Is death just the end and
there is nothing left after that? Not at
all! We immediately suffer or enjoy the
consequences of what we’ve chosen here on earth — for eternity.

Our life here on this earth — the impression
we make — isn’t how good we are or how great we look, but we make the
impression by the choice we make about Jesus Christ.

  Either: We
Suffer Separation in Hell

Or: We Enjoy
Celebration in Heaven

 That’s the greatest good
news ever. That’s also the worst news
ever. A recent survey showed that more
people today believe in a real Heaven and a real Hell than ever before. More today than back in the conservative
fifties. Whether we believe in it or not
— it’s real. We will either suffer
separation or enjoy celebration.  II Thess. 1:8-9 "He will punish those who do not know God and
do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the
presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power." 

Hell is a real eternal
place. Jesus Christ believed in hell.
Twelve of the twenty direct references to hell in the New Testament came from
Jesus’ lips. He talked more about hell
than anybody else. He talked about it as
being a real, eternal place. It is just as real and just as eternal as
heaven. 

I’d rather just talk about
Heaven, the good news. But I wouldn’t be
honest if I didn’t tell you the whole picture. Hell is just as real as heaven. The choice we make on earth determines
where we’re going to spend eternity.

 What’s the truth about
hell? It’s a place of suffering.
Physical, emotional, relational, spiritual suffering.

  Physical suffering. It’s a place of fire and suffering. The Bible says it’s true.

  Emotional suffering. Several times when Jesus Christ
talks about hell He says it’s a place where there will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth. In hell, you won’t blame anybody else, you’ll know it was your own
fault — if I had just made the right decision. Emotional suffering forever.

  Relational suffering. People who think hell is going to be some great big party don’t get the
point. Jesus said hell is a place of
outer darkness. Relationally it will be
a place of loneliness. C. S. Lewis said,
"Hell is nothing but yourself for all eternity." It’s a place of loneliness, relational
suffering.

  Spiritual suffering. 2 Thes. 1 "they’ll be shut out from the presence of the
Lord." On this earth, as good or
bad as it might be, we have evil people and good people — it doesn’t make any
difference because the Bible says God still sends the sun to shine on the evil
and the good.

 
Why does this happen to people? How can this happen to people? How can God
let this happen to people?

 God does not want anybody to go to hell. 2 Pet 3:9 "" He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance." II Peter 3:9

  When I hear someone ask, "How can a
loving God send someone to hell?" I know that nobody has ever explained to
them that if God has done any sending, it’s His Son to the earth to die for us. He did that
because He loves us and we wouldn’t have to go to hell. God doesn’t send people to hell. Why is hell even there? Hell wasn’t made for people. Jesus says in Matthew 25 that hell was
created for Satan and his demons. If
it wasn’t created for people and God doesn’t send people, why do people go
there? People go to hell because
they choose to. You don’t make your
choice about heaven and hell when you get there; you’re making your choice
about heaven and hell here on this earth.

 
I’m glad I’ve got good news
to share with you. This is all there was
until God sent His Son. Either we endure
separation in hell OR we enjoy celebration in heaven. "God
himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from
their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the
old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21:3-4