How does God cope with separation from the “Lost”?

[TotalVictory]

In our study/discussion period before church yesterday, a participant (I never could tell what his major point was; why he even brought this up…) told of a lady he knew whose boys were proving to be rather troubled and difficult. And in her exasperation she stated that if she had to chose between living in heaven with God but without her two boys, or elsewhere with her boys but without God, she would surely chose the later.

And this participant was scandalized! He felt this represented a tragic lack of faith on the part of that woman and he asserted that she was confused and knew not what she said. And the rest of the class seemed to agree with him…

Well! I took it upon myself to defend that lady. I said that much as that mom loves her two boys, the bible seems to suggest that God’s love for them is even more deep and vast. Further, I wondered aloud if this was simply a false choice being presented; either God or the sons. Then I found myself making an assertion which I’m not sure I’ve ever made before and am wondering what you all think of this statement/idea —

“I am unaware of any place in the bible where it is suggested that God has discovered a way of coping with the eternal separation from and loss of His creation. There seems not a hint of sorrow or sadness in God when this whole drama is resolved – as Revelation promises it will be. If there will be no more tears, that must include the “tears” of God as well. Instead, what we find in lots and lots of places in scripture are assurances of God’s Total and complete victory and His complete redemption of the entire fallen creation.”

So what do you think of this notion? If God has a means of “getting over” the loss of some parts of His creation that suggests to me that God only does this by no longer loving that person. Yet that makes no sense at all. If God continues to love that eternally lost (or burning) person, is it even conceivable that he somehow hides this love and loss within Himself?? No, I’m not suggesting that God somehow needs us to be complete and whole; what I am saying is that the very idea of biblical “justice” involves the great acts of God in restoring all back to the original created order. That what God’s righteousness is. So there simply is no need for God to deal with the eternal loss of those He created and loves because they will not be eternally lost…

Am I correct to see no indication that God has devised a way to deal with His grief for the “Lost” and that this can safely and rightly suggest this is because all are eventually saved?

TotalVictory
Bobx3

[Lefein]

If God grieves forever, then how can he wipe all tears away, and get rid of all sorrow, if sorrow and grief permeate and interpenetrate the very infinite God in whom dwells “the all” (the saved)?

Sorrow, and grief would be infinite and eternal in the very Heavenly realms, and in the very saved of God! Contradicting the prophecy and making Revelation a book that has lied, and the hopes of Christians everywhere a lie.

But if God can indeed ‘get over’ the eternally lost, then he must indeed stop loving them with infinite love. That would bring change to the unchangable Godhead, and make God subject to circumstances, rather than his divine nature; which is Himself, which is Love. His sovereignty would be questionable at its very root.

[corpselight]

that’s amazing TV, that same thought crossed my mind recently… God whipes our tears, but who whipes His?
He is the Father that waits…and waits…and waits… for the prodigal to return.
if the prodigal is lost…the sorrow of God would be infinite! i find it hard to believe that God would allow a situation where He suffers forever, even if He has managed to comfort us for the loss of our loved ones.

i think the notion that God does not love the lost is demonstrably false. i think that this is the biggest flaw in Calvinism, this limit of God’s love which is described throughout the entire Bible in ways that suggest that His anger is temporary but His favour lasts for all time. Being angry eternally as a coping mechanism would also introduce anger into this new Kingdom of love and peace…and that doesn’t make sense either.

all more evidence that God gets His way in the end. God being angry or sad for all eternity…doesn’t make sense.

now, i am interpreting this in a very human manner, and i’m aware that it’s impossible to get into God’s infinite head with my little one, so it’s possible i am wrong. but God does reveal Himself in Scripture, and one of the flaws i had noted with ECT from years back was the idea that God’s wrath could be anything but temporary and instructive. certainly not something so irrational as a coping method for something outside of His control.

as for God’s ability to cope with the sadness of the eternally lost? how much of the Bible that talks of eternal victory is tainted by sadness? absolutely none that i can think of. there’s the sorrow of the judged…but that’s temporary and not indicative of the total victory… God is not referred to as being whistful about that guy He was trying to save but slipped through His fingers. He’s just full of love, overflowing and finally reciprocated by His grateful creation.

[AllanS]

That’s a great thought, TV. If the cross reveals God’s suffering at the hands of sinful man, the resurrection reveals the glory which follows.

In Genesis, we have God hovering above the chaos before filling heaven with light (wisdom). Then reaching in, he begins to transform chaos into order. Each day goes from evening (chaos) to morning (cosmos). God’s heavenly light cannot penetrate far into the dark ocean of chaos, so he makes the sun, moon and stars. Finally, he himself descends into our dark realm. Christ is the light of the world. In John’s Revelation, the chaotic sea has been turned to glass glowing with inner light. Chaos has been utterly defeated. Death and hell are no more. The sun, moon and stars no longer are needed. God himself illuminates all. His creation is utterly, absolutely, gloriously complete.

[Melchizedek]

Bob;

The only thing I see in scripture that speaks to how God copes with separation from the lost, is the concept that we find where He leaves the 99 and goes out to seek that 100th sheep until he finds it!

[AllanS]

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.”

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me… Though you were ruined and made desolate and your land laid waste, now you will be too small for your people…" Isa 49