“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28)
There are three very important items that you need to be aware of in this verse, possibly four. The first is that the word destroy here does not mean to obliterate out of existence, but a continual, never-ending destruction, one that those who are today and will for all eternity find no escape from.
The second would be that the One who spoke those words was the One by whom that place was created.
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)
The Lord Jesus Christ created hell and the Lake of Fire, and they were created for a specific purpose, not just for those angels that rebelled in heaven, but for all who despise the Lord, who have counted the cross of no effect, who deny the sufficiency of His shed blood as the only sacrifice that the Almighty would accept for our salvation.
The third would be that word fear, for in this instance to a greater degree it actually means to be afraid of, and I will add my point of conjecture here, though not specifically spoken of in the Scriptures. I believe that our Savior was looking directly at one person when he said those words, and that person spent many sleepless nights because of that moment. Perhaps he was one that finally needed to apply the truth of Psalm 14:1a in his heart. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”
The fourth point I would ask you to contemplate at great length, because where our Savior went you will never know the pain of, the separation of the love of God from.
“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Psalm 16:10)
Jesus Christ, the Creator of all reality, went to hell for you, on the same side of the great gulf that separated hell from paradise, the same side the rich man went to.
“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (Eph. 4:8)
I do not know if He crossed that gulf to bring those in paradise to the Father’s Kingdom or if He preached to them from the side of pain and torment, but He went to hell, He faced the wrath of God, for you.
“And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” (Isaiah 66:24)
There are verses that state we can see hell from heaven, and although I do not know if there is any reason for us to ever set foot in that place, I do know this, for at least one moment our Lord desired above all things to not go there.
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Not because of the physical pain, the torment of that place of despair, but because it meant separation from His Father in heaven, from His love.
You will never know that feeling, you will never experience that greatest of all sorrows, if you have truly been born-again.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
That is fear my friends, it is not wondering if the money will last until the end of the week, it is not that pain in your flesh that does not seem to be getting any better, it is not watching the world depart from the way of life and running headlong into the pit of hell, it is complete and total separation from the love and mercy of the Living God.
It is the knowledge that all hope is gone forever.
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1st Peter 2:24)
Our fear of the Lord is a reverential trust in Him and a hatred of evil. If it is necessary, place that fear, that ultimate fear of hopelessness in the ears of those you meet that will not hear the truths of His love.
It may be their last opportunity to hear these truths.
