I believe good question asking is a gift. I have several friends that model this so beautifully to me. A good question does not bring ones own bias to the table but really seeks to understand. A good question doesn’t bring the answer to the table but in humility listens. However, so often we can have a tendency to bring our own answers to questions. We ask not really seeking to know the true answer but wanting to hear an answer that we think is best.

I tell people often that asking questions about God is a very good thing. My story of coming to Christ actually started with a simple question about God. For the very first time I read my Bible seeking to know truth not bringing my own understanding or answer to God but asking Him to show me and in His mercy the Lord let me see the answer I was looking for…Jesus. We must not bring our own answers to the table when we are seeking to know the Lord. His ways are not our ways. Oh how much greater are his thoughts than ours! There is no one like the Lord.

An example of a question I hear people ask about God often is “How could a loving God send people to hell?” It’s a very common question and one you may have yourself. Often this question can be asked with people bringing their own biased thinking to the table that it is not right and good for God to send people to an eternity of hell. Asked in this way this is not a good question because one is bringing their own answer to the table thinking it can’t be right and good for God to do this.  Do you see how one can bring their own opinion here?

I would suggest change the “How” to a “Who” in this question to really asking who is this loving God that must punish sin. Once you see the WHO in this question the question about the how becomes perfectly clear.

In Isaiah 6 we see Isaiah saw a glimpse at the holiness of the Lord and his response was “Woe to me!! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.” Isaiah did not have to ask God why would you send sinners to hell. He understood!!! He realized this is all he was worthy of, all that he deserved. You see when you see the WHO in the question it all makes sense that God is perfect in justice to pour out his wrath.

But praise the Lord he does not give us what we deserve!! Instead of condemnation he gives life for all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus. In Christ, God gives us the invitation to come into his very presence and dwell in his house for all eternity. When you see the WHO in the question you see that you deserve the very fire of God’s wrath for all eternity. BUT you also see His mercy that “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”   (2 Corinthians 2:21). Our own righteousness is like filthy rags before a Holy God but all who turn to Christ are dressed in His righteousness! The sinner can now come before a holy God as they’ve been washed white as snow in the blood of Jesus.

Wherever you are today and whatever questions you have turn to the Lord and ask him and you will hear Him on the pages of your Bible. BUT ask him a good question not bringing your own bias and understanding. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Seek the Lord with all your heart and all your soul and you will find him(Deuteronomy 4:29). Ask, seek, and knock. “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthews 7:8)

In Christ,

Lane