A Hard Truth

45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. 46 It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ (Matthew 9:45-48 ESV)

In 2023 Pew research found that 71% of US Citizens believe in heaven, conversely only 61% believe in hell. This makes sense to me as most people will deny the truth they do not like. Ask a Christian about hell and most will say something to the effect of, “Well the Bible really doesn’t talk about it, or I really do not know because I have never heard it preached. The first idea is untrue, the second is most likely true unless you attend a traditional church where the pastor absolutely preaches Christ and Christ crucified. The truth is, hell is explicitly described in the Bible.

Surprisingly enough, it is Christ who speaks the most about hell. We as Christians are lucky because we can and should understand that through our faith in Christ, and Christ’s sacrifice, we are justified and spared the wrath of God and eternal judgment in hell.

Hell is a word that brings much contempt when discussed in public. The word hell is uncomfortable unless used in a joke or a curse. Despite Pew research, there are a lot of people who do not believe in Hell, or if they do, they don’t want to discuss it and typically try to laugh it off. This was a typical sermon topic 100 years ago, yet it is scantly preached today.

If you are not saved, not a Christian, are struggling or lost spiritually, or are a Christian who is skeptical about hell, this could very well be the most important message of your life if you choose to let it be. In Mark 9:43, which proceeds today's scripture Jesus said, "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out." ... It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. You cannot truly appreciate the coming of Christ without having a foundational belief in hell. It is right at the heart of the gospel. Tim Keller once wrote, “We are more sinful than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time more loved and accepted by Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” I think this is a wonderful truth.

In the NT Jesus is the authority on Hell. Here are just a few of Jesus’ words on hell:

“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” Matthew 5:22

“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” Matthew 5:29

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”  Matthew 7:13

“While the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:12

“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

The one who can throw the soul and body into hell is, of course, God. There is only one Jesus my friends and this is what he said about hell. So, what do you make of him? If this isn’t the Jesus you know, then you do not know Jesus. Jesus tells us that sin leads to judgment, which leads to condemnation, which leads to conditions described by Jesus as weeping, lostness, gnashing of teeth, and flames of fire. Why does Jesus talk like this? Loving, caring, passionate Jesus, why? The answer is that because hell exists, and you need not go there.

What is hell like? Hell is a sphere of punishment. It is punishment for those who are separated from God’s presence, the rejection of God’s authority, and the rejection of Jesus Christ. So, again what is hell? A sphere of punishment which Jesus describes as a place of separation and darkness. Have you ever been in a place where it is so dark you cannot even see your hand in front of your face? This is the kind of darkness of which Jesus speaks. There you will be isolated, totally alone, and disoriented. Above all separated from all relationships that give you your identity and your value and sense of function. What’s most disturbing is Jesus says it’s everlasting. We can take disorientation briefly. We can endure punishment if we know it will end. We can handle separation when we know that there will be a reunion. The fact of the matter is the way these things are described, they are eternal. So, what does this say to us? God takes your life and relationship with Him with infinite seriousness. God strangely dignifies us by saying he will take our decision about our relationship with Him with permanent seriousness.

The last question is who is hell for? Hell is for those people who say, I am independent, I go where I want, do what I want, act like I want. No one tells me what to do. However, the Bible responds, God made your hands and feet, and God made your brain, and God knew you before time, God created you. What you do with your life is within your creators’ jurisdiction.

People today have no fear of God and believe they are entitled to whatever they want. But understand this hell is real, and there is only one way to hell. You must trample over the cross of Jesus. Jesus blocks the way and says no do not do it; I will not let you. I paid in death and blood; you are not going. If you want to go to hell you have to trample over the cross of Christ and walk over the face of your Savior.

If you finally realize that you have been on the wrong path, that you have been pushing over the cross of Jesus, before you trample over it, reach out to God, and ask Him to take over your life. Repent your sins, and ask God to lead you down the righteous path and through the narrow gate. Ask God to lead you away from the wide gate of destruction.

The reality of Hell doesn’t have to be your reality.

Grace and Peace!