopeless situation is true. And whether or not I choose to believe these things does not in anyway make them any less true. These promises are as true as the God who made them.

Amen and amen.