Dear editor:
This is a sincere reply to my old atheist friend, Mike Nunn, concerning his recent letter (Monday, March 12).
The last thing you said was: "In the end -- only kindness matters."
Actually, you are entirely correct in saying that, for when each one of us reaches the end of our lives on earth (as we all will), God's kindness toward us will be all that matters! His merciful, loving kindness.
"Don't you realize how patient He is being with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see that He has been waiting all this time without punishing you, to give you time to turn from your sin? His kindness is meant to lead you to repentance" (Romans 2:4).
The Bible reveals to us that God is a God of love, but He is also a God of justice who will punish sin wherever it is found. God is holy and pure and cannot tolerate sin!
This is a most serious matter, Mike. Imagine what it will be like to stand before God as your ultimate, final judge and be found guilty of sinning (offending) this holy God! Not good at all! You would desperately need someone to step in there and save you from a horrible eternal punishment in hell. Have you no fear of God? No? See Matthew 10:28!
The late great pastor, D. James Kennedy, used to suggest asking this question: If you were to die tonight and stand before God and God were to ask you, "Why should I let you into my heaven?" what would you say?
Perhaps you might say something like, "God will accept me because I'm basically a good person. I haven't killed anybody; I give to the poor; I don't rob people," etc.
Sorry, Mike, but that's not going to be good enough. The Bible tells us that all have fallen short of God's perfect standard (Romans 3:23)! Only one sin would be enough to make you guilty before God. Just one!
But the good news of the Bible is that you can be saved from eternal punishment by trusting in Jesus Christ, who was punished in your place!
How is that for kindness? "God showed how much he loved us by sending His only Son into this wicked world to bring us eternal life through His death."
"In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but His love for us when He sent His Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins" (1 John 4:9, 10).
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). You need a Savior, Mike! What more could He do? He willingly died so that you could live forever in an eternal paradise called heaven!
We've met and chatted over coffee and I still hope you will turn to Jesus before it's too late!
Please also buy a book called "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist" by Geisler and Turek.
Lloyd Hoffman
Hot Springs
Editorial on 03/18/2018