Wheat field Banner

Gleanings From The Word

Category: creation

  • Unpleasant Endings – the hard questions about hell

    Unpleasant Endings – the hard questions about hell

    I was sitting in a coffee shop discussing some questions a friend  had about Christianity.

    He asked me, “Do you believe in a real place called hell?”

    I answered that Jesus certainly believed it, and that was good enough for me. We discussed some of the verses in which Jesus spoke about hell.

    But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brotherwill be liable to judgment; whoever insultshis brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:22

    And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell Matthew 10:28 

    There are many more verses on the subject.

    Then my friend asked the question that was really on his mind, “How can a good and loving God send people to hell?”

    It’s a fair question and one that many people struggle with.

    The first thing to think about is that hell was never designed for people. It was designed for Satan and the angels that chose to follow him in His rebellion and outright war against God.

    Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41 

    Secondly, God never “sends” anyone to hell. People get there based on their own choice to rebel against God, as did Satan and the demons.

    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God…  John 3:16-18 

    God created us in His own image and He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die on our behalf so we could avoid the torment of hell. He takes no pleasure in our suffering. Scripture tells us that He would much rather we turn to Him and be set free.

    I don’t know what you picture hell to be like. Jesus certainly didn’t think of it as a “party place” where we could hang out and indulge our favorite sins. I’m not sure if the fires are real or metaphorical. I’m not particularly fond of either, to be honest; neither one has any appeal for me to spend eternity in. 

    An eternity of separation from God is an unpleasant ending to this life that I wish to avoid.

    I don’t know the exact physical location of hell. Nor will I ever because I’ve given my life to Christ. To be honest, I have no desire to go there, even for a visit or to see where it is.

    According to Jesus (and in my mind, there is no better source), hell is real; hell is eternal; and hell can be avoided. All it takes is heartfelt repentance, belief in Christ, and surrendering Lordship of our lives to Him.

    Until next time, rejoice that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to keep us out of the fiery pit for all of eternity.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

    Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

    The Hot Seat – Hell is real

    Subscribe today 

    Find us on Facebook

    Find us on Instagram

    Visit our Homepage

    Find us on Pinterest

    All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

    Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.

    General Revelation: Why No One Can Claim They Didn’t Know
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
  • Stormy Seas – Calming the storm

    Stormy Seas – Calming the storm

    I caught the news the other day and read that BC Ferries had  canceled several sailings between Tsawwassen and Vancouver Island due to stormy weather. It happens now and then and is one of the expected perils of ferry travel.

    That took my mind to the gospels. There are several accounts of Jesus calming storms on the Sea of Galilee.

    On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41 ESV

    I can only imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus spoke and the storm ceased. How many times later did they talk about the event amongst themselves?

    It’s a powerful text. What is it about?

    I’ve heard two versions over the years, each claiming to answer that question.

    One says that it’s an astounding account of Jesus’ power, pointing to His control over the natural order and proving His divinity.

    The other says it is to tell us that Jesus can calm the storms in our lives.

    The first concerns the text itself; the second concerns a possible application of the text. The application is seldom, if ever, what the text is about.

    Let me give another example. In the account of David v Goliath (1 Samuel 17), we learn that young David kills Goliath using a sling and a stone. David demonstrates his faith in the Lord. The text is not about how God can slay the giants in our lives.

    When we read the Bible, we first need to look at what the text tells us. Then we move on to see what the text actually means (a process called exegesis). Exegesis is a scary ten-dollar word that basically means examining a text to determine what it really says. We do it all the time with the Bible, even without knowing the fancy word.

    Finally, we might look at how the text can be applied to our lives (the application).

    Moving directly to the application without understanding the text can lead to many incorrect understandings of what the Bible says and means.

    Let’s allow the text to speak for itself.

    Tribulation Produces Perseverance
    The Hitching Post – Thoughts on the Gospel