Sin’s Eternal Consequences (Part 2)
UTTER DESPAIR
Hell will be a place of absolute hopelessness. There will be no calendar in hell so that man may mark off the time until his punishment is over. One can often endure almost unbearable pain with a glimmer of hope that it will cease. Even those sentenced to life in prison know that their sentence will ultimately come to an end. Not so with the sentence of eternal condemnation. Each passing day (I use this term accommodatively) will find those in hell with no less days to suffer. Take note also that hell is often described as a place of “outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). Most of us have experienced darkness to some degree. It is a rather dismal feeling when one is unable to see. However, very few know what absolute darkness is like. It is a darkness so daunting that it is almost as if you can “feel” it. Hell will be void of any light whatsoever. This absence of light makes even the place of eternal fire a cold place, uninviting, utterly despairing. “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night” (Revelation 14:11). The hopelessness of hell should cause us to want to avoid it at all costs. The torment never ends; the darkness never gives way to light; the opportunities are no more. There is no hope!!! What absolute and utter despair!
UNENDING SEPARATION
The greatest tragedy to be suffered by those in hell will be the never-ending separation that will take place in the last day. The sheep [the faithful] will be separated from the goats [the unfaithful] (Matthew 25:31- 46). On that day, husbands will be eternally separated from their wives; parents will be separated from their children; friends will be separated from friends. How truly sad that day will be! There will be no hope of reunion with those who have gone onto eternal bliss. Indeed, “there’s a sad day coming, when the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left” (“There’s a Great Day Coming”, Will S. Thompson). Sadder still is the fact that in hell man will be eternally separated from Him Who created and sustained him. Paul would write, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, emphasis mine, SPM). God is love, and light, and mercy, and forgiveness. Eternal separation from the Almighty is to be forever severed from the warmth of His love and the light of His presence. In hell, all who refused to obey God will desire the opportunity to obey. All who averred that God does not exist will know He is, and will want to know Him. Those who once tasted of the heavenly gift (Hebrews 6:4), but turned aside from the truth will want to taste of His goodness once again. Yet, none will be able to cross over that great gulf that stands between the saved and the lost, the faithful and the unfaithful, Paradise and Torment, heaven and hell (Luke 16:26). Forever separated from the source of love, light and life. The unending separation of man from God should cause us to avoid hell at all costs!
Knowing all of these things revealed about hell, who would want to go there? You may think that no one would willingly choose to spend eternity in hell. However, each day multitudes slip into eternity having decided that heaven was not worth living for the Lord. They have decided to spend eternity in hell! Don’t choose the same fate for your eternal soul! The bliss of eternal day can be yours if you will obey the gospel and live faithfully. Don’t spend eternity regretting your disobedience.
-Patrick Morrison
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