Saved From or For …

The above graphic is a photo of The Door To Hell. The following line was on a church’s website as the third and last step in a plan of salvation:

ASK HIM TO SAVE YOU FROM HELL!

This is not an unusual entry in the list of reasons to come to know and love God, but it’s not the best one.

Yes, the Bible tells us there is a heaven and there is a hell. The Bible also lays out the requirements for both as well as stories about people who ended up in one or the other, pretty much how they got there. I don’t recall one instance where a person chose God out of fear of hell but of fear of God and a desire to serve Him.

The choice stood before Joshua and his people:

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15 KJV)

Moses had made a similar statement earlier:

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 KJV)

The phrase “from hell” is found twice in Proverbs, no where else. So, why do find ourselves seeking God?  Why should we obey Him besides fearing hell?

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:15-19 KJV)

He loves us. What does the Bible say is required?

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8 KJV)

So – when selecting to scare me out of hell, please spend as many words, as much time, in teaching me of the Lord who loves me and wishes me to walk humbly with Him. Please?