WHAT IS HELL REALLY LIKE?

Contrary to popular belief, hell is not a physical place of unending physical fire. Rather, hell is described in the bible metaphorically as a place of both darkness and flames. Clearly both of these images can’t be true or they would cancel each other out (flames would light up the darkness). These images were used to clarify the reality and seriousness of hell. Flames were typically used in the Old Testament to indicate judgment and darkness indicated separation and loss.

Thus, rather than unending torture, at the root of hell is a relational separation from God characterized by utter agony and despair. Hell is truly the greatest loss imaginable. To be in hell is to be excluded from the very source of life, goodness, and hope—God himself.

Does this mean hell is not that bad? I often ask my students if they would prefer a broken arm or a broken heart. Most prefer the broken arm. Why? Because they realize emotional pain can sometimes be even greater than physical pain. The Bible uses physical imagery such as flames to help us grasp the emotional horrors of hell. Hell is the worst possible situation that could ever happen to a person.

WHY DOES GOD SEND PEOPLE TO HELL?

God does not “send” people to hell. Rather, people freely choose to reject God’s gift of salvation. God has given people freedom of will, which means some may be “always resisting the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). God desires that everyone believes in him (2 Peter 3:9). But the sad reality is that many people do not want to submit their lives to God.

Heaven and hell are not surprise outcomes. Hell is the natural consequence for people who reject God in this life, just as heaven is the natural outcome for those who embrace Him. Our eternal destiny logically and naturally flows from how we lived and operated on earth. Hell is both punishment and the result of a mind set against God. In fact, heaven would be hell for those who do not want to be in God’s presence.

IS HELL UNJUST?

One might object to hell on the grounds that the punishment of hell is disproportionate to the crime. As some might put it, “How could wrongs in this life merit an eternal punishment?” One response is simply to admit this objection but realize that those in hell might be punished for eternity nonetheless. It might be that those in hell originally had a sentence that did not merit eternal punishment, but their unrestrained sinful nature continually leads them to sin and thus amount penalties which are never satisfied.

Second, it is actually false that sins committed in this life only merit a temporary penalty. The weight of an offense depends on the nature of the being offended. Plants, animals, and humans are three different types of beings that warrant different punishments for crimes committed against them. Injury to a human deserves a greater penalty than injury to a cat. Since God is infinitely greater than any human offenses against Him merit an eternal penalty.

DOES GOD SEND CHILDREN TO HELL?

There is biblical precedent to believe in an “age of accountability” in which children who die go directly to God’s presence. Isaiah 7:16 mentions a period before a child is morally accountable to God, before the child, “knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right.” David lost a child conceived in his relationship with Bathsheba. In 2 Samuel 12:23 David says, “I will go to him, but he will not come to me.” There will be no one in hell that would not have chosen God had they simply been given more time to repent.

WHY DOESN’T GOD FORCE PEOPLE TO GO TO HEAVEN?

God created human beings to have a meaningful relationship with him, even though he knew some would reject him. God didn’t want robots; he wanted a creation that would freely choose to love him. For God to force people into heaven against their desires would be to deny them their dignity. Rather than treating them as valuable beings, he would be treating them as means to an end. When people say “no” to God He respects their wishes.

There are more questions and issues that could be raised against hell than I have dealt with here. Hopefully this has given you some thoughtful responses to some common objections. Was hell the only option for God? It is just and moral? Is it logical? Clearly Jesus thought it was… and so do I.

Take the next step:
Are my sins to big to be forgiven?
10 questions about faith
Have more questions about God? Talk to a mentor.

Take the next step:
Have you been suffering?
Dealing with death
Are you experiencing a crisis? Talk to a mentor.

Take the next step:
Dealing with life’s hard questions 
Does God care?
Are you dealing with death and disease? Talk to a mentor.

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

After Jesus describes what the kingdom of heaven is like He explains who can enter His kingdom. The world around us promotes the rich, the powerful, the athletic, the beautiful and the intelligent. Not so with God’s kingdom.

His list looks quite different:

·    “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
·    “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
·    “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” (Matthew 19:14)
·    “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)
·    “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?” (James 2:5)

We understand that humility and complete trust in God form the baseline of essential qualities for entering God’s kingdom. Yet something deeper and less attractive pushes into my mind as I ponder these verses. What do children have in common with the poor and the persecuted? They’re powerless.

