Subject: Hell's Existence
DON’T DENY HELL'S EXISTENCE

"Everywhere you looked, there were fires everywhere. It was driving into Hell." (New York Times) "It was like we were in Hell. Walking through hell, that’s what it was…" (Washington Post) These comments were made by those who escaped Tennessee’s devastating wildfires last November. Interesting that people easily equate Hell to roaring flames and deadly fires, yet millions don’t even believe in Hell, or if they do, they reason they won’t go there.

Why is Hell so difficult to accept? Possibly because the fiery sermons about Hell have faded from many of today’s pulpits. Perhaps no one believes their sin is deserving of eternal torment. After all, we live in a culture where anything goes, everything is acceptable, and we are surrounded by religions and religious organizations which condone and welcome any lifestyle, any belief. Some may reason that only the wickedest will inhabit Hell. Or, people may have accepted the false teaching of universal salvation, thinking God wouldn’t send any individual to eternal torment. Truth is, each of us deserve Hell. Why? "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) God didn’t create Hell as a judgment for humanity, but prepared it for Satan and his angels. (Matthew 25:41) So, what does Hell have to do with us?

In one word… SIN! At creation, Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and sin entered the world (Romans 5:12), and, just as Adam and Eve defied God, humanity continues to do so! Said with kindness, NOBODY goes to Hell that doesn’t belong there. The atheist who vehemently denies God. The moral person who lives a good life, but doesn’t accepted Jesus Christ. People who are perpetually immoral, depraved and ruthless, and procrastinators who know they should repent and turn to the Lord, but say, "Not now, there is plenty of time." Yet, because God is righteous, loving and just, NOBODY need go to Hell since He sent His Son to pay our sin debt by dying on the cross, and defeating death (John 3:16-17).

When asked whether he would go to Heaven, Art Linkletter replied, "Well, heaven seems too boring – playing harps and floating around. Hell will be much more exciting, with parties and fun." Let’s compare this ludicrous, yet alarmingly sad statement with the rich man’s comments who found himself in Hell. (Please read Luke 16:19-31) This man was in torments, and he cried out for mercy, asking for but a drop of water to cool his tongue due to being tormented in flame. Fun? This man no longer had worldly possessions, but he had his memory, which will be a major tormentor of all who heard but rejected the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Mark Twain contemptuously declared "Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company." But there’ll be no companionship in Hell. Conversation will be nil as the lost cry-out, uttering blasphemy against God’s righteous judgment. (Hebrews 10:31) In conversation’s place "there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth," (Luke 13:28). Screams will torment day and night as unrelenting fear encompasses like a mummy’s wrappings as the darkest of dark (Jude v.13) envelops Hell’s inhabitants.

Billionaire Ted Turner stated, "I’d rather go the hell. Heaven has got to be boring". God spoke of Heaven as paradise, filled with mansions, golden streets, pearly gates. Most profoundly, every believer will spend eternity with their Lord and Savior! Righteousness, beauty, light, peace, and happiness will abound! Boring? "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:5) Unbelievers will spend eternity in a "furnace of fire". No fresh air will unbelievers inhale. No hint of light will their eyes behold. No lapse of recall will dim their memories. No optimism will be experienced because Hell is a place without hope. (Revelation 20:14) Read Jesus’s words about Hell in Mark 9:43-48. Hell is NO laughing matter.

Another partial comment by a Tennessee survivor. "…escaping the gates of Hell and running through rivers of flames" (Huffington Post). Once in Hell and the Lake of Fire there’s NO ESCAPE! Jesus said, "There is a great gulf fixed." No one can pass from Hell to Heaven. Hell’s fixed gulf is unchanging, and the unbelieving are separated from God forever. There is NO WAY out. As the brimstone stench "greets" unbelievers, agnostic doubt and atheistic denial will instantly vanish as the unsaved face the Truth of Jesus Christ in the flames of Hell, and, after the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), in the Lake of Fire. "…the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever, and they have no rest day or night…." (Revelation 14:11,14)

Because of God’s love (Romans 5:8) He provided an escape…Salvation! "For this is my (Jesus’) blood of the new testament, which is shed for many (who ever accepts and believes) for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28) Jesus’ death on the cross is Hell’s escape (Romans 5: 10), but each of us MUST repent and believe BEFORE death lays claim to our eternity. Die without Jesus and eternal punishment will be ours. Die having accepted Jesus and our eternity will be with the Lord. We either embrace the cross or suffer everlasting damnation.

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…:" (Hebrews 2:3/Acts 4:12). We can’t!