By David Ettinger
Getting What They Deserve
I have read too many comments by well-known, book-publishing theologians, as well as well-meaning bloggers, regarding those who go to their graves – or will eventually go to their graves – without knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Of course, going to the grave in this condition means spending eternity in Hell. Though we may not like or accept this viewpoint, it is biblical fact as per John 3:16, John 3:36, and 1 John 5:11-12.
Though a tragic and somber fact, many Christians are far too casual and dismissing of it. Their cold-hearted convictions are usually verbalized as such: “They had their opportunity – an entire lifetime, in fact – to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If they didn’t do so, they got what they deserved.”
I call this the “They Deserve It” crowd.
Grow Up!
Theologically speaking, this is true. People have free will, and are free to either accept or reject Christ’s lordship. But when the “They Deserve It” crowd spews this truth, it is almost done with glee. It is cold, calculating, and compassionless. But it is correct.
And because it is correct, their advice to someone such as me who detests such spiritual frigidness would be something along the lines of: “Grow up, you little sissy! These people had their chance and blew it! And now they are receiving what their rejection fully warrants!”
I suppose I should grow up, but when my Jewish mother died at age 53 followed one year later by my 58-year-old Jewish father, I have every reason to believe that neither of them knew the Lord. Funny thing about that, though, is that I never thought “they got what they deserved!” Yes, I know they were faced with a choice and opted for the negative, but, somehow, I can’t quite find it deep inside – no matter how much I try to “grow up” – to glibly note just how much they deserved their fate. I suppose I still have a lot of theological growing up to do.
Fortunate Fate
I can’t help but notice how so many of the “They Deserve It” crowd have had the fortunate fate of having parents, siblings, and children who either all, or at least in great numbers, have accepted the lordship of Jesus Christ.

“It’s the most natural thing in the world,” they would say. “What, you have family members who don’t know the Lord? Well, whose fault is that?”
So cavalier. So calm and collected. Those of the “They Deserve It” crowd are like individuals living in a city which has just been leveled by an earthquake and, as it so happened, their homes were unscathed, and not a single family member harmed. They march through the ruins of their shattered city holding their heads high, chins up, eyes bright, and bask in the glow of God’s bestowed goodness upon them. “Too bad about those others,” they muse. “They should have lived on my street.”
Chosen For Faith
For those who flick their fingers of condemnation at the Christ-rejecters, there is a bit of self-examination they need to conduct. Though I don’t understand it all, I know that left on our own, human beings are incapable of coming to a knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear on this:
- John 6:44: “No one can come to me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
- John 6:65: “He [Jesus] went on to say, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.’”
- John 15:16: “You did not choose me [Jesus], but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit …”
- Ephesians 1:5: “… he [God] predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will …”
- Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Again, I don’t understand it all, but I know that we cannot come to faith in Christ unless He “chose” or “predestined” us. If He did not choose us, we would not have the faith to accept His lordship. Yet, at the same time, men and women are given the free will to reject Him. This includes those not “chosen.” I’m not sure how this all works other than to confess that these are the things of “the infinite,” and I am but a thing of “the finite.”
Clamp It, Folks
So, to the “They Deserve It” crowd, I say, “Clamp it!” The reality is that though the rejecters of Christ may deserve everlasting punishment, it is just as true that none of the “saved” deserves everlasting life. Eternity is God’s doing, not ours (Ephesians 2:8-9).
In the meantime, I have still not seen a single family member (parents, children, siblings included) come to Christ in my 34 years as a believer. As each year passes, at least one more relative leaves this world in unbelief and moves on to the next.
For those of you who icily believe they each got what they deserved, you’re certainly entitled to think as you like. But do me a favor: Keep it to yourself!
Sonrisa (Crissy)
May 21, 2020
I agree, none of us deserves Heaven but by the mercy of God.
I can relate to having no one in the family as a believer. And I would not tolerate anyone saying “they got what they deserved”.
Great post David.
