My memories of the church during my childhood are vivid. Even now as old as I am, I recall several sermons and hearing powerful preaching by N.B. Hardeman and many others. Such powerful preaching included topics such as what to do to be saved, to stay saved, to be faithful, how to go to Heaven, and how to avoid Hell.
Today, many lessons seem to have transformed in both obvious and in subtle ways to circumvent the topic of eternal punishment in Hell. In fact, there is at least one brother in our fellowship who claims punishment in Hell is not everlasting, but temporary. I have heard several brethren state matter-of-factly they avoid teaching anything that is negative. Instead, they will emphasize the positive and only the positive. Other preachers have specified that their elders or their congregations will not tolerate preaching on eternal damnation.
It seems we may have reached a subconscious understanding that we and, in fact, ALL religious people are acceptable to God if we basically “believe in Christ” and avoid obvious, blatant sins. That is a comfortable position in which to live, but which is deadly for our souls. Paul warns us there is accountability for how we live our lives. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor 5:10). But what if we don’t feel evil?
Christ’s church in Laodicea lived in the mode, “average.” As I personally heard one preacher proudly state, “Don’t be first and don’t be last to do something.” I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked Rev. 3:14-17.’”)
What does God’s word tell us about eternal punishment, 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” Matt.18:28).
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell” (Matt 23:33)?
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Mt. 25:46).
“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; (Jude 4)
These are only a few passages that teach there IS a Hell, and that Hell is eternal. Thus, what does this mean for us? Should we live our lives in abject fear of Hell? Thanks be to God that we are saved continually by Christ’s blood based upon our walking in truth (1 John 1:8- 2:6).
Penn Jillette of the comedy team of Penn and Teller has been quoted as saying, “If I believed in Hell, I would rush to everyone I know to warn them of the danger!”
Although some religious people such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses consider the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19 to be apocryphal, Jesus spoke in tangible terms. He called the poor man by his name, Lazarus. The rich man claimed to be in agony, in great thirst, and to be in flames. The rich man also was concerned that his five brothers would join him there. The rich man was lost eternally without any hope.
God created Hell for the devil and his angels, not for His creation. However, God also created us as free moral agents and we choose our eternal abode. It personally grieves me that Jesus states emphatically that most people will choose Hell over Heaven. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (Matt 7:21-23).
Jesus desires that you be saved.
Satan desires that you be saved. Later. Later even more.
God sent His Son. His Son died for us. Consider what a great sacrifice there was for our souls, yours and mine. Now– not later- is the time to set our eyes on Heaven. Spiritual procrastination leads to Hell.
-Ken Smith