TK,TK wrote:i might be wrong but i dont think Bill Gates is doing a lot of suffering, nor are likely 90% of the "unsaved" out there. they just live ther normal lives, have their normal problems, sin their normal sins, etc. but so do Christians. except that Chrisitans have an eternal hope.
what in the world am i missing here?
TK
This is a fair question. Here is my answer.
You mention Bill Gates. I don't know much about him personally except that I know he has given a lot of money to help a lot of people. His work in the computer field has helped the whole world become more productive. Just because someone has money doesn't make them a bad person.
Actually, Salvation and Eternal Life are all about having peace with God. It has nothing to do with social standing, wealth, intelligence, or physical attractiveness. The poorest person can have peace with God as well as someone like Bill Gates. The lowest person in a corporation can have peace with God as well as the CEO. It has nothing to do with your circumstance. But it does have everything to do with obeying the Law of Christ, which is to Love your neighbor as yourself. It has everything to do with being totally honest and upright in all your dealings with everyone. It is all about helping people and being kind. This is what the Bible means when it says we shall be judged by our works. If we ignor our neighbor's troubles when we are in a position to help, we will be punished by God through the action of our conscience and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The very rich and famous can live an absolutely miserable life if it is filled with selfishness and self-indulgence. This is what Hell is describing - a lifetime of misery of the soul of one who is self-seeking. Salvation through Christ is to deliver us from this kind of misery.
John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Christ deals with us individually regarding our sin. His punishments have a purpose - they are designed to bring about repentance so that we may enjoy his blessings of peace, joy, and love.
Christ's death on the cross was meant to deal with mankind as a whole. He purchased reconciliation for the whole of mankind through his sacrifice. This is the Grace of God, it applies to everyone without merit.
Rom 11:15
For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
2 Cor 5:19
that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Todd