Hell

I know I'm not the only Christian out there who has been threatened by the horrors of hell by another Christian for not obeying God's law. I've heard the salvation message preached where the focus is so much on the whole "it's a place where the fire never ceases and the worms never die!" etc etc part of hell, and it always ends with them asking the question, "Well which one will you choose...heaven a beautiful place or hell with its endless torment?" I always find that with this approach to salvation, you can get either response. The one where they're fearfully accepting the Lord just because they want to save their own behinds from this endless torment, or one where they just pretend to accept God and secretly think all Christians are clinically insane.


Back in 2011 (I can't believe it's been that long) I went to the Chicago Awakening Conference by Jesus Culture and I remember Pastor Banning preaching about our relationship with God. He talked about how if our relationship with God was based on fear, it will never last... but a relationship with God based on love will. That message will forever stick in my heart and it really has changed my whole perception on it all.


This was my first revelation about hell and salvation. God was about more than scaring people into accepting Him. The more I learn about Gods character and spend time with Him, the more I realize that God is always good. I know that He as a good Father, would never scare His children into loving Him. 


The second revelation I had was during a conversation with a couple of friends. A friend was talking about a book he was currently reading by Francis Chan, and he had said that Francis asked a question somewhere along the lines of, "If God were in hell, would you love Him enough to go there with Him?" It was a question made to challenge your true intentions for being a Christian. Do you really love God? Love His presence? or are you just afraid of God and going to hell? Do I love God so much that I'm willing to do anything for Him? Am I willing to die for Him? I was really convicted of my "fearful" mindset that night and it's another moment in my life that will forever mark me.


I know that for any type of self-improvement to happen and growth in my relationship with God, I need to ask myself those hard questions that are easier to avoid. The truth of the matter was, is that I was afraid. My walk in the Lord consisted of me just trying to be a "good" Christian. You know the type. Don't commit those "big sins," don't curse, be nice to people, listen to Christian music. If you do sin... ask for forgiveness right away or else. I was tip toeing around God, crossing my fingers and hoping that I didn't sin, and not realizing that God can see through any facade, and looks straight into our hearts. I didn't want to be punished. I didn't want my church to judge me. There was just so much fear in my relationship with God, and the Holy Spirit really convicted me that night. Yet another night to mark me, and change my whole life.

Side note: Can I just stop for a moment and give God the praise and the glory? Through it all He has never given up on me and is constantly challenging me (in the best way possible), constantly teaching me, and constantly lavishing his mercies and love on me. 

The last thing I realized is that the worst part of Hell, is God is not there. He can't make it light and bright, because He is the light. He can't put beaches and make it beautiful, because He is the creator of everything that is beautiful. Hell is a place where God does not reside, and it's a place that really really sucks. I know that in the bible, there are crazy depictions of what hell looks like and it does suck. I mean who would want to live in a place forever where your endlessly tormented, and worms never die? 

These past few weeks I'am going through the toughest time in my life, but out of this season I know God is working in me and creating something beautiful out of it all. I'm also realizing that no matter what is happening in my life God is always good. When I remind myself of who God is, I know that a good Father would never sit on His throne and throw people in hell because He wants too. "These people didn't accept me? Ugh... I hate them... Because you don't want me I'm going to make the worst place I can think of and throw them in there!" Common... does that really sound like a    good Father to you? It sounds more like an evil abusive spouse. 

The reason why He talks about it so much in the bible is because He wants to warn us. He doesn't want us to go there. He doesn't want us to be separated from Him, because in Him there is life. A Father will never want death for their children. Everything he says in His word about Hell, it's not to scare us into accepting and choosing Him. He says it because He just loves us and wants the best for us, and He knows that He is what's best for us. 

He gives us endless opportunities to choose Him in this life. God will never force anyone to choose Himself. It's why I never feel right about scaring people into salvation. If we don't want Him here on earth, why would we want to be in heaven will him forever? In heaven we will always be with Him. We'll walk side by side and see Him face to face. 

I know that this question gets thrown around a lot in the world and it's, "if God is so good why would he threaten me with hell into accepting Him?" I for the longest time was stumped on this question, but I just want to say that God will never threaten anyone or choose Him. Knowing that God is good and knowing how much God loves us, I know that love never threatens and coerces. It goes against His very nature to do so. 

The reason for Hell is because it's simply where the people go that don't want to be Him. Satan was the first one to go there because He didn't want to worship God. The people on earth sadly who don't want to spend time with God forever, go there. If you don't choose God now, why would you want to spend an eternity with God in heaven? 

I remember having a friend in high school who would joke around about how in heaven he'd be sipping alcohol on a beach with tons of girls around him. It just goes to show you how twisted people think heaven is like... because that's not what heaven is like. 

Heaven is a place where God is 24/7. It's His home. It's the place He wants us to enjoy with Him forever. There is constant worship and praise to God. It never stops. Every tear is wiped away and there is joy forevermore with God. 

Everything God does flows out of love for us. He is love and He is incapable of evil. God is always good. I want my walk with Him in this life to always flow out of my love for Him. I don't want to be afraid of God. I just want to walk with Him and be in His presence. He is my Father, and with Him is where I belong. 

Don't let this world and the devil twist who God says He is. It took me years to learn this about God... and for years I questioned God's goodness because of the "fear hell and torment" message I've always heard. 

I know that a lot of people are living their walk with God in fear, but I just pray that I help spread the message of God's goodness, mercies, forgiveness and His love. There is never fear in love. I want to make a change in the way people perceive God, because I know that God is so good, He is such a loving Father, and I just want people to experience His love and presence.

To see people choose God because they just love Him...
this is real salvation.