your book offers me damnation if I don't accept it without question or proof.
Jeff,
No. You won't be damned based on whether or not you accepted some book. You'll be damned for breaking any one of God's moral laws. And for that, you already have all the proof you need to determine guilt or innocence. I believe that no one will be in hell that didn't chose to go there.
"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" - John 5:40
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." -John 3:18
God must judge, or else he would be a collaborator in evil. It is in any executive job description. I don't understand why people have such a hard time with judgment. I didn't come to a belief in God because I was scared of hell. I doubt most do. I believed in God because I finally got to the end of myself. I decided that I would not try to be good anymore. I decided that I would not try and impress anyone any longer. I gave God permission to do with me what he will... I didn't care what happened to myself any longer. My life got a lot worse immediately. My family rejected me because I let them see my Christmas tree. What I feared since I was a child finally came to pass. I just kept going. I didn't try to be good just because I was going to church either.
Slowly but surely, good happened. Blessings happened. Marriage happened. Children happened. Obstacles happened with no way out. God happened. Then, one day he presented himself to me through the Holy Spirit and for several days thereafter. I believe my spirit went on up into heaven one particular night and addressed angels. He just didn't show himself like someone asking for a magician to do another trick. He showed himself as my father, his spirit bearing witness with my spirit in utter peace and tranquility. The Holy Spirit is AWESOME let me tell you.
I remember the first time I was praying and called God Daddy. I was shocked that it slipped out so easily. But, that is what he is to me. He spoke the name that is reserved for me in heaven into my spirit early one morning as well.
These are not rare occurances. I have spoken to many believers with such encounters with God. No doubt, this sounds like madness. But this is my testimony. Take from it what you will or curse it, I don't care. I know that God exists. I know that judgment day is real because God said it, I believe it, and that settles it. Jesus talked alot about hell. So do I.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name [Jesus] - John 1:12
May you receive him as Mediator.