I want a guaranteed way into the kingdom of heaven. Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. But the truth is that we are all powerless to enter God’s kingdom. It’s beyond us. We need Jesus Christ to make us right with God. Acknowledging our powerlessness is the first step toward entering God’s kingdom. Needy and friendless people can enter the kingdom. Incompetent and helpless people are welcome. The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Heavenly Father, help me to acknowledge my poverty and powerlessness. I come to You, not on my own merit, but through the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Question: Why do we resist powerlessness?

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)

We consider a country a kingdom when the monarch rules with absolute authority like in Saudi Arabia or Vatican City. The leader exercises his control over every aspect of life and his wishes in every realm. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He told them to say, “Your kingdom come”.

Jesus was talking about God’s rule and dominion. In God’s kingdom, God reigns supreme with complete and recognized authority. Subjects fulfill God’s will, plan and purpose. Everyone and everything bows in submission to God.

Unlike the earthly domain we live in, God’s domain functions differently:
·    “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28)
·    “The greatest among you will be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11)
·    “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:31)

When we ask for God’s kingdom to come, it means we invite God’s dominion in our lives. We surrender our wills in order to carry out His will. We submit to His plan. God desires His kingdom – His rule and authority – be at work in those who seek Him. We don’t need to wait for eternity to begin experiencing God’s kingdom. Instead, we can live in His kingdom today.

Heavenly Father, We pray as Jesus directed us to pray. You are God in heaven. Holy is Your name. I ask Your kingdom to come in my heart, in my home and in my community. I want Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Questions: What area of your life do you need God’s kingdom to come? Why do we need God’s kingdom to come in our lives first, before we worry about others?

Timothy describes our day as “perilous times” in which people will be lovers of themselves, boasters, disobedient to parents, lacking self-control etc., having a form of godliness but denying its power (2Timothy 3:1-5). It is in the face of our permissive “you can believe anything and still go to heaven,” politically correct society, that we the people of God are called to take a stand for truth and righteousness. That is a challenge for us all, but particularly those who are called to stand on the front lines in very public ways.

As our schools continue down the slippery secular slope, leading our children to greater confusion in relation to spiritual truth, sexual orientation, and the very nature of life itself, it is significant and important that there are those who are continually standing in the gap through prayer.  Equally important are those who answer the call to be on the front line and to offer the truth, and speak up for that truth in the face of what can often be great opposition.

Recently I had the opportunity to talk with David Spencer who works with the Professional Learning community of Faith. This is a group of educators, administrators and admin staff who share a common faith in Jesus Christ. Their call is to encourage their colleagues in their Christian faith journey, learn effective ways to nurture the students, and
deliver curriculum from a perspective that aligns with the Word of God as presented in the Bible. They are located in the Peel Region of Ontario and are committed to making a difference for Christ in the schools of their province.

It is important that we stand together with those who are on the frontlines through prayer.  When we invest in another’s work in this way, we will reap the same blessing in our own areas.

For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know I will not be ashamed. Isaiah 50:7

On September 21, 2011 we lost a beloved member of our TruthMedia family.  Dorothy Brown served with us for many years, both as an email mentor and also as a member of the editorial team, working diligently to prepare the daily devotionals which you all enjoy every day.  Dorothy had a very aggressive cancer and by the time the doctors discovered that she was sick, she was already very sick.

When she wrote to me to tell me that she needed to take a break from entering the devos she wrote that she hoped to be back the next month.  Dorothy was 74 and she had no plans to slow down. God’s plans were bigger than hers and now, as her husband Norm so beautifully put it, she has been “promoted to glory”.

In 1 Corinthians Paul writes of the reality of Heaven, how in that moment all of the things we have believed will suddenly be right before our eyes.  We have glimpsed Jesus, but Dorothy has seen him face to face.  She knows Him in a deeper way than all her years of Bible study could ever have taught her.  I wonder what she asked Him first?

I do not know what you are facing today.  Are you celebrating? Are you worried? Did you get the house?  Are you waiting to hear about that job? Whatever the day holds, know this: we may see “through a glass darkly”, but God sees us exactly as we are.

We don’t need to fear tomorrow because God is already there. We don’t need to carry the burden of yesterday because God’s forgiveness has already rewritten our stories. We can, we must, live in the hope that a day is coming when we will see Him face to face, just like Dorothy.

Face to face.  Can you imagine it? What an incredible promise. What an amazing hope we have.

Would you join me in praying for Dorothy’s family today? Her husband Norm has been fighting his own cancer for several years.  His health situation is complicated and Dorothy was his primary care giver.  Please pray that God would make a way for him.  If you would like to be prayed for today, please use this link to submit a prayer request.  We would love to pray for you.

