Out of the blue one of the people in the group said something that I just cannot get out of my mind. Although this is not a direct quote, what they said went something like this, “And what about all that talk about hell? Hell is not something I like to think about, it is not something that I talk to my children about, it is not something that we hear sermons about. I just don’t think about it.”
I will agree that we don’t, for the most part, hear too many sermons on hell, but let me tell you, I can remember vividly the one I heard Rev. Dick Baker preach when I was not much more than 12 or 13 years old and it convinced me that I didn’t want any part of hell. Admittedly I am a slow learner and unfortunately I sometimes have to take the field trip instead of learning out of the textbook, but hell is one subject that you DO NOT want to take the field trip on, because you don’t get to come back to class!!
So, let’s see what the Bible says about this topic of hell. In Hebrew, the word for hell is ‘sheol’ and it means underworld, pit, place of no return, without praise of God. The Greek word for hell is ‘gehenna’. This name identified an actual place in ancient Israel known as the valley of Hinnom. It was located south of Jerusalem and the trash of the city as well as dead animals were burned there. The MacArthur Study Bible study notes for Matthew 5: 22 says that ‘in Jesus’ day, it was a garbage dump where fires burned continually and was thus an apt symbol of eternal life.’ Can you even imagine the place? Try to for just a moment. The city dump that continually burned is a bad enough picture but then throw in the smell of rotten, burning flesh of dead animals and it becomes a hideous picture.
The prophet Isaiah talked about hell rejoicing at the fall of the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14: 9 and just a few verses later in his description of the fall of Lucifer, better known as Satan, from heaven, he tells us that because of Satan’s insatiable desire for power and his pride, he would be brought down to hell, to the lowest depths of hell. In Proverbs 27:20, Solomon warns his son that “hell and destruction are never full”. Although this world we live in is currently under the influence of Satan’s dark kingdom which originates in hell, there is coming a day when Satan will be cast into hell and he will never get out.
Unfortunately, hell is real and it is not only for Satan. Hell will be the final destination for all who choose to reject Jesus as their Lord. In Proverbs 23: 13 Solomon says, “Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.” Ok, I’m not discussing corporal punishment in this post, although I believe that a good spanking never hurt any kid and a heap more kids need a heap more spankings. What this verse tells us is that hell is a place where people can go. Notice I did not say, ‘where people are sent’. God doesn’t SEND anyone to hell. People make the choice to spend eternity in hell.
So, what about this choice? This may be news to some people, but none of us are perfect!! Only perfect people get into heaven, while everyone else is headed for hell. God knew that the entire human race was doomed because no one was perfect. Imperfection or sin requires death as the payment. You and I deserve to die because of our imperfection and that would mean we would be headed for hell. God allowed His perfect Son, Jesus, to step up and pay the payment for my sin and your sin. Jesus died on a cross and took my punishment. He was buried and rose again and lives in heaven with God today.
Does what Jesus did keep me out of hell? Well, yes and no. Yes, His payment was enough, but it was only enough if I ask for it to pay the fine for my sin. Unless I admit that I am sinful, tell God that I am sorry for my sin and ask Jesus to allow His blood to cover or pay for my sin, I am still headed for hell. Again, God doesn’t SEND anyone to hell. Those who refuse to recognize and admit their sin and ask Jesus to forgive them are the ones who are choosing hell.
Hell is a very, very real place and it is a place that we all must consider in this life whether we want to or not. God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell, but the He leaves the choice up to you and me. So, what will it be—heaven or hell?
