By Riley Nelson, Richmond Hill Church of Christ
Despite what most may think, Jesus taught that hell is a reality, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matt. 25:46). Who would dare contradict the Son of God? It is a place that is so horrible that we fail in our imaginations to comprehend its terror. Look at the text of Luke 13:27 – 28; “But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.8There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth,…”
When Jesus told of the account of the rich man and Lazarus, He opened for us the portals of hell just for a few moments. The pain and agony that is being suffered by the rich man is for eternity. Pain felt today in our world is soon relieved by some type pain reliever, but for this pain there is no relief. The rich man desired only a drop of water to cool his tongue, but even that was refused. Anyone who has ever suffered from dire thirst knows that one drop of water would not even begin to help ease the torture of thirst, much less one engulfed in flames as was this man.
The Hebrew writer gave a stern warning when he wrote, “If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:26 – 31).
The answer to the title of this article is true. Hell is like it has been since God prepared it for the devil and his angels. It is not a place you want to go. Obey the gospel, and live faithfully, God loves you and wants you to be saved.