I know – people don’t want to think or talk about hell, and talking about heaven can be scary, too. The Bible talks about both, giving “directions” on how to get to either place.
This effort is to get just a few answers to questions you may have asked about them. We will talk about “hell,” giving Bible statements on this less than pleasant subject.
1. What Do We Know About Hell?
- It is a place of punishment, Matthew 25:46.
- Banishment, Matthew 7:23
- “gnashing of teeth,” and
- A“lake that burns” with “fire and brimstone” Revelation 21:8
- Eternal and everlasting describe hell, Matthew 18:8; Mark 3:29.
- A place of remembering and darkness, Luke 16:25, Matt. 8:12.
Read all these for yourself and learn what the Bible says.
2. Who Will Be In Hell?
In questions such as this, it is important that we learn what God says, not what men have imagined, “thought” or dreamed up in their own minds.
- “fearful..unbelieving..abominable urderers..whoremongers..sor-
cerers..idolaters..liars” Rev. 21:8.
- “those who obey not the gospel,” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.
- Those who practice the works of the flesh, found in Galatians 5:19-21:“Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like…as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
- Those who fail to help the
poor, visit the sick and those in “prison”, feed the hungry, clothe those who are “naked” and in need, refuse to care for “strangers,” do not minister to those who are in need. All these are found in Matthew 25:31-46. These are certainly worthy of our consideration, especially since hell is the destiny of those so described.
- In Ephesians 5:3-18 the Bible gives instructions to Christians in Ephesus, and indirectly to us today. Within that context, we are told that we are “not to be partakers [neither assisting nor participating together]” with those who do practice these things. Note the list found there:
“...fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them,” Ephesians 5:3-7.
Later in that same chapter we find that we are to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works ofdarkness,” Ephesians 5:11. There are some activities we must avoid, must reject, because the character of those with whom we must associate implies our approval if we do participate with them.
Those who do so place themselves in the position of hearing the Lord say to them, “Depart from me,” Matthew 7:23. Their residence will be in the place called “theseconddeath,” Revelation 20:14, 21:8.
Few believe hell will be their eternal abode. Some, in fact, truly expect to be in heaven though Jesus declares they will be in hell, Matthew 7:22-23.
3. How Can We Avoid Going To Hell?
First of all, it helps to know that God does not want any of us to go there, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, 2 Peter 3:9. He gave His Son that we might be spared. God is not our enemy, but our friend.
Many of us may be lost, not because we have murdered or lied, but because we “neglect” our duties as Christians, Hebrews 2:3. We may have started out strong, but then drifted away from the life Christians must live.
The following principles from scripture can strengthen our resolve to stay on the right path, to be a compassionate, bold, dedicated Christian:
a. Begin now to study – not just read – the Bible for yourself.
b. Be humble enough to pattern your life after the example of Christ, not today’s heroes.
c. Become an advocate for the life of a true, confident Christian.
d. When temptation comes, run from it, hide from it, reject it.
e. Make heaven your goal, then do whatever it takes to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23.
Heaven will be worth it all, and nothing you want today or ever will want is worth an eternity in Satan’s domain –
hell
