By Jim Mettenbrink
Last week, we considered how Jesus gave us a glimpse of hell, the eternal destiny of those who choose not to become a Christian. To illustrate hell, He used the Valley of Hinnom on the southern edge of Jerusalem, the perpetually burning garbage dump, including the remains of animal sacrifices at the Jewish temple. Imagine a south wind bathing the city with that foul odor. That His metaphor for hell was never-ending fire indicates the excruciatingly unbearable physical pain to which we can relate. However, the Bible does not state that people in hell will have bodies, only those resurrected to eternal life in heaven have that promise of an eternal body (1 Cor 15; 1 Jn 3:2). So what about the dead who have chosen hell? Yes it is a choice!
Hades (the ancient Greek word meaning, the place of the unseen) is the temporary abode of a person’s spirit when he dies, awaiting the judgment day (Luke 16:19-31). What happens when his spirit is consigned to hell on the final day?
At a very trialsome time in my life, I endured clinical depression for 18 months. Although mental depression effects one physically, it is not physical pain, rather it’s spiritual anguish. It was an indescribable sense of despair, so great that I would lay down at night and ask God to let me die. I had lost all hope regarding this life. It was like being in a deep dark pit where I could see the opening and its rays of light, and desperately wanted to get out but could not.
A friend had multiple diseases throughout her life. As she was dying of cancer, she told me that of all the physical diseases and pain she had suffered, none compared to the terrifying anguish of mental depression. Being burnt with fire and suffering depression is a taste of hell on earth. Just a taste of the horror of eternal torment. Forever!
Although fire gives us a hint of the pain of hell, Jesus stated, “…There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42) indicating the deep anguish of regret for refusing Jesus, the grace of God’s love for each of us. How often have you regretted a decision that changed your life?…. if only you could roll back the clock. Imagine having that depression in your spirit forever…never ending.
Further, Jesus said hell is “outer darkness” (Mat 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). Since God is the source of light (Genesis 1:3-4: Revelation 21:23; 22:5), darkness is where God is not. Total darkness indicates a person is really all alone which is a characteristic the torment of depression. Hell is indescribable loneliness of terrible regret with an anguish of hopeless despair which after a billion years, will be just the beginning. It’s your choice whether to go there! Living for Jesus according to His New Testament or hell!