Another line from an old song, “Hell ain’t a bad place to be,” a line that is totally true, when compared to the Lake of Fire. Bad to worse, as they say, out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Most people don’t believe in hell anymore, it is not much more than an analogy, a metaphor, and at best it is reserved for only the most vile, evil (yes, they will use that word) people. There is some form of punishment referred to in the afterlife in nearly all religious organizations, most speak of at least a temporary pain of one kind or another, but then after a period of time, the one who is sent there, inferring at least some form of authoritative deity, the guilty one, is released and allowed to enter into an imagined form of bliss for eternity. How we act here, our deeds done, are what determines where that person will go after their last breath here in these religious circles.
Sadly, many Evangelical churches have fallen prey to this same myth, some in the congregation believe in a works-based system, while still professing a faith in Jesus Christ. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9:27) When was the last time that you can recall that verse being heard from the one behind the pulpit, or how about “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41) Most pastors today shy away from any sermon on hell, damnation, and the eternal resting place, if you care to use that word, of the wicked, it just doesn’t go over too well with the “new” Christian of today. Jesus loves everybody, everybody is going to be forgiven, and only the most reprobate will spend eternity suffering, if there is indeed such a place.
Hell is a very personal place, it is a place of complete isolation, of perfect memories, of utter hopelessness, but I also believe that everyone there still thinks there’s a chance they may get out. Hope never realized is the worst sort of hope.
The rich man in the account of Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) is still there, Dathan (Numb. 16) is still there, Cain, King Og, (Numb. 21:33-35) and if your loving grandparents never accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, then they are there also. Mankind, with much assistance from Satan and all of his false religions, has placed hell as a sort of misnomer, a holding cell at best, temporary until the one there “learns his lesson,” at best though, he has made it into the minds of men an imaginary place, for a loving God would never create and send anyone to such a place.
These individuals, and you probably know, or at least have met some of them, will believe many parts of the Scriptures, but not those parts. “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matt. 8:29) “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (Luke 16:23) “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41) “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” (Psalm 139:8) It takes a lot of denying to attempt to disregard the place where eternal pain lives.
But as I stated in this short, poorly written letter to you, hell ain’t a bad place to be.
Perhaps the greatest suffering in the Lake of Fire will be the unmitigated knowledge that indeed all hope is gone, God is not listening at all, and all that praying during those years and years in hell was a complete waste of time. You are never going to leave this place, ever.
This is why we reach out to them, no matter the cost to ourselves, this is one of the main reasons that we speak to all who will listen, we know these two places exist, and we know that there will never be an escape for them. If you can’t see them burning in torment today, then you have no heart for them, and if you do not warn them, I would question your compassion.
