Oh Hell

Hell. We don't like the idea of it. It makes us uncomfortable. It makes us squirm. Some wish and hope it doesn't exist. Some can't imagine it even being possible. Others respect it's reality but hesitate to dwell on it's ramifications for themselves or those around them. We have often heard statements such as “War is hell” or “I went through hell.” These expressions are, of course, not taken literally. Rather, they reflect our tendency to use the word hell as a descriptive term for the most ghastly human experience possible. Yet no human experience in this world is actually comparable to hell. If we try to imagine the worst of all possible suffering in the here and now we have not yet stretched our imaginations to reach the dreadful reality of hell. According to Jesus, who spoke of hell and judgement more than any one person in scripture, this hell thing is serious business. It is ghastly to say the least. Horrificly unimaginable. Indeed, that is probably why we struggle with the subject so much. According to Jesus, hell is a lake of fire...a place where two of our worst experiences are combined...drowning and burning...but at the same time! Uh no thanks, I'd prefer to avoid that if at all possible! Jesus also uses more graphic imagery:

• Those in hell suffer intense and excruciating pain. This pain is likely both emotional/spiritual and physical (John 5:28–29).
• Hell is a fate worse than being drowned in the sea (Mark 9:42).
• It is worse than any earthly suffering—even being maimed (Matthew 5:29–30; Mark 9:43).
• The suffering never ends (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:48).
• The wicked will be “burned with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12).
• Those in hell will be thrown into the fiery furnace and will experience unimaginable sorrow, regret, remorse, and pain. The fire produces the pain described as “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30).

Now some would suggest that Jesus teachings & parables that many of these "descriptions" are symbolic not literal? OK, perhaps. But since when is the "symbol" greater than the reality? In fact, symbols usually point to a greater truth, a deeper reality. For example, that gold cross around your neck. It is more than a symbol of two pieces of wood in a cross shape. It points to something much more intense...far greater. It reminds us of the reality of the crucifixion, that brutal torture of Jesus that led to His death. It reminds us of Jesus great love for us, "that while we were yet sinners, He chose to die for us, so that we may be able to be sons and daughters of God". It reminds us that the cruelty of the cross would lead to a victory over sin, evil and death in Jesus resurrection 3 days later. You see, that cross around your neck points to much more than just the gold symbol in the form of jewelry. So too does the imagery in Jesus teachings. How ever horrific it may seem, the reality is far worse, far more intense, far deeper. Jesus is trying, as he does in all His parables, to break down the truths of eternity to the level of our human understanding. He is trying to give us a glimpse at the truth at the level of our understanding. But it is not the whole enchilada, as they say. The reality is beyond what we could ever imagine. In that we should take great comfort as we look towards heaven and God's Kingdom realized in its totality. But it should also give us great warning as we look towards the eternal reality of hell.  Jesus spoke of it & lived & died as if "hell" was real.  So shouldn't we also?

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude
ECHO