JOHN 3:16-18: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” NKJV

Why would a loving God send someone to hell? This is the question I have been asked often. Many are unfamiliar with the Bible’s teaching on the origin of hell. This makes the concept of hell one of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible.  Does hell exist, or is it simply a creation of the church trying to scare people into heaven?

The Bible is clear – Hell does exist! In fact, Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven. Yet, Jesus made it very clear. Hell was created for the devil and his fallen angels (see Matthew 25:41). Hell is also the final place of judgment for those who reject God’s free gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ (see Revelation 20:10).

Even though Hell was never created for mankind, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and gave their allegiance to the devil. In essence, they bought a ticket for the train that was headed to hell. Since that time, every man and every woman, left to their own, have been racing toward hell.

Without God’s intervention, we would all end up in Hell!

God created man to have eternal fellowship with Himself. This was God’s original intent. Yet, God created man with free will.  Adam, Eve, and every man born since have used their free will to make the wrong choice. We are sinners by nature and by action. We cannot plead ignorance or point the finger at Adam and Eve, blaming them for our predicament.

We are all sinners on the train that is racing straight to Hell! (Romans 3:23)

Misery likes company! The devil works 24/7, 365, to take as many to hell with him as he can! The devil is continually opposing the mind and purposes of God.  He turns the reality of hell into a joke and convinces men and women that life on earth is all there is. The devil has convinced our culture that sin and hell do not really exist! Is there any hope for man to escape hell?

THIS IS WHERE WE SEE THE GREATNESS OF GOD’S LOVE!

God does not want anyone to perish (see II Peter 3:9). God’s love is so great that, to keep mankind from ending up in hell, God personally stepped in to intervene. Jesus, God the Eternal Word (John 1:1), humbled Himself and became a man (John 1:14). Jesus, God in human flesh, came to experience all of our weaknesses and struggles – yet, without sin. And, Jesus came to die in our place, paying the full penalty for our sin, so that every man and woman who believes in Him (His life, death, and resurrection) could…

GET OFF THE TRAIN RACING TOWARD HELL!

John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”NKJV

God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world.  God sent Jesus to save the world!  When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are restored to God’s original intent. We have fellowship with God and look forward to the joy of spending an eternity with God, free from all the pain, suffering, and sin!  When Jesus died and rose from the dead, the door of heaven was open to all who would believe. God offers everyone a free ticket to heaven.

BUT, WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

John 3:5-6: “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” NKJV

The ticket to heaven has been bought and paid for and is available to everyone who is Born Again of Water and the Spirit.

• Water refers to repentance. John the Baptist baptized people in water, calling them to repent of their sins. (Matthew 3:1-2)
• The Spirit refers to faith (Titus 3:4-5). When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and transforms our lives. We are cleansed from our sin, declared to be a child of God, and are rescued from the Train to Hell, being transferred to the Train to Heaven. Our final destination is eternal life with God, where we will experience complete victory over the effects of sin, death, and the devil!

So, why would anyone want to stay on the Train to Hell? It is because the devil has been very successful in convincing many that they are not sinners and do not need a Savior.

John 3:19-20: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” NKJV

God’s love comes to the rescue again! Knowing that men and women, left to themselves, would love darkness rather than the light, God gave us the light of His Law so that we could understand what sin really is. While we are not saved by any human effort to obey the Law, we need the Law because…

THE LAW REVEALS THAT I AM A SINNER!

THE LAW SHOWS ME THAT I NEED A SAVIOR!

Romans 3:19-20: “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” NKJV

It is only when I understand and acknowledge that I am a sinner that I am willing to repent of my sins and receive Jesus as my Savior and Lord. If, after hearing God’s Law, I cling to my sin and reject the wonderful gift of God’s Son, I will find myself hardening my heart, buckling my seatbelt, and racing nonstop toward hell.

Ultimately, God does not send anyone to hell. Hell is a destination that is earned. A life that refuses to acknowledge sin, rejects its need for a Savior, and loves darkness more than light, is headed for a final payday when they will receive the wages of their choice.

Romans 6:20-23: “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now, having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” NKJV

Hell is a real place! It is a place of judgment and suffering. It is a place of total separation from God, His light, love, and grace. Yet, it is a place that God wants everyone to avoid.

Right now…I have a choice! I must ask myself…

• Am I racing toward hell?
• Am I listening to the devil as he cheers me on toward sharing his misery?
• Am I joining the present culture that loves darkness and runs from the light? 
• Am I rejecting God’s Law, calling evil-good, and good-evil?
• Am I denying the very existence of hell as I race towards it?

One day, everyone will face the reality of hell. My prayer is that all will discover God’s Great Love and receive the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, as their personal Savior and Lord. To avoid hell, all that I have to do is…

• REPENT of my sin!
• BELIEVE in Jesus Christ, confessing Him as my Savior and Lord!

John 1:11-13: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” NKJV

Jesus is knocking on the door of my heart. He will not force me to get off the train that is racing toward hell. Yet, if I hear his call and open the door of my heart, then He will rescue me from the train that is racing toward hell, and I will find myself on God’s Train, experiencing His forgiveness, life, love, and peace in my life right now, and the wonderful promise of eternal life with Him in heaven!

Revelation 3:20-21: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” NKJV

Heaven is as real as hell!

HEAVEN IS THE BETTER DESTINATION!

Revelation 21:3-5: “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” NKJV

Open the door of your heart! Choose Jesus!

GET ON THE TRAIN THAT IS HEAVEN BOUND!

In Jesus’ Name!