People’s Misconception Of Hell…..

One topic we hear very little about today is about Hell. We hear it it uttered in our language, but it’s usually mumbled as a cuss word. We read of Jesus’ words used in this parable, outer darkness. This would describe the darkness farthest from the light, i.e., outer darkness. Where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This speaks of inconsolable grief and unremitting torment. Jesus commonly used the phrases in this verse to describe hell. Does this sound like the words you hear when people talk about Hell. I hear people all the time say things like, “well, I’ll be there with my friends and party like it’s 1999”. Or even, “if that’s what a loving God does, then I’ll prefer to go to Hell, for I’ll be with my friends”. People’s misconception of Hell doesn’t even come close to the Hell Jesus described throughout scripture. It’s not a place where there will be partying, or even relationships. Outer darkness, weeping and gnashing teeth, eternal torment; do those statements sound like a place you’d want to go to? Me neither. Wake up, take heed to Jesus’ words. Hell wasn’t made for human beings, yet it’s a place we will go if we allow our pride to override our innate sense of truth and justice. Hell is a place of choice. You either choose Jesus, and follow Him throughout eternity. Or you choose “self”, deny God, and end up in “outer darkness”, where you’ll be weeping, angry, resentful, and alone, with no relief, ever. The choice is obvious. So the next time you here the word Hell, apply Jesus’ words to it. It just might have the impact it’s supposed to have.

1 Jesus also told them other parables. He said, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:1-14