I was watching a British television series when the main character stated “Hell is separation from GOD” while talking to an avowed atheist. It didn’t surprise me, because he is a Catholic priest, who often espouses a very liberal view of the Bible. Religion isn’t the main focus of the program and the priest is portrayed as a kind-hearted amateur detective. It is some consolation that any religious viewpoint is allowed in this BBC program. They usually mock Christians and portray them as hypocritical or the worst kind of villains.
As bad as being separated from GOD for an eternity would be, that is not an accurate description of Hell. With numerous detailed references in the Bible of a fiery Hell, why would you not believe? JESUS said “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mat 9:43-44 KJV). JESUS described Hell in such vivid details, so why would you doubt?
In another episode, the priest suggested “the Bible shouldn’t be taken so literally.” Why is that? Is it so hard to believe that a loving GOD would plainly say “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mat 25:41 KJV)? GOD hates sin and demands sinless perfection from us. We can only meet that standard because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). JESUS died on a real cross to wash away our sins and save us from a very real Hell.
Are you being kind or nice if you tell people Hell is anything less than a horrible place, with real fire and real pain? The desperate cries of the rich man (Luke 16:22-28 KJV) describes the horrors of Hell. Maybe he could have avoided Hell if someone would have told him the plain truth. He has been in torment for more than 2000 years and his agony will never end. Love the lost enough to tell them the whole truth! While you are at it, you can tell the lost how much GOD loves them and they must be born again. You can also tell them Heaven is real.
Wayne Lance (2018)