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| Volume 26 Number 1 January 2024 |
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| Volume 26 Number 1 January 2024 |
Page 4 |
Demar Elam
If you ask the average Christian, “Do you believe in Heaven and in Hell?” they would most likely answer, “Why of course I believe in Heaven and in Hell!” However, to say one believes in these places is one thing and to live in such a manner so as to prove that one believes is another. I heard an illustration used in a sermon on one occasion concerning a preacher and his infidel friend who met on the street and began talking. This illustration had a profound effect upon my thinking and opened my mind to the possibility that many today are saying they believe in Heaven and in Hell when, in reality, they do not.
A preacher and his infidel friend met on the street and recognized each other from college days. They had been good friends during those years in school but had not seen each other since leaving school. They went into a coffee shop, ordered coffee and began to reminisce and renew their friendship. They talked together bout almost everything they had experienced in the past and finally were about to part company. The infidel said to the preacher, “You don’t really believe in Heaven or in Hell, do you?” The preacher was taken aback at the suggestion of such a thought. “Of course, I believe in Heaven and Hell!” replied the preacher. His friend said, “Then, I must call you a liar because if you really believed in those two places you would have talked to me about my soul. According to the Bible I am lost and headed to Hell, and yet, you talked about everything in the world with me but what should have really mattered.”
It is shocking to think that we might be confessing one thing with our tongues and, in reality, acting out something entirely different in our daily lives. Christians need to search their hearts regarding the answer to this question. If we really believe that there is a lake that burns with fire and brimstone, a place, “Where their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44 NKJV), then, we, out of necessity, will speak to everyone we can to warn them of the pending destruction.
Do we really believe that “the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalms 9:17)? Do we really believe the words found in Revelation 21:8, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death”? Do you personally believe there is going to be a second death? Do you really believe this? Do you believe it so strongly you must act upon your belief and warn people of this second death that awaits them for their sinful lives and their failure to accept the gift of God’s love, Jesus Christ, into their lives?
Saying we believe in Hell is one thing, and living in a practical manner that demonstrates we believe there is a Hell definitely are two different things. Hell is a place of insatiable tormenting appetite and desire. We read in Luke 16:22-25 the following.
So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” But Abraham said, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”
The rich man cried for a drink of water, but there was no water to quench his thirst. Think about this and realize that if Christians really believe this is true and that there is a place like this, how could they and why do they do so little about warning lost souls about it? Hell is a place of unutterable and everlasting shame and contempt. The great prophet Daniel penned these words, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). How strongly do professing Christians believe in the resurrection of the dead, in everlasting life and everlasting contempt that is to follow that resurrection? The extent of that belief is what compels us to go or not to go and evangelize those not evangelized in our world.
There is utter darkness in hell; it is banishment from Heaven, from God, from Christ and from the Holy Spirit where all is light to an extreme opposite of eternal darkness. Matthew 25:30 teaches that the wicked and unprofitable servants will be cast into Hell. Jesus said, “And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” There will be weeping in Hell – an expression of wailing, anguish and great sorrow. There will be gnashing of teeth in Hell – an expression of great rage and indignation (Matthew 25:30). The question is how strongly do Christians believe this? The extent of our actions will give us the answer, which may not correspond to what our tongues say.
The Bible also speaks of this place called Heaven – the home of the soul. How strongly do we believe in this place? Evidently, some don’t think strongly enough of Heaven to recommend it to others on an urgent and ongoing basis. Sure, there are those who will occasionally mention Heaven in a passing fashion, but where are the Christians today who believe in Heaven so strongly that they are driven to tell as many people about this place as possible? Why aren’t more Christians covering land and sea to share the wonderful news of Heaven – the habitation of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and all the redeemed of all the ages?
Jesus said in John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Can Christians today envision that place and those mansions? Do they believe this text so strongly that they are compelled to tell others about it? Has belief in their lives become so complete and full that they are driven to share the concept with the lost all around them? Heaven is a place just as Earth is a place. Isaiah, the prophet of old, wrote, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool’…” (Isaiah 66:1). Heaven is spoken of as being so much better than anything we have ever known on Earth (Hebrews 10:34). Do we believe this with such intensity of heart that we cannot hold the news of it back but must share it with as many others as we can? The writer of Hebrews spoke of Heaven as a place of rest in Hebrews 4:9. He urged Christians to give diligence to enter into that rest (Hebrews 4:11) and not to fall short of it (Hebrews 4:1).
Heaven is spoken of as being a place where faithful children of God will finally be delivered from the sorrows, tribulations and the heartaches, pains and death faced in this life. According to the Revelation by Jesus Christ and penned by John, the beloved disciple, Heaven is a place where, “…God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Does that not excite your heart? Do you believe it? How strongly do you believe?
Remember what the infidel said to the preacher; “If you really believed in Heaven and in Hell, you would have talked to me about my soul.” Often, we hear people say, “Well, why are we here? What is life all about? What is my purpose for being here?” A casual reader of the Bible knows that God’s Word teaches this life is preparatory for life beyond this present existence. Heaven and Hell are real! Judgment is sure and certain. God’s gift of love is extended to all people through Christ. God’s love for His creation has been shed abroad through His Son who saves people from the impending doom that awaits all who refuse to accept God’s Son through obedience and service. If we believe all these things, then, we will talk to people about Heaven, Hell and their relationship with Christ. Remember that it is the extent of our belief in Heaven and in Hell that compels us to speak to others about the condition of their souls.
