Heaven and Hell

We were talking this morning about heaven and hell and thinking tht the Bible doesn't spend a lot of time talking about hell. At least, it doesn't seem to give as much of a description of hell as it does heaven. You can look at the Book of Revelation, especially chapters 4 and 5 and see a lot said about heaven and what is going on there. We also realize from other Scriptures that we are going to have a place created for us by Christ Himself as He mentioned in John 14:1-6. Revelation goes on to say what is going to be in heaven and some of the things that won't be in heaven. Revelation 21:1-2 says, " And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." As we see the things said about heaven, we can also come up with what's not going to be there such as those who had not made a decision for the Lord Jesus Christ. The final judgment shows all of those souls being cast into the lake of fire. Other passages of Scripture do describe this place as being a place of torment, of burning yet not being consumed with the flame, of darkness, of gnashing of teeth. Obviously what is present in heaven won't be in hell. So, God will not be in hell comforting those who are assigned there by their own failure to receive Christ while they were alive. God will not be granting pardons to those who have spent time in hell such as judges do here on earth. Jude's description of wandering stars and darkness demonstrate the loneliness that will be prevalent among the inhabitants of this place. There is no description of hell as being a place filled with people having the greatest party of all time. No, on the contrary, it will be a place of torment, separation, darkness and where souls will wish to die, but they cannot. The awfulness of hell should be an incentive for believers to spread the word to as many people as possible. After all, here is the only chance for people to escape this coming judgment but many will decide to go merrily on their way in this life comforted in the fact that they are the captain of their destiny only to find out too late that they were on the wrong road. Take two columns on a piece of paper and write down one one side, what will be in heaven and on the other column, what will be in hell. Now, logically look at the list. Which would you choose? Heaven awaits those who have trusted in Christ and if you decide to make your own route, the end will be hell, for you will have made the wrong choice. Praise God today that He has provided a dwelling place for believers to be with Him forever.