Do you think about hell? Hell is such that if we can just know that we are not going there, we should be infinitely happy! It is such an awful place that all our earthly happiness will seem like a drop of fresh water in the ocean of salt water. If we ever end up there, we will wish we had done whatever was necessary to prevent it – including gouging out one of our eyes, cutting of our hand, abandoning our children…

Four things that are true about hell: (From Luke 13:23-28)

1. There will be many who will go there.

In Luke 13:23, the disciples ask Jesus if only a few will be saved. And Jesus answers affirmatively by saying, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.”  This means that majority of the people on earth are going to hell.

2. Those who don’t want to be there will be there.

Jesus says (again in Luke 13), “Many will seek to enter [heaven] and will not be able.” In other words, there will be many in hell who really wanted to be in heaven. So, they are in hell against their wishes. C.S. Lewis, my hero, was wrong on this when he said only those who want to be in hell will be there…

3. Those who have known Jesus will be there.

v. 25, “Lord, open to us… we ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.” They knew Jesus but Jesus didn’t know them.

4. People will regret forever for being there. 

In other words, they will never get used to being there. v. 28, “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 

If you are not going there because your faith is in Jesus, then rejoice! You may have just lost your job. Your boyfriend of 5 years may have just broken up with you. You just lost your retirement on poor investing. Doesn’t matter! Hell is a million times worse. Rejoice that you are not going there! And praise and love God for making it happen!

PH