A Haiku on Hell

A Haiku on Hell
Scripture tells us that
God is a Consuming Fire,
and that God is Love.

The Consuming Fire of God and the Love of God are not two opposing forces which must be somehow balanced out, one against the other. It is, rather, two different ways of speaking about the same thing — the Divine Love poured out at the Cross.

It is the Divine Judgment condemning sin and evil, purging and cleansing us from it. It is Love in its chastening work, correcting and refining us, to deliver us from our false self and restore us to our True Self, which is Christ in us, and us in Christ.

The Love of God, the Fire of Hell

“God is Love,” and “God is a Consuming Fire.” Whatever form the fire of God may take, it is always a manifestation of God’s love. It is a refiner’s fire that purges and purifies, burning away all impurities, while preserving intact what is good, what comes from God.

“Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the LORD a proper offering.” (Malachi 3:2-3)

“For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

“Everyone will be salted with fire.” (Mark 9:49)