The Painting Titled Your Choice By James Anderson (Note: It is a mystery to us how Man's freewill is entangled with God’s foreknowledge and predestination of the salvation of men.) The painting displays a picture of the hands of God holding in place the cross of Christ over the planet earth. Above the cross is a depiction of heaven, represented by the blue sphere. Above the cross is a narrow set of stairs that leads to an extremely small opening (gate). Below the earth is a coffin that leads to a very large door (gate) filled with fire. This door is the opening to Hell. Hell is depicted as a dark sphere. GOD PROVIDES THE MEANS OF SALVATION THE HANDS OF GOD God, as man, dies for his own creation to save all men from their sins and ultimate destruction. Colossians 1:15-16 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. Mark 10:45 45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." SALVATION BY MEANS OF THE CROSS Colossians 1:19-20 19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. THE CHOICE OF HEAVEN OR HELL IS YOURS God have given to each man a free will. He will not impose His wishes upon anyone. God’s wish for mankind is that none would perish but that all would come to repentance and belief. However, man is in a state of rebellion. 1 Corinthians 1:18-20 18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. THE COFFIN The Scriptures describe the experience of going to Hell as “the second death”. Revelation 21:7-8 7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." THE GATES OF HEAVEN AND HELL Matthew 7:13-14 13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.