The Devil himself

When asked, on his death-bed, whether he renounced the Devil, Voltaire is reputed to have said - "Now is not the time to be making enemies".

I found the above joke on someone's facebook page. It made me chuckle. It's one of those clever throw away lines not to be given too much thought to isn't it? or is it?

I laughed. I re-posted it and then I thought "Hang on a minute". So Voltaire is on his death-bed and he is hedging his bets? He must believe there is something or someone out there or he might say "Matters not as there is no heaven and hell".

Yet he did not do what God asks us to do (according to the Bible) which is to "put our trust in Him". Here are some quotes from the Bible asking us to do just that "put our trust in Him?”

What he does is hedge and I think that is borne out of a mistaken belief of what hell is like. I have heard people talking of "having a party in hell" as "all my friends will be there any way".

If there is a hell, and I understand it to be simply, without God for eternity - then that doesn't sound much like party

1 Samuel 27:12

And Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant."

1 Samuel 27:11-12 (in Context) 1 Samuel 27 (Whole Chapter)

2 Kings 18:5

He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.

2 Kings 18:4-6 (in Context) 2 Kings 18 (Whole Chapter)

2 Kings 18:21

Behold, you are trusting now in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

2 Kings 18:20-22 (in Context) 2 Kings 18 (Whole Chapter)

1 Chronicles 5:20

And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him.

1 Chronicles 5:19-21 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 5 (Whole Chapter)

Job 15:31

Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself,for emptiness will be his payment.

Job 15:30-32 (in Context) Job 15 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 22:8

"He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him;let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"

Psalm 22:7-9 (in Context) Psalm 22 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield;in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;my heart exults,and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 28:6-8 (in Context) Psalm 28 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 33:21

For our heart is glad in him,because we trust in his holy name.

Psalm 33:20-22 (in Context) Psalm 33 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

Psalm 37:4-6 (in Context) Psalm 37 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 56:1

[ In God I Trust ] To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;all day long an attacker oppresses me;

Psalm 56:1-3 (in Context) Psalm 56 (Whole Chapter)