A couple of years ago I was talking with a friend who is a devout follower of another religion, and he made the comment: “I am a father and could NEVER send my children to hell!” He was emphatic that God would not either! We were discussing the existence of hell and it was his position that it simply does not exist. His reasoning? A loving God would never send His children to hell.
His position sounds reasonable to our human mind. It is certainly comforting to think that no one can go to hell. But, what if it ignores reality? I mean, if I had a friend who was about to drive over a cliff and plunge 150 feet to his death because he did not believe the cliff existed, I would want him to know the truth rather than be comforted by disillusionment. The fact is—my friend is—half-right.
God does NOT send people to hell; rather, those who go; CHOOSE to go.
While the word “hell” is used quite loosely and has many secular definitions, I think we can all agree it is a place that most people do not want to be. I mean, we don’t hear someone curse and tell someone they hate to “go to Heaven,” rather it’s always “go to hell.” Right? So we know hell is NOT a place of blessing. The Bible ascribes words to “hell” like Gehenna, Sheol, Hades, and we know, without a doubt, that it is a place for the extreme torment of the soul and spirit. A great synopsis is included in a link at the end of this devotional. The big question for this discussion is 1. WHO is going to go to hell; and 2. WHY? The short answer is: 1. Those who have CHOSEN to reject God; 2. Because hell is separation from the presence of God.
“These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from [or shut out from] the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”
II Thessalonians 1:9
Who are “these” mentioned in this verse? They are the ones “who do not know God, and…who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Thessalonians 1:8
What does it mean to “know God” and “obey the gospel of Jesus?” This is best answered by a well-known scripture:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did NOT send His Son into the world to CONDEMN the world, but that the world through Him might be SAVED.”
John 3:16-17
WHY are we condemned? According to God’s Word, we are ALL sinners and have violated the righteousness of God. [This is one great difference between my friend who said he would never send his children to hell—and God—my friend is a sinner, just like his children, and so sin does not violate the essence of his nature and cause separation like our sin does to God.] Our choice to violate God’s law has condemned us to eternal death; which means our spirit-man will suffer eternal separation from God.
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
The Gospel is God’s gift and we can choose—eternal life. Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life [and] no one comes to the Father except through [HIM].” John 14:6. Our choice to sin has eternally separated us from GOD and no amount of good works to reconcile ourselves into His presence.
WE choose hell—GOD does NOT.
To avoid hell, WE must choose to come to God on HIS terms; not by our own good works—but by surrendering fully to Him.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
When we choose to surrender to God and accept His gift of salvation, we are choosing to live forever in His presence. This is Heaven. In fact, we are ALSO enabled to avoid the severe effects of the hell this broken world system dishes out. How? Those who are born again in Christ, have the peace of His presence which no evil force can take away.
My dear friends, don’t believe the lies about God. He did all He could to keep us from going to hell. He didn’t create hell for us, he created it for satan and his minions. However, for those who choose to reject the Gospel, God gives them exactly what they want—separation from His presence, or, hell. Those who want Him, they get heaven.
If you have never accepted the gift of salvation, there is no time like the present! Surrender to Him. Don’t wait. Choose life. Choose God’s presence. You will find joy and pleasure for your soul that far exceeds your greatest imagination!
To read “What is Hell? A biblical guide to Hell’s existence, click HERE.
To learn more about Kimberly Faith and the mission of Faith Strong, click HERE.
Out Now – Essential Faith, Volume II. Find it on Amazon by clicking HERE.
To learn more about Kimberly Faith’s ministry Fostering By Faith, click HERE.
