Q: Does God get ‘Glory’ out of sending those to Hell who reject Him?
Q: Does God get ‘Glory’ out of sending those to Hell who reject Him?
A: Now .., that’s a deep theological question!!!
I believe Ecclesiastes 12:13 sums it up best, by saying, “The whole duty of man is to fear God, and keep His commandments.”
When King Solomon mentions this wise proverb, he’s saying, ‘the fear of God,” means to reverence God, love Him, and have faith in Him, through His Son, Christ; and by keeping His commandments, throughout sacred Scripture, “ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD!”
When one seeks to do this, it makes a man whole, complete, entire, and wanting nothing; whereas, without God’s glory, in God’s eyes, man is nothing; regardless of how much natural wisdom, wealth, honour, and profits, that he possesses in this world.
Now that I know, “What is the duty of man?” It behoves me to know, “What is the chief end of man?” These two phrases compliment one another, and should add great benefit to the question at hand.
The Westminster Catechism [written in the mid 1600 by a church council of English and Scottish theologians] is noted for giving the most complete understanding of, “What is the chief end of man?” It is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
It is spelled out for mankind throughout sacred Scripture: for instance, 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God;” and Psalm 73:24-26, You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.”
The phrase ‘chief end’, can better be rendered, aim or purpose; and the phase, ‘to glorify God’, simply means to acknowledge Him in all his attributes, wisdom, holiness, power, goodness, and truth, that He manifests of Himself to, all beings. So, in essence, the chief aim (purpose) of man is to “finish the work God has given him to do, while here on earth, so that, at death, he can enjoy God forever!”
We see this promise throughout Scripture, Jude 1:24, “Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault.” And Matthew 25:21, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’ These will be the most satisfying words that a child of God will hear in his heart, on that glorious day.
The conclusion of the matter is this: as believers, we know God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. However, if you’d take a survey of Christianity, like the Pew Forum and George Barna, the statistics show that many Americans, who proclaim to be disciples of Christ, only want enough of His glory to make it to heaven. They’ve been caught up in erroneous teachings, in these last days, in areas of Deification of man – putting man first in their lives: Jesus came to make YOU bigger and better. Challenging the authority of God’s word – God didn’t really mean that … there’s no literal Hell … the Bible is a collection of religious traditions. Legalism – one’s own view of holiness … Hyper grace – their own standard of what’s acceptable; and Universal Reconciliation – at the end, EVERYONE eventually goes to heaven, because of Jesus at the Cross!
So, is God glorified in those who reject Him?
Absolutely, according to Romans 9:22-23, “What if God, although willing to show His [terrible] wrath and to make His power known, has tolerated with great patience the objects of His wrath [which are] prepared for destruction? And what if He has done so to make known the riches of His glory to the objects of His mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory.”
These verses tell us that there are those, who simply refuse to be satisfied living in God’s grace, but prefer to live outside of the ‘ark of safety’, and enjoy the pleasures of sin for seasons; therefore, the glory of God’s wrath is justified, when they’re righteously punished by a holy God. The last book of the Bible sums it up best, Revelation 19:1, “After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the Lord! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. His judgments are true and just.
He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of His servants.”