Thoughts on Hell

This semester the campus minister here at UF, Steve, is preaching a series entitled "Christianity is..." This study is looking at common objections to Christianity (hypocritical, intolerant, sexist, irrational, boring, etc.) and examining what the Bible has to say about them. This last Tuesday, Steve addressed 'Is Christianity Cruel' with regard to the biblical teaching of Hell. It was a very hard message, very emotional, and would have been completely overwhelming but for the beauty of Christ's salvation through the gospel. The message got me, and hopefully others, thinking with an eternal perspective on life, and that Hell and Heaven are real places.

It is terrifying to think that Hell is a real place. At the end of all things, at the resurrection of the dead, at that beginning, we will all be judged. Those found to be in 'The Book of Life of the Lamb That Was Slain' (Rev. 13:8) will live in the New Heavens and the New Earth and be given glorious bodies exactly tempered and suited to their new existence. So to will those not found in His Book, the eternal damned, receive new bodies. Not glorious bodies, however, but horrible bodies, exactly fitted to their eternal torment in Hell. Hell will be a real, physical place of punishment. Hell is not going to be a spirit realm of shadows; it is a lake of fire, where the screams of real vocal cords will cut the darkness forever. How horrifying to have a body designed for pain and torment that cannot die. Suicide would be a welcome reprieve, but will be impossible with the damned bodies of Hell. As they scoffed God's Holiness in mind, soul, and body, so they will be judged in mind, soul, and body.


Omnipotent Creator, how awful are your judgments on those whose names are not in your Book! How unsearchable your wisdom in ordaining that evil be: to bear the weight of your wrath forever. O Lord, may I ever run to your cross; may my refuge be in your Son alone. For no other can save me from a real Hell. You were forsaken and bore torment that I cannot imagine, to atone for my great sin, substituting yourself in my deserving place. I praise you O Father for my life that you have ransomed from the pit; I rejoice that in your mercy I am called your son and will never taste of the cup of your wrath. My eternal cup is that of grace and glory, bought and sealed by Christ. Words cannot convey grace.