Tag: God’s wrath

  • 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

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    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.

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  • The Sentinel

    The price of being a watchman for God

    Set apart from the others, a tree stands atop the hill behind our  home. It’s been battered and broken but refuses to give in and keeps growing. It reminds me of a sentinel at watch.

    A sentinel (sentry, watchman) watches, warns, and keeps out unwanted visitors.

    It can be a lonely role. I remember holding sentinel posts over the runways at an airbase when I was in the Canadian Armed Forces. 

    I usually got that role during “exercises,” where readiness was tested through simulated war conditions.

    Some officer in a control center dictated the play, writing off various areas as losses to the enemy. During one exercise, my area was written off as lost early and promptly forgotten. Since I was guarding well away from the central part of the base and not in communication with others, no one told me my role was done, so I continued to stand guard.

    I was cold, wet, and hungry, but held my post. It wasn’t until the exercise was completed and I didn’t return to my normal duty station that anyone noticed I was missing. After some searching, they realized I was still out in the middle of nowhere beyond the airstrips and came to get me.

    In Ezekiel 33, we read of Ezekiel being appointed the watchman over Israel.

    The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 33:1-9 ESV

    Ezekiel was to warn people of God’s wrath and tell them to turn back. He was not responsible for the results, but he was called to give a warning.

    Similarly, we are to warn people of the dangers of sin and hell and tell them of the hope in Christ. They are accountable for their actions.

    It isn’t an easy task. Like sentries, our warnings can be ignored, and we can stand alone against the crowd, but we are still called to proclaim the truth.

    We are called to truth proclamation in words, deeds, and how you live your life. If you and I don’t tell them, who will?

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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