If you’re like me, you’ve heard and read a lot about hell.
Maybe you’ve been instructed to go there. Or, perhaps you’ve been the one who’s suggested the place to a coworker. Maybe?
And no, I’m not referring to Hell, Michigan.
What do I think about hell?
I think it’s a real place; a place no one in their right mind would purposely choose to visit.
Yet people seem to be living their lives as though hell is their ultimate goal.
Why?
Maybe they aren’t convinced hell is real, or that it’s as bad as people say.
So I ask you, “What’s so bad about hell?”
It’s reported to be very hot. Jesus referred to hell fire, in Matthew 5:22. So is heat and fire the bad thing about hell?
Possibly, but I don’t think so.
You see, hell would still be the place to stay away from even it would freeze over.
Jesus mentions hell as a place of judgment; a place where people are sent who’ve received a sentence of damnation, condemning them forever to the worst place imaginable. Matthew 23:33
Would hell be an okay place if the sentence was a little milder? Would it be alright if people only had to spend a couple of years there?
No. Hell would still be the place to avoid, even if a person only had to spend one minute there.
The rich man, mentioned by Jesus in Luke 16, found himself in hell’s torment. Apparently he was thirsty, and couldn’t find anything that would quench his thirst.
Would hell be tolerable if there were plenty of water fountains? Or, maybe if an ice cream truck made regular rounds? Surely that would make it alright.
No. Hell wouldn’t be worth it even if a inexhaustible supply of water AND Blue Bunny ice cream were offered.
Hell would still be hell.
It is also a well known belief that hell is completely and utterly dark. Would it be alright if you were allowed to plug in a nightlight?
Another belief is that hell is a place of total isolation. So do you think it might be okay if hell instituted some sort of visitation program?
No. It would change the fact that hell is THE place to avoid.
Even if hell was a cool 70 degrees, well lit, with plenty of time for partying with your friends, it wouldn’t be the place I’d care to visit.
And if I’d have the power to make hell the garden spot of the universe, it would still be nothing more than some old dump.
What’s so bad about hell?
Jesus isn’t there. To me, that’s reason enough to stay clear.
“…in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 ESV)
So, what do YOU think about hell?
Jan Grace 