What does hell look like? How can I make sure I never go there?

First of all, let it be known that we certainly don't enjoy speaking about a place called hell! However, when we read the Bible we find out that God says much about a real place called hell. In fact, Jesus spoke of hell about 4 times as much as heaven! If it was that important to God, then we should find out what He says about hell.

Hell is described as:

1. Everlasting punishment.

Matthew 25:46, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

2. Everlasting fire.

Matthew 25:41, "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"

3. Everlasting burnings.

Isaiah 33:14, "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"

4. A furnace of fire.

Matthew 13:42, 50, "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

5. Fire and brimstone.

Revelation 14:10, "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:"

6. Unquenchable fire.

Matthew 3;12, "Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

7. Devouring fire.

Isaiah 33:14, "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"

8. The body and soul suffer in hell.

Matthew 10:28, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

We can see that hell is certainly a place to be avoided at all costs. Sometimes, people don't accept a literal place called "hell" because they believe that God would never cast people into a place like that. But probably the most important thing we learn about hell from the Bible is that hell was NOT created for humans.

Look at what the Bible says in Matthew 25:41: "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels"

Hell was not created for humanity -- hell was created for the devil and his angels. The Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish. It also says that He takes no pleasure in the death of the unrighteous (those without Christ). God is a loving God but He is also a holy God Who cannot tolerate the presence of sin. The fact of Hell is the bad news, but the next part is the good news. . .

God has provided a way so that no one has to go to hell when they die. Here is what the Bible tells those who want to escape the penalty of Hell:

1. God wants you to honor and serve Him.

Revelation 4:11, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

2. Your sin (breaking God's rules) keeps you from pleasing God.

Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

I John 3:4, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

3. Sin is paid for by death and separation from God.

Psalm 5:4, "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee."

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Revelation 20:15, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

4. You cannot get to heaven by being good or doing lots of good works.

Titus 3:5a, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us."

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."

5. Here's the best part. Christ paid for your sins.

Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth [showed] His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I Peter 3:18a, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God."

6. Accept Christ's payment for your sin.

John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Acts 16:31a, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

7. Turn from your sin. Want something completely different than your sin.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

8. God has made you a promise--eternal life.

John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

God's Promise has three parts: The person who believes . . .

1. Has eternal life

2. Does not come into judgment

3. Has passed from death to life

Maria, it is important to be sure that you will never see or feel hell. But Jesus does not offer a ticket just to go to heaven. You must be willing to turn from your sin and trust Jesus with your entire life.

Becoming a Christian is much like joining an army. It costs nothing to join but the good soldier is willing to obey and even lay down his life for the general. When somebody does join the army, their life is no longer their own. When somebody joins the army, they surrender their rights to their leader. That's what God expects of us. Look at what Jesus said about becoming a Christian (follower of Christ):

Matthew 16:24-25, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

In order to become a Christian your will must be broken because it is naturally at war with God! In fact, the Bible says that our condition is pretty miserable, for we are born into this world:

1. An enemy of God -- our will is against His will (Rom. 5:10)

2. Dead in sins (unable to anything that pleases God -- Eph. 2:1)

3. Held captive by a foreign power greater than ourselves (Eph. 2:2)

4. A child of wrath (someone destined for eternal judgment -- Eph. 2:3)

Have you ever seen a football game? There are two teams, each with different wills. One team desperately wants to run one way, and the other team wants to go the other way. They have opposing wills. We are born with a will that wants to do anything except turn from our sin and trust Christ for forgiveness! That's why becoming a Christian is primarily a surrender of your will!

You have to Admit that you have sinned against God and ask Him for His forgiveness. Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who died for you on the cross and rose from the dead. Call upon Jesus Christ to save you and ask Him to become your Lord and Savior. God didn't make the way to heaven difficult -- because of what Jesus did on the Cross, it's as easy as ABC!

Maria, you can do this right where you are, right now! God is so BIG and so willing to forgive, you don't have to go anywhere special or say any magic words. If you see your need for Jesus and are willing to turn from your sin and to Him, tell Him that. The Bible says that there is "joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents [turns from their sin and trusts Jesus]" -- (Luke 15:10).

God promises that those who truly believe have passed from death unto life, and are secure forever in His hand. Praise the Lord that He provided for us a way of escape from a terrible place called Hell.

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