Hell. Just a single place. Just a single word. A word that many have heard and many can define. A word that is familiar. A word that is eternal. A word that is powerful. A word that is memorable.
Or…at least it should be.
For the past couple of years, one of the areas God has been moving in me the most has been in eternal perspective: the life God has given me will last forever. This is still a concept that I can't wrap my head or around (and I don't think I ever will), but it is something that I've come to know as truth. This world is temporary. I'm just passing through on my way to an eternity elsewhere. For me (as well as anyone who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ), that eternity will be with God in heaven. In the New Jerusalem where the River of Life flows. Where the foundations of the city walls are decorated with precious stone. Where death will be no more and every tear will be wiped away. Where there will be no need for sun or moon to shine, because God's glory will gives it light through the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
I love this imagery that John writes about in Revelation (thus making it my favorite book in the Bible). It's what I get to look forward to. It's what my eternity will be like. Now I realize that heaven will be much more than anything I can ever expect or imagine, but I do know it will be good (even that can't properly define what heaven will be like). Anytime I think about heaven, I just tingle with excitement and stand amazed at how undeserving I am to be given this future and how gracious and loving my Lord is.
But so often I only focus on the place where God's grace is taking me to and I completely forget the place where God's grace has taken me from: hell. Now why is it important to remember hell? Because just like heaven, hell is real. And just like heaven, hell is eternal. And just like heaven, people will be in hell. Family members. Friends. People from every tongue, tribe, and nation. They will experience hell.
No one knows what hell will be like (the same way no one knows what heaven will be like), but based on the Scriptures, it doesn't appear pleasant. Some descriptions are a lake of burning sulfur, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, and a place where God will not know you. What a terrifying thought it is to realize that this place is where I deserve to go for eternity. It's only by God's grace, that my eternity has changed. But what's even more terrifying, is that not everyone has had their eternity changed. There are still people living in this world who will spend eternity in hell.
And that's why I'm going on the World Race. Because God wants everyone to have their eternity changed and as long as there are people who haven't experienced that, I as a follower of Christ am called to reach those people with the good news of God's Kingdom. It's a task that can't be taken lightly (peoples' destinies are on the line). But it's a task that excites me as I'll get to see eternities changed by His work through me. More people will get to tingle with excitement at the hope of heaven. But I pray that the hope of heaven won't take up so much of our mind that we forget to tremble at the reality of those with unchanged eternities. Those who will experience…hell.
(I understand this is a sensitive topic, but it's a topic that is real. It's a topic that still challenges me and I'm still growing in. I'm by no means an expert in this area, but if you have any questions or comments I would love to hear them. Thanks again for all your support!)
