Hell

Bible Passage: Luke 12:16-21,1​6:19-31, Mt 22:1-14

Lest They Also Come Into This Place of Torment

Outer darkness; weeping; gnashing of teeth; torment; flame; anguish—these are all words used to describe hell, a very terrible place. Hell is not just something made up to make kids behave. It is not a scare tactic that God uses to pressure people to believe in Him. Hell is a real place. The simple reality is that if anyone does not want to be with God then he will be separated from God—forever separated. However seeing the reality of hell for what it is does not rob of our free will because we can choose to reject God. It actually helps us make an informed decision. 

If we could only choose to go to heaven then God would be taking away our free will. More so, He would not be allowing those who choose to sin to even be given the freedom to live, not to mention the freedom to choose.

There was once was a king who invited many guests to come but they did not come. After they refused, the king was still patient with them and offered the abundance of His banquet as a reason to come. In their ignorance and rudeness, they paid no respect to the king’s command or invitation and killed the king’s servants. So the king sent out another round of invitations. Those who accepted the invitation and dressed in a wedding garment were chosen.

Salvation is God’s gracious invitation to us. He has prepared the best things for us in abundance. We should feel honoured to be His guests. Moreover just as the wedding garment was a requirement for those attending the banquet, God has His righteous requirement for those who wish to enter God’s kingdom. Out of His love for us, He gives us a choice. One option is to accept His love, His invitation to salvation; the other option is to reject His love, His invitation and in essence the person chooses hell because hell is the absence of God’s love. There is no other choice, since the only place where God’s love does not exist is hell.

What are we doing to reply God’s invitation to salvation?