Why will hell be horrific?

As I interact with people from all over the world, I have noticed that whenever someone shares their religion, they talk about a dark world, evil or hell. In their minds, how people live their lives hinges on some sort of eternal destiny, either a happy or sad one.

Except for many Christians.

We don’t talk about heaven and hell in our normal conversations, and many churches no longer speak about hell, demons, or Satan.

Because of this trend, we have a problem.

We lose our focus on eternity. 2 Peter 3:4 describes how as time passes, people stop believing God is coming back: “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

Peter answers that perspective a few verses later in 8-9:

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Do you know why the sun came up again this morning on July 12, 2020?

Because heaven is not complete yet.

You might be thinking the world is horrible, hateful, chaotic and evil, so Jesus can return any day! But I would argue good can still be found because God can still be found. The world is not without God’s presence.

God’s presence is near to us right now.

  • He provides rain and sun for all people.

…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45)

  • He is kind to the ungrateful and evil.

…because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35)

  • He sets limits on evil so His Story remains undeterred.

Yes, Satan has room to operate right now, but only here in earth’s history. He is unable to deter God’s overall plan for the world’s history and eternity.

…But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”  (Revelation 12:12)

  • He is within reach.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)

…though he is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17:27)

One day, God’s holiness will be able to bear the sin of this world no longer. Evil will have become so pervasive that no one will be found reaching out for Him.

The curtain will close.

Matthew 13:42 tells us all those who live independently of Christ will be thrown into a fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for all of eternity. The Greek word for weeping. klauthmós “audible grieving” or (“wailing”), usually accompanied by shrieks, brought on by uncontainable emotional (psychological) pain. The Greek word ‘Gnashing of teeth’ means to means to grind one’s teeth together or set them on edge, or to bite down in pain, anguish, or anger.

Why such horrific pain? God’s presence will no longer be found.

  • No more sun and rain for all people.
  • No more kindness toward all people.
  • No more boundaries on evil.
  • No longer there when we reach out.

It will be hell.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:10)

 

 

 

 

 

Picture Explanation: Well, I have turned 59. I want heaven to be larger because I lived.

© 2020 by Oaks Ministries. All rights reserved.

8 Responses

  1. Thank you for the reminder of how horrific hell will be and how important it is for us to tell others about the God who loves them and offers salvation, peace, love, joy, and beauty now and FOREVER!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR FRIEND!!!!!

  2. Thanks for reminding us that to God a day is like a thousand years. I say that God only gives us 24 hours in a day because that is all we can handle! You always give us food for thought and I love it.
    Happy Birthday my friend and be blessed

  3. Hi Laurie – great post and thank you for the reminder. I have just moved to Texas to be near both of my daughters and their families and am so grateful that God allowed me to make this move. I will continue to follow your blog and I still refer to your book often. It was a big part of my “awakening” and I am grateful for your beautiful writing – you present things in a very unique and relatable way. Press on! Hugs.

    1. I have been thinking about you daily for about three weeks! I am so thankful to hear from you. You have no idea! I am grateful that you have made a move that is good for you. With internet connection, Texas is no further away than Atlanta, so check in whenever you wish.

      I care very much about how you are doing and only wish you blessings in every area of your life on every single day. Thank you for the affirmation of my writing. Means a lot.

      1. That’s truly amazing! That’s about when I began packing up 26 years spent in Atlanta and driving halfway across the country (in one day, by myself), moving into an unseen apartment and beginning my new life in Dallas. I am so grateful for your “unknown” prayers – I have felt God’s presence through all of it and I am sure your prayers were a big part of that! You are truly a special daughter of the Lord and mean a lot to so many that you probably rarely hear from – like me. Happy birthday – I am praying for an amazing 59th year for you!

        1. Thank you. I want an amazing 59ty year. It’s not so much about me. I just feel the clock ticking and I want this life to count.

          Take care of yourself…sister, road warrior, courageous woman.

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I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes growth.

1 Corinthians 3:6

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