Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

Ezekiel 18:23 (NIV)

I’ve never really given hell much thought. Before I was saved I remember reading books about hell that portrayed it as a place where all of the “cool” people went. When I read the Bible I see it as a dark hot place with a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth with everyone there suffering eternal punishment. There are various interpretations of what hell looks likes but the one thing that I do believe is very clear about it is that God isn’t there.

Therefore, if God isn’t in a place then none of the attributes that make up God are in that place. For example, if God is love then how can love exist if the Creator of love is not there? We know that sin takes those things that were created by God and distorts them from their original purpose. When we think of love and we think of God being love then what can we say about God? Well, what does the Bible say about love?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

1 Corinthians 13:4-10 (NIV)

When I’ve reviewed love as it is described here I have almost always stopped with love never failing. However, as I looked at these verses today it occurred to me that love is complete. We are made perfect and complete in love. If God is love then it is God who makes us perfect and complete. There are many ways to look at love and try to define what it is. We have allowed sin to define love for us in this world. However, I believe if we look at God as the true and perfect “seed” of love then we can move on to considering a place without God. After all, if all love, whether or not it has been corrupted by sin, stems from God then the absence of God will also mean the absence of all love. In whatever form we might consider.

Therefore, hell is a place without love. If there’s no love in a place then what does reside there? Indifference. Some might think that “hate” would fill the gap when love drains away. However, isn’t hate just a distortion of love? Hate still desires while indifference doesn’t. I don’t know about you but the most painful break-ups I’ve had in my life haven’t been those where there was a lot of fighting and such before the break-up. No, it’s been those where the other person no longer cares. Where there once was love it’s been replaced by indifference.

I’m not aware of anyone who can stomach indifference. That belief that no one cares. This, I believe, is hell. I remember the dark days of my life when I wallowed in depression, often believing that no one cared. It was that belief that led me to try and take my life one day. I don’t know about you but it doesn’t matter what hell might look like. I don’t want to go to a place without love.

Do you know God? God knows you and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so that we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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