7/14/2009

The Echo and Insufficiency of Hell

Scribbled by Darrell Barnes

Just finished Part 1 of a 2 part series by John Piper about the reality of hell. I've been lying in bed for the past couple of weeks wondering about this subject. Raise your hand if you've been where I'm at here; I wondered(foolishly), "Could hell really be that uncomfortable?" I can't believe that my mind allows me to entertain this notion. As Piper was working through historical doctrines abandoning the reality, and severity of hell I couldn't help but feel really irritated with myself. I know that if my studies were more involved with what the Word actually said, then I wouldn't have to question these things. Historical Christian authors label hell as an "annihilation" rather than the "eternal suffering" that the bible speaks of.

A great example that I related to was that of Adolph Hitler. If he were to get up to the final judgment, and God were to tell him that, "because his wicked ways, he was to not exist anymore," then Hitler would probably be excited about that. Here's where the severity is hitting me, even as I type; if that were true, then I wouldn't have to worry about sinning. Wow, what a freakin' concept. We could either choose to sin and not exist later, or we could live in eternal bliss. Now, the latter still is the best option, but when you look at nonexistence as the only alternative then you don't really have anything terrible to look forward to. You wouldn't pay for the evil in your heart, or the wickedness that you have displayed to God, whom created all things. You would simply not exist.

It sounds a little peculiar to write about this, in this way. However, knowing that this idea sounds ridiculous really starts to push into my head the severity of sin in my life. When I die here on Earth, I will be with my maker in heaven. If I were choose to live in my wickedness and continue to pervert the name of Jesus Christ, then I would not receive the next best alternative (because that's what nonexistence is), I would live in eternal damnation, where gnashing of teeth, anguish in the flames and weeping would happen. I choose never to desire this. I will only desire to be with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you Jesus for bearing my sin and shame, so that I may live with you in eternal joy.

0 good games: