In “toy machine gun lesson” Jefferson Vann talks about the ultimate consequence of disobeying God: destruction in hell.
Jeremiah 2:14-22 (JDV)
Jeremiah 2:14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why else has he become a seized property?
Jeremiah 2:15 The young lions have roared at him; they have roared loudly. They have laid waste his land. His cities are in ruins, without inhabitants.
Jeremiah 2:16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have also cracked your forehead.
Jeremiah 2:17 Did you not bring this on yourself by leaving Yahveh your God while he was leading you along the way?
Jeremiah 2:18 Now what would you gain by traveling along the way to Egypt to drink the water of the Nile? What would you gain by traveling along the way to Assyria to drink the water of the Euphrates?
Jeremiah 2:19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own acts of rebellion will reprimand you. Recognize how evil and bitter it is for you to leave Yahveh your God and to have no fear of me. This is the declaration of the Lord Yahveh of Armies.
Jeremiah 2:20 You see, long ago I broke your yoke; I tore off your chains. You insisted, “I will not serve!” On every high hill and under every green tree you lay down like a prostitute.
Jeremiah 2:21 I planted you, a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn into a disloyal, foreign vine?
Jeremiah 2:22 Even if you wash with strong soap and use lots of alkali, the stain of your violation still stares me in the face. This is the Lord Yahveh’s declaration.
toy machine gun lesson
Gary Havener highlighted verse 17 when he told a story from his childhood about a toy machine gun:
“One Christmas when I was somewhere around 8 or 9 years old I got a toy machine gun with all the bells and whistles. It was my responsibility at the time to defend Hatchet Cove (where I lived in Friendship, Maine) from a cold war invasion by the Soviet Union. I was adamant to go outside despite the frigid cold and snowy conditions and disregarded warnings from my father that my new toy gun would break. Dressed in my winter gear I took one step out the back door and promptly slipped on the icy steps falling on my toy gun which broke in two pieces. Despite my wails of grief I learned that I was responsible for the results of my actions and that Dad knows best, plus plastic gets brittle in the cold. God warns Israel and us of the same results if we reject his guidance and insist on having our own way.” [1]
There will be a judgment day when Jesus returns, and everyone will have to answer for choosing to go their own way, instead of heeding the warning of God. The wages of this sin is death — complete destruction at God’s hand.
Jesus made a way of escape from that death we all deserve when he died on the cross for us. The gospel calls us all to put our faith in his atoning sacrifice, because the consequences of going our own way are permanent destruction in hell.
For more on the consequences of going our own way, see:
The Problem of Eternal Conscious Punishment
Hell is an apologetics concern
Four Views of Hell Review and Summary
The Bible versus The Traditional View of Hell
History of Hell | Hell before Augustine
How hell will really glorify God
Erasing Hell Review by Jefferson Vann
Cast into Hell: Gehenna in Luke’s Gospel
Hell No! | Hell in the Old Testament
The Unconscious Intermediate State | Scaling the Wall
Review of Hell a Final word by Edward Fudge
A final punishment bibliography
Hell No! | What did Jesus say?
Hell No! | Hell and the Garden
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matthew 13
only two destinies | Permanent Life | Permanent Death
What is the Fate of the Wicked?
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Gary Havener “Be Responsible.” Maranatha Advent Christian devotional. Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
About Jefferson Vann
Jefferson Vann is a teacher, Bible translator, and avid blogger. "My hope is that everyone who reads my writings will have an opportunity to understand the gospel, and will know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior." He has written books on theology and Bible commentary. You can read more of Jeff's writing at Devotions | Jefferson Vann | Commands of Christ | Learning Koine Greek Together
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