It was summer time last year and we were replacing out carpet with wood floors. The fella that we had hired had a very odd personality… very quite around my parents, but when they would leave he would become very talkative with me.
He was in his 40’s. I in my early twenties, and to say the least it struck me as kind of weird. After a few weeks of him working in our home he revealed to me that he was a Jehovah’s Witness and began discussing the topic of “hell” with me.
He assured me that the word “hell was not found in the scriptures. I pointed him to Luke chapter 16… apparently he was new to the JW’s. He turned extremely white and began to look confused. Moments later he told me he was done for the night… and he never returned.
Later that week I was sharing the story with a few of my friends… almost proud of my “higher theological knowledge.” I look back and am ashamed that I was ever proud of “proving” the existence of hell.
Now a year later, I am so thankful that my eyes have been opened to the parables… and even though I do not have a full understanding of what they mean, I am progressively learning the truth and unlearning the lies that I have believed for so long.
Yesterday, again on my lunch break… I sat down to read for a bit at a small dinner her in town. I opened up my bible to Matthew chapter 8… when I reached verse 5, it was as though a veil was lifted from my eyes… I gained new understanding concerning the parable of the rich man and lazarus…
It goes as follows… (NKJV)
5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
It sounded so familiar, but what did it mean. At that very moment I recalled the parable of the rich man and lazarus from luke 16.
Praise God, that no scripture in and of itself can be self solving. (2 Peter 1:20)
As I finished reading I was reminded of Ray’s Paper, the 12 Truths… let me quote #6
TRUTH NUMBER 6
[A] "…that in the mouth of TWO OR THREE WITNESSES every word may be established" (Matt. 18:16).
"…In the mouth of TWO OR THREE WITNESSES shall every word be established" (II Cor. 13:1).
[C] "And I will give power unto my TWO WITNESSES…" (Rev. 11:3).
Praise God! I am making ground slowly, but only through the grace of God who works ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL!
God’s Peace my friends.
Josh