People try to describe the natural beauty of this world with grand words and in poems and songs that make you feel like you can almost see it. The mountains, the valleys, forests and rushing streams, you might begin to think you can see the majestic beauty. With high resolution photography and modern video techniques you can move even closer to experiencing the beauty until you see it with your own eyes. Then you quickly realize all the words, pictures and even films don’t even come close to seeing it in person!
There are many places I am thankful for the descriptions, pictures and videos of others because they convinced me I don’t want to go there. From what they said and showed me, the place is too uncomfortable, too dangerous or I wouldn’t be welcome. I’ve been to some places I don’t want to return to, because it’s not a nice place to be. I was in a city because of my job, and I went out with Missionaries to try to help the street people, but my words don’t even come close to the misery I saw, and the smell was beyond description. Thank GOD for Missionaries who return again and again and keep trying to make a difference.
I am thankful for the descriptions of one place because as a child I was convinced that I never want to go there. Even though the descriptions are given in detail as the writers convey a glimpse of the horror of that place, I’m sure it doesn’t even come close to how bad it really is (Mark 9:43-48). How can you describe an endless lake of fire, filled with burning people (Luke 16:23)? Screams are ignored, tortured souls desperately search for relief that won’t come, no rest, no peace, it will never get better, and it will never end… Thankfully someone loved me enough to tell me about that terrible place and that I don’t have to go there.
But there’s another place I want to see for myself. I was also told about that place as a child, and I was convinced I want to go there. From the descriptions, it’s a wonderful place, where the streets are paved with gold, with no more pain or suffering, and no more sickness or death. Even though the descriptions are given in detail as the writers try to convey a glimpse of that place, I’m sure it doesn’t even come close to describing how wonderful that place really is because it was designed by “him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20 KJV) and that time won’t matter because there will be no end… Thankfully someone loved me enough to die for my sins, so I can go there and live forever!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16 – 18 KJV). “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15 KJV). My writing doesn’t even come close to telling how bad hell or wonderful heaven is but I know where I’m going! Do you?
Wayne Lance