LikeLiked by 2 people
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
Thank you, Crissy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lisa Beth
May 21, 2020
Brother David, I can hardly believe that even unbelievers would hold such cruel stand on eternal damnation. However, can someone even have the indwelling Holy Spirit and assert, “They got what they deserved”?
The crux of salvation is that we didnt get what we truly deserved! This should weigh and burden our hearts greatly towards the fate of the unsaved.
Will be praying for your family along with mine. Reminding myself,
“Faith is believing God even when there’s no physical evidence that He is answering our prayers”.
Press on brother.
LikeLiked by 4 people
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
Well said, Lisa Beth. Press on as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
Back again, Lisa Beth. Robert Chamberlain reblogged my post and has a very good reply, to which I responded. I thought you might find this part of it interesting:
“Excellent reply, Robert. I’ll tell you what sparked my post which you reblogged.
I was reading a book on apologetics by a very famous apologist, and he was dealing with the questions: “What about those who live in ‘far-off’ lands who never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel? How can God condemn them if they never heard the Gospel?”
His primary response came across this way: “If the Gospel hasn’t reached them, then God has not ordained them for salvation. It is not something Christians should stress over.”
There is a degree of truth here, but I was like, Okay, I’m glad you’re so comfortable with that. Of course, the man is an intellectual, and he was using reason; but sometimes reason can strip us of our compassion. I suppose it’s sometimes easier to be comfortable with the damnation of others knowing that your salvation is secure.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lisa Beth
May 21, 2020
Wow, important perspectives. I’m so grateful that neither Jesus nor the Apostles were ‘intellectuals’!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Robert
May 21, 2020
My reply was getting a bit long winded so I’m going to reblog with a comment! Thanks for your post brother.
LikeLiked by 2 people
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
Thank you, Robert.
LikeLike
Robert
May 21, 2020
I’ve posted my reblog/reply now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
seekingdivineperspective
May 21, 2020
Wow … That attitude makes me wonder if they really grasp what salvation is all about, which makes me wonder if they are truly saved.
I am reminded of the unforgiving servant … and shudder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
Great points.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vicklea
May 21, 2020
None of us deserves to be saved. It is only through God’s mercy and grace that we can enter into Heaven. Praise God that He saw me and saved me, and my prayer is that others will be saved, too. Never, never do I say “he/she deserves to go to Hell.” No! Hell was created for Satan, not for humans, so no one deserves to go there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
I think the ultimate place of damnation is the lake of fire. From what I understand, this is something beyond Hell. It makes for interesting study!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vicklea
May 21, 2020
Oh, I hope you look into that and post about it. It would be very educational for us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
I think I may have several years back, but not sure. Will look into it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
Hi Vickie. I wrote a new article on Hell NOT being the final destination for unbelievers. I will post it later this afternoon, along with links to the previous two articles I wrote on the topic.
Thank you very much for pressing me on it, it led to me writing this very important post.
LikeLike
Bruce Cooper
May 21, 2020
There, but for the grace of God, go I!
LikeLiked by 1 person
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
Amen, Bruce!
LikeLike
Thaddeus Irvine
May 21, 2020
On the subject of Heaven, can anyone suggest good resources on the issue of Christian Universalism (UNiversal Reconciliation), as this seems to be gaining much ground even among Christians and several pastors and preachers? The idea that, since Jesus died for all, then all would be ultimately saved.
LikeLiked by 1 person
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
I’m familiar with that view, and imagine it can be easily found through a Google search. Let me know if you find something.
LikeLike
Dee ❤ Sixth Seal Ministries
May 21, 2020
Amen David. “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live.” Ezekiel 33:11. If even God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, I wonder how these people think their prideful arrogance will escape God’s notice and discipline.
LikeLiked by 1 person
dettinger47
May 21, 2020
Well said, Dee. Amen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bill Sweeney
May 24, 2020
Amen, brother. People who say “they deserve it” Don’t understand the horrors of hell. They also don’t understand grace. They are self-righteous. I only say, “I deserve it!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
dettinger47
May 24, 2020
So true. Well said, Bill.
LikeLike