We are given many details about hell, the how’s and the why’s. We need to learn all we can. It’s not a byword or curse word. It’s not just the place you order people to when you’re angry with them. It is used in every context now days. These things are an insult to hell; they show a total disregard for it. It’s given so little consideration. We are in an era that doesn’t believe in hell. It’s now a myth that has seen its day. To society at large there is no sin and certainly not a hell. As a Christian we tend not to consider it a lot. Subconsciously we may be afraid to, or we feel we don’t need to. This is of no consequence. It still exists. It is part of the reality that God has educated us in. He knows the danger of going there. There is one detail that we need to consider—the size of hell.
Everything about hell is bad, real bad. The Bible we hold in our hands tells us that long before Jesus came to earth, before man fell in the Garden of Eden, there had to be a hell. Lucifer is the cause. He and a third part of the angels are doomed to go there. We need to fear it. We can’t fool around with the Bible. We need to act by what we say. There will be no waltzing into heaven. Some will be in for a surprise when they leave this world. The Bible says that many will call upon the Lord with words similar to “I’ve done this in your name; I done that. I’ve been a good person.”…..the pleading goes on and on. Jesus will say “I never knew you.” Hell is serious. It’s the alternative to heaven, so we won’t just dance our way into heaven. We must cling to Jesus.
So, why talk about the size of hell?
Isaiah 5: 13 “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. 15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: 16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.”
These verses tell us enough to show us we need to get down to business with hell. Is it a reality? If we believe the Bible is true, yes it’s a reality. Was it a necessity? Yes. There had to be a dwelling place for those who reject Jesus as Savior. It’s not about an identity with religion. It’s not about being a good person. The only way we can escape the destiny of hell is by the ONE who was sent to save souls. It’s about Jesus Christ and what we have done with HIM. It’s about what we are doing with him in our personal and public life today.
It’s sad but ironic that while the belief in hell is dwindling, it’s frequently made fun of. There is no fear anymore. The name of God and his Son are also made fun of. We’re in a blasphemous generation. Biblical words are used in ways such as these. The words of other religions are not used; they use the words of our Bible. This attests to the truth of the Word of God. It’s proof that the devil is alive and well. Hell is as real as it’s ever been; it’s not dormant or idle. It’s ever growing, ever enlarging itself because each passing moment souls go there. It has to accept the ones who made fun of it. It has to accommodate. It shouldn’t have needed to exist, but there had to be an eternal place of judgment for sin. God didn’t want to create it and it’s no bigger than it has to be. Yet due to the multitude of those who are lost it must enlarge itself.
Every aspect of hell is a living nightmare. It’s a blazing furnace where the fire is not quenched. Isaiah said it’s a smoking pit. Job said those who go to the pit never come back. It’s a chamber of agony beyond our imagination. What is heard there, what is seen there, what is felt there is pain and torment. There is nothing but the taste and smell of smoke. The rich man in hell asked for mercy; he wanted just a drop of water; he said “I am tormented in this flame.” There won’t only be the cries of agony from others, but a person’s own cries will be heard. It’s a madhouse of insanity. There is no dignity there. The scripture says there are no pomp, no pride, and no arrogance in hell. There was pleasure in the sin for a season but it stopped in hell. One may have a big name here, but in hell he’s just another person. One should not think “I wouldn’t gnash my teeth”, because he most certainly will.
The devil wants to keep you in sin and make you go past God and the cross to hell. The signs are there from Genesis to Revelation. There is a hell, and we can escape it if we trust in and live our life for Jesus. Don’t ignore the signs. Don’t laugh along with others, whether friends or Hollywood. Never think you don’t have to worry about it. Without God you’ll go there and not come back. If you’ve forsaken God you’re in danger. If you’ve left God for something else you will end up there. Verse 14 says “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.” The poor can go there. The mighty can go there. When you die in your sins you’ll find that all the glory, the popularity, the enjoyments, and do-dads of this life were for nothing. All things that take our time and efforts from God are sin. The Bible says let him who is holy be holy still. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t live how we want to and think we’ll scoot into heaven at the end by hollering at God in one moment at the end of life.
It doesn’t matter who you are, your name may be in the paper tomorrow. Do you know Jesus? Does Jesus know you? You’re not there yet, but if you go, you can’t come back. It’s not God’s wish that any go to hell. Jesus gave his all so that you would not have to go there. We need to give our all to him.
Remember, hell is only as large as it has to be. Follow God’s advice. Don’t make it any larger. Get real. Get down to business with hell.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 