My initial learning about Hell was that it was a place where you go to after you die if you have not been saved meaning you had not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior or repented of your sins. Hell was a place of eternal fire and permanent separation from God.1 Just the thought of that makes me cringe as that is such misery and the thought of being in a fire is just unbearable. But at one time things were really going bad for me. It seemed to be no end in sight and time was just slowly creeping by. And the thought came to my mind was; is this Hell? Perhaps Hell is more than just fire? Maybe it’s unbearable conditions on earth and one can be placed there even if they are not dead.
After a few days things got better. So I know my thoughts were just that and I was not in real hell. But I never want to be. I don’t know if real hell is only fire but one thing for sure, is that it is permanent.(Luke 16:26) On earth, God’s mercy can change the conditions of a righteous praying person.2 But once one is condemned to hell, there’s no hope of suffering getting better3 That’s enough to scare me into staying in the grace of the Lord and to do my best to live according to His words and principles. Because I sure don’t want to have to ask again-is this Hell?
Scripture references:
1 Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
2 Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
3 Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Inspirational Messages of God’s Greatness And Compassion 