Hell is one of the most controversial topics of the Bible. There are people who don’t believe or agree that hell truly exists.
People can not reconcile in their minds that the God of the Bible will let people be eternally punished or condemned to hell.
They are asking how can a loving God allow that to happen to his creation, his masterpiece.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:16
God’s Love
These verses are just two among so many scriptures about how God loved us.
The famous John 3:16 alone if understood by people will give us a clear picture of God’s affection to humans.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Repentance
Because of his love for us, he sent his son Jesus to take our sins so that humans will have access to heaven once we leave this world.
But take note, it is only for those who will believe, not everyone.
That is a sad truth because even though God wants everyone to be with God forever, not everyone will come to repentance.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Paradise Lost
God doesn’t want anyone to experience the wrath and agony of hell but God doesn’t want to force anyone to believe in Him.
He is patient more than enough for people to go back to God once again.
I said “again”, because we were once with Him in the Paradise of Eden.
So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
After he drove the man out, he placed the man on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:23-24
Holy and Righteous God
We can not just go back to God on our own since we inherited sin from our first parents Adam and Eve. God is holy and righteous and we are sinners.
Even though God wants us to be with him. It just can’t.
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5
Sinful Nature
We have this sinful nature. Our inclination is to do sin naturally.
Have you noticed a child, even though no one teaches him/her to be selfish, they don’t naturally share what they have?
We can do nothing anymore of how we are born but we can do a lot with how we live.
Bill Gates said, “If you are born poor it’s not your mistake but if you die poor it’s your mistake.”
Free Will
It’s not our fault to be born a sinner but to die a sinner is definitely our choice. This is the power of free will. God created us with free will, and that is good.
He doesn’t want us to be like robots. Aren’t you glad we have free will?
The power of choice is in us if we will believe in God or not. Our God is a relational God. His relationship with us must also be mutual and not just one-sided.
Can you imagine in a marriage having a one-sided love, the wife is only the one loving or the other way around? That marriage won’t last long.
It is not the will of God for someone to go to hell, it is the will of man. It is our choice, your choice, and my choice.
We should not blame God for what we have done with our free will and by choosing not to believe in God in our lives here on earth.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13
Hell’s Description
As we continue, let us have a picture of hell.
In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them! Revelation 9:6
There is a belief that hell is only for Lucifer together with the fallen angels.
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41
Hell is Punishment
It is true, hell is primarily for the punishment of all the angels who rebel against God from heaven. Lucifer wanted revenge by enticing and tempting humans.
He tempted Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden. Satan was trying to bring humans to hell with him because he knew his rebellion against God is unforgivable.
Those fallen angels have no chance to be forgiven by God so they are trying to bring humans as many as they can to hell.
Have you experienced failure in your school exam, then you found out it was just you alone who got failed?
You felt like you don’t want to go to school anymore, and you thought of yourself as a failure.
It is different when you fail with your other classmates, you would say, “at least I’m not alone.”
Hell has No Hope
Lucifer has no hope anymore, his destiny is eternal damnation in hell. My prayer is that you will not allow the devil to bring you there as well.
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 2 Peter 2:4
Hell is Real
There are so many warnings from God. He is giving us all the chances in the world not to experience hell.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. Mark 9:43
Believe in the Lord Jesus
If you are reading this post, it is not too late. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul. And this is the plan and promise of God for you and me.
No More Pain and Tears in Heaven
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:1-4
Check out some of our other posts!
