Hell

In my lifetime I have seen the deaths of several horrible men: Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, Kim Jong Il, and others. Each time someone known for that type of evil dies I hear people talk about how glad they are that these men are now getting what they deserve - hell. That sentiment makes me cringe and feel immense sadness. All I think when I hear that comment is that I, too, deserve hell. But for the grace of God my path would lead to hell also. I am a sinner saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not of my own works, but by His. Who am I to condemn someone to an eternity without God and rejoice in their overwhelming suffering? I picture myself doing that by peaking out from behind Jesus and yelling “nah nah nah nah nah” at someone like a child would do to another child. The audacity! You might argue that people like those I mentioned cause so much suffering on earth that the punishment is justifiable. And it is. But we deserve that same punishment as well. All of us are born dead in our sins. How many sins we commit or how horrible they are is irrelevant. None of us deserve heaven. It is a gift. 

I’m not sure why this is on my mind today. I suppose thinking of the upcoming Christmas season has me thinking about Jesus’ time on earth and what it represents. I am grateful for His saving grace in my life. I grieve at the thought of someone not knowing Him. Wether in regards to Adolf Hitler or your sweet grandmother, hell is a real place for those who do not know the Lord. I pray that I have (or take) more opportunities to share the hope of salvation to people. I pray that I remember the grace that has been shown to me and never step out of humility when thinking of another person’s eternal path. May I continue to pray for the salvation of those around me. It is by grace that I walk this life… even if I’m only passing through... 

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