Is there a hell?

Is there a hell?

If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied (I Corinthians 15:19, AMP).

What’s the fate of those who refuse Jesus? What awaits those who faithfully follow Him to the end? The answers to these questions are good pointers as to whether we should embrace teachings on hell or ignore them. Sometimes ago, I had a discussion about hell with a ‘preacher’. He painted a scenario that left a disturbing impression on my mind. Here was his submission:

You had a neighbour who had a son. His son stole a visitor’s money thereby embarrassing his father, your neighbour. The man was so crossed that he took the boy to the kitchen, started the cooker and started burning the boy’s right-hand fingers in the hot flame… Expectedly, the boy started crying in pain asking for mercy but his father cared less. The boy’s screams attracted other neighbours and you. After your long persuasions, he let go of the boy’s hand, leaving him with horrible burns… But that was not the end of his narration. He went on:

Everyone thanked the man for respecting their intervention and left the two of them. After that you left home and returned about six hours later. On your return you were reliably informed that after you left, the man resumed inflicting the same pains on the poor boy. And you were still hearing his screams in utter disbelief.

Then the preacher turned to me and asked: ‘As his neighbour how would you see that man?’ Without much thinking I concluded that I would see him as cruel and heartless (or what else could I have said?). It was after his second question that I got his point; for he asked again, ‘If you think that man was cruel, what makes you think that a loving God would put human beings in a lake of fire, and forever too?

I became speechless. No one had ever spoken to me in that light. Until then, I had believed contrary to his thoughts. But I wasn’t going to give up. I started a personal Bible research to know what the Bible actually said. I started studying afresh the teachings of Jesus on this subject matter. The more I studied, the more the reality of hell stared at me. Perhaps if we are given the grace we might look deeper into this subject later. Friend, it may be difficult to reconcile the doctrine of hell with the love of God. But hell can actually not be explained away. I pray, may we not end our journey there. In Jesus name!

Today’s corporate prayer: O Lord, reveal to me any internal magnet of hell in me, and help me to deactivate its power. In the name of Jesus!

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