Just How Bad Is It?

Hell is a place most people don't want to think about. Many belief systems--even some that claim to fall under the umbrella of Christianity--actually deny the existence of a literal hell. Some non-believers think that hell is going to be one big party with all of their friends. If hell really exists (it does), just how bad is it?

The Book of Revelation describes hell as a real literal place--a place of eternal torment (20:10). It is a lake of fire that burns continuously (19:20), the second death (20:14)--not exactly a cocktail party. It's inhabitants include Satan (20:10), those who haven't put their faith in Jesus Christ (20:15) and unbelieving sinners (21:8). 1 Thessalonians 1:9 calls it a place of eternal destruction and punishment and yet worst of all, it is a place that is completely, totally and permanently separated from the presence of the Lord.

Camp out on that thought for a moment--the idea of total separation from God. To be banished forever from his love, his goodness, his provision, his mercy and his presence. Knowing that part of dying on the cross to pay for our sins would require him to be separated from God for just a few hours made our Lord Jesus Christ literally sweat drops of blood in anguish (Luke 22:44). And after the beatings and whippings that he endured along with the crucifixion, it was the actuality of being separated from the Father that made Jesus cry out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46).

Knowing just how bad hell really is should prompt a two-fold response from God's men. First, we should praise God for his mercy and grace in allowing Jesus to pay our sin debt and avoid eternal separation from Him. Secondly, knowing that we have friends, family members and others in this world who are lost should prompt us to share the good news of what Christ has done for us and to pray that their eyes would be open to see that hell is even worse than they could ever imagine.