Good morning,
Society’s View of HELL
Various authors
(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Just as our culture has softened sin, reshaped God, redefined salvation, and sentimentalized Heaven–it has almost entirely erased the biblical doctrine of Hell. In popular culture, Hell is often treated as a joke, a metaphor, or a cartoonish place ruled by a red-suited devil with a pitchfork. In ordinary conversation, it is frequently used as a profanity, rather than regarded as a terrifying reality. Even many who profess Christianity, are uncomfortable speaking about Hell.
The prevailing cultural assumption is simple: A loving God would never send anyone to Hell. But that assumption begins with a god of our own imagination, rather than the God of Scripture. The Bible does not conceal Hell, minimize it, or speak of it merely as an ancient metaphor. Jesus Himself spoke repeatedly and solemnly about eternal judgment. He warned of “eternal fire” (Matthew 18:18), and described Hell as a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12). The One who spoke most tenderly about God’s mercy, also spoke most plainly about the dreadful Hell which awaits the lost.
A culture that refuses to acknowledge the seriousness of sin, will naturally reject the seriousness of judgment. Yet Scripture declares that God “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:7). Every sin is ultimately an offense against the infinite holiness of our Creator, and no sinner will escape the righteous judgment of God in Hell, by simply refusing to believe that it exists.
The horror of Hell, makes the wonder of salvation immeasurably greater. At the cross, Jesus endured the judgment that His people deserved, so that those who trust in Him might never face condemnation.
The world says, “There is no Hell.” Scripture says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!” and “our God is a consuming fire!” (Hebrews 10:31, 12:29). The world says, “Everyone will be fine in the end.” Jesus says that the wicked shall be thrown into the fiery furnace, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth! (Matthew 13:42, 50).
Hell is evidence that God is holy, righteous, and just! Hell is not a doctrine to mock, dismiss, or use merely to frighten others. It is a solemn warning from the God of truth. Therefore, the proper response is not denial, but repentance; not presumption, but faith; not delay, but fleeing to Jesus for salvation. The reality of Hell, should drive us to the mercy of the cross!
Hell is not a place where God is absent, but where His holy presence is revealed in righteous judgment. The God whom sinners refused to honor in this life, does not cease to be their Judge in eternity. There . . .
His justice will be perfectly manifested,
His holiness fully vindicated,
and every sin equitably punished.
Hell is therefore not the absence of God, but the dreadful and inescapable presence of the holy God before whom no sinner can finally hide!
“I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into Hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:5) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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