Father, When I am confused and can’t see the way forward remind me of Your promises.  You will never leave me or forsake me and the plans You have for me give me hope and a future. Remind me that You always see me as I am and that a day is coming when I will see You as You truly are. Thank you for Dorothy and for her example of a life well lived. Please be with Norm and restore him back to health.  Thank you for loving me more than I can understand.  Amen.

Question: How does the hope of Heaven change the way you see your day?

“Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and also we will possess with Christ what God has kept for him! For if we share Christ’s suffering, we will also share his glory! I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:17-18 (TEV)

A Harvard study found that the more long-term your thinking is, the more successful you will be in life. And the more short-term your thinking is, the less successful you will be.

Unsuccessful people only think about the here and now – what feels good now, what is nice now, and what gives results now. But if you think in the long-term, you will have greater success, because you are willing to put up with short-term pain to gain long-term benefits.

The reason America is in the financial mess it’s in right now is because of our inability to delay gratification. We don’t know how to say no. We say, “I want it and I want it now, even if I have to charge it and can’t pay for it,” and the debt has caught up with us. That’s what little kids do. They don’t know the difference between “no” and “not yet.” They have to have it now.

If you want God’s blessing on your life, you must focus on the long-term, not the short-term. You can’t allow hopelessness that comes from short-term thinking to take hold in your heart or you will get discouraged and give up too soon.

As Christians, we have the longest-term perspective of anybody – it’s called eternity – because we know life doesn’t end at death. We will transition to the eternal life which is going to go on forever and ever. So we live in light of eternity, not in light of current popularity, current comfort, and current conditions.

If you are feeling hopeless because of current struggles you are experiencing, keep in mind the words of the Apostle Paul: “[W]hat we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:17 TEV).

In heaven, there will be rewards for you based on the stewardship of your time, money, talents, and the things that God put in your hands. Did you manage them well? Did you use them wisely? Did you live for the here and now with short-term thinking, or did you focus on the long-term and store up treasure in heaven?

Question: How far ahead are you living for?

Almighty God has given us the privilege of helping our loved ones by our prayers.

For a purpose known by God alone, through a spiritual process beyond our understanding, God has ordained that our prayers have power to assist those in trouble.

It is a mystery that we do not understand, yet through the Bible, the very words of God, we know it to be true.

“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:19-20, NIV).

In these words Paul has penned, there is direction for our prayers for our friends.

Deliverance:
Our earnest and most fervent prayers should be for their deliverance. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he gave them these words, “Deliver us from evil.” We pray that God would deliver our loved ones who suffer from cancer or other illnesses if that is His will. But also we pray He would deliver them from pain, deliver them from fear, and most of all that He would deliver them from the power of the evil one who wishes to conquer them by this trouble.

In no way be ashamed:
Some we know are facing death. Though the hope of heaven is real for every believer, still they walk a difficult road where there is no one to explain how to do it.  The process is as mysterious as it is painful. We can pray that they will in no way be ashamed. Regardless of what a day brings, we can call on our Heavenly Father to show them how to think and speak and act with the grace they desire to show.

Sufficient courage:
None of us knows how we will respond in a terrifying and excruciating experience. Will we remain faithful to God? Will we trust in His goodness regardless of circumstance? Will anger or fear or guilt overwhelm us?  We must diligently pray that our friends will have sufficient courage so that now, as always, Christ will be exalted in their lives.

God, we pray for our loved ones who are suffering. Deliver them.  Let them in no way be ashamed.  Give them sufficient courage to walk the path You have put before them. Amen.

Questions: How have you been helped by someone else’s prayers? How can you be more diligent in praying for those who are suffering?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for January 29th, AM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2011.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

In our Christian journey it is good and proper, at most times and in most circumstances, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith.

Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed. The soul will be made perfect, and fit to partake in the inheritance promised to God’s saints.

Looking further yet, the believer’s enlightened eye can see death’s river passed, the gloomy stream bridged, and the hills of light attained on which stands the celestial city. We perceive ourselves entering within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conquerors, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with Him, and made to sit together with him, even as he has overcome and has sat down with the Father on his throne.

The thought of this future can relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of the present. The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of Earth. Hush, hush, my doubts! Death is but a narrow stream, and you will soon have crossed it. Time, how short! Eternity, how long! Death, how brief! Immortality, how endless! The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there.

“When the world my heart is rending
With its heaviest storm of care,
My glad thoughts to heaven ascending,
Find a refuge from despair.
Faith’s bright vision shall sustain me
Till life’s pilgrimage is past;
Fears may vex and troubles pain me,
I shall reach my home at last.”

Question: How does looking forward to the future help is in the present?