Perceptions #200015

Earthquakes, Hell and Love

by Penney Nichols
Bakersfield, California

It was fall, 1989 immediately after the World Series earthquake. Caltrans engineers were working to determine why the Bay bridges collapsed. Politicians were trying to find someone to blame. The same lawmakers were trying to find the resources to pay for all the repairs.

It was January, 1994. After the Northridge Earthquake, Caltrans engineers were working to find a cause for the collapse of highway overpasses. Politicians were determined to blame someone. Government officials were putting repairs on the fast track, regardless of the cost.

In both instances, earthquake survival kits were the hottest things on the market. And now? Hardly anyone pays attention to the supplies they have on hand.

Why does anyone live in California when there is a 40% to 60% chance of being caught in the "Big One?" Why do we build cities on top of geographic areas that are more like fractured asphalt than solid concrete? Why do we ignore our earthquake kits?

The answer is simple. We can only be afraid for so long before fear loses its power to control. It then becomes a matter of "yes, earthquakes are coming but there will not be one where I live." We learn to dismiss the fear as unrealistic.

Do you suppose that this might explain why the fear of hell does not change the lives of many people? Once one gets past the initial shock that hell awaits the lost, most go about their business with the knowledge that there might be a hell but, if there is, it is for someone else, not me. Bypassing the fear does not change the reality of the event but fear quickly loses its motivational power.

Perhaps this is why the Holy Spirit says; "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love cast out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:16 - 18 NIV).

This is why Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." He knew that fear of hell, like the fear of earthquakes, would not long sustain or motivate us. However, love will.

This is why the one who loves works harder than the one who fears. How much do you love?

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