Hell is one of those things for us as Christians (and non-Christians) that can be so overwhelming, vague, mysterious, and just down right scary that we tend to try to push it aside and squirm away from it as much as we can. Yet the scriptures teach that our final destination could be so awful that we should rather give up all things on this earth and in this life than to reside there. Interestingly hell was a topic in Jesus' ministry that he spoke about as prominently as others. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Mat 5:29-30 Many will discuss the different possibilities of what exactly hell will be like, whether it will be eternal, conscious, etc.. However without getting into all of that, what is clear is that Jesus taught that hell was not only real, but was something he wanted us as humans to avoid at all costs. Day 1. Read Mat 3; 5; 7; 10; 18; 23; 25; Mrk 9; Lk 12; Jam 3, 2 Pe 2; Rev 20 Day 2. Does your view of hell have God in view? Consider whether you primarily don't want to go to hell because of the personal torment that awaits you there, or because it is a place that God will not reside and you desire chiefly to not be cut off from him? There is of course nothing wrong with being adverse to the personal affliction and torment in hell, but if there is no consideration of being with God, our aversion falls short and is incomplete. Day 3. Is hell a constant fear of yours as a Christian? Hell is very real, and Jesus preached about it quite often, teaching us to not take it lightly by any stretch. However, he also taught that he was able to fulfill perfectly the requirements of God (Mat 5) and that we should have great confidence when approaching God (Heb 4) because Jesus has incurred God's wrath against our sin for us and has quenched it in totality (Rom 5; 1 Thes 1; 5). We can therefore stand confidently in faith of Christ's finished redeeming work (Heb 1; 8; 10; 12). Day 4. As a Christian, is hell a real possibility? Just as we should not walk in an unhealthy fear of hell as Christians, but instead in faith as we follow Christ and trust in his redemption, we are also taught from the scriptures to have a sober estimate of ourselves (Rom 12) and to be ware lest we back slide, and turn away from the living God (Heb 12; 3). We should not take an attitude that is lackadaisical, but instead make every effort to remain in Christ (Heb 4; 12; Lk 13; 2 Pet 1; 3). Day 5. Talk to someone about the realities of hell. Today.
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