Biblically, hell is a place of burning fire without any opportunity for escape, repentance or reform; no help, friends or sympathisers but ridicule, cruelty and hate. It is without any light but thick darkness and slippery bottomless shaft with fearful plague and inmates are chained perpetually. It is a place where beasts and demonic beings and spirits torture and rip the souls of sinners apart. It is a place for eternal death and suffering. It is full of only tears, gloom, anguish, wailing, weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is a filthy, stinking and nauseating place. It was built for the devil and his host of rebellious angels and all who choose to sin in disobedience to God.
If such and other worse descriptions are the characteristics of hell, then wisdom demands that we should do everything possible to avoid that place as our final abode for eternity.
Which way have we chosen?
If the bible says in Proverbs 14:12 that there is a way that seems right unto man but the end of it leads to death, then we must find the right way that leads to life. Jesus said in John 14:6 that I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14 that enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. He continues, for the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Since we now know the way to be Jesus, we have no excuse to complain. Hell and heaven are real and the decision is ours to make and to live with it. Let us submit to him in humility now before it is too late.
Are we lost in darkness?
Some of us appear lost in the darkness of this world. He said in John 8:12 that I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have light of life. He reiterates with conviction and passion in John 9:5 that as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
In John 12:46 Jesus said I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. Hell is a place of thick dark and only the light of Jesus can see us through to avoid it. Jesus said in Matthew 7: 15 that beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 2 Corinthians 11:14 says and no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. There is no substitute for Jesus so he has given us his Holy Spirit to guide us. Let us beware and this may be the last opportunity to invite Christ into our hearts as our personal Lord and saviour. Then we must live a righteous life by the word through the Holy Spirit.
Are we perishing?
We keep perishing by the day with the passage of time and so soon we shall be no more. We need Jesus to rejuvenate life into our souls. John 1:4 says in him was life, and the life was the light of men. 1 John 1:7 says but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin. It is only by his blood that we can escape hell fire. We perhaps doubt who Jesus is and so we feel justified to deny him access into our sinful hearts.
In Matthew 17:5 God said this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. John 6:40 also says for this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. We can avoid hell fire if we listen to Jesus. John 15:10 says if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. Jesus loves us and does not want us to perish. Listen to him as the Holy Spirit said.
Are we slaves to the world?
We may be infectiously attached to worldly pleasures. Such have become stumbling blocks in our eternal journey. James 4:4 says friendship with the world is enmity with God. For this reason Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:17 that therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean, then I will welcome you, and will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
We cannot serve God and mammon, Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13. Jesus said in Matthew 16:26 that what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? Jesus said if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one eye of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell, Matthew 5: 29; 18:9; Mark 9:47. Solomon calls the pleasures of this world as vanities of vanities, Ecclesiastics 1:2, 14. We are more precious than vanities. Jesus wants us to separate ourselves from the vanities of life.
Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Eternal life is through Jesus and no one else. Christ Jesus is weeping for us because he knows what is ahead of us. For this reason Jesus said we must weep for ourselves, Luke 23:28. Jesus is however still waiting just in case we decide to invite him into our hearts and he will surely answer us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thou whose throne is love, whose seat is mercy, whose hands extend grace, and whose breath is life, redeems us from the wages of sin which is eternal death. Wash us in your blood and lead us by your victorious light in eternity. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!
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