Now eternity is a long time, isn't it? It's like for ever. There's no end to it.
I wondered whether a loving God would really wish someone to be in hell for eternity. No matter what an individual has done, we humans would think that for ever is a long time and would wish to release such a soul from hell after a period ... don't know how long! So is God less merciful than us humans? Surely not!
Then I wondered something else. C S Lewis is quoted as having said that the doors of hell are locked from the inside. Maybe the souls in hell are so intent that they are right, and God is wrong, that they do not want to leave hell. However bad the place is. Could this be a possibility to explain eternity? But then, if it is a burning fire as said in the Bible, surely anyone would want to get out!
Then I remembered another quote of C S Lewis, "There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.' "
So, maybe, (and this is me thinking), perhaps those souls who believe in God and love and obey Him go to Heaven; and the others just disappear. No more soul after their death. This is NOT Biblical of course. It is me thinking. Perhaps wrongly. Maybe at the last judgement those souls to whom God says "depart from Me" really depart for ever.
What do you think? What does your pastor or priest think? Is it really a fiery furnace for eternity?
I think Hell is a real place. I hope I am wrong about that.
ReplyDeleteI attend an evangelical church. They teach that we make our choice here on Earth. After that there is no going back.
Funny, though, I was just thinking about this topic this morning. I recall hearing of a person's NDE. Near death experience. He said he was in Hell, but he realized where he was and prayed. Jesus came and took him out. He was surprised and asked if Jesus was doing the right thing. Um. Ha ha? Anyway, in the story Jesus stopped mid-air and assured the person that He was doing the right thing.
I think Jesus doesn't follow the rules.
Jesus often mentions hell in His teachings, and I too believe it is a real place. But I wonder, was He being graphic about ever burning fires for the audience of the time?
DeleteGod bless, Sandi.
...it certainly is.
ReplyDeleteAmen Tom. God bless.
DeleteI love the quotes from C. S. Lewis, Victor, and I believe he's right. We are the ones who choose hell; God never wants us to be there. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteYes, I think Lewis has a point, Martha.
DeleteGod bless you.
According to the Bible, hell is definitely a real place. That's the end of the story from my perspective.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Joyful. I agree.
DeleteGod bless.
I learned at a young age that unless you repent and are truly sorry for a mortal sin(s) then off you go to hell. The more I thought about it I concluded someone like that (unrepentant to the bitter end) would prefer hell to Heaven anyway. Our loving God gives us ample time to repent. This might sound simplistic but it has helped keep me on the straight and narrow. It’s those pesky venial sins that tend to sneak up on me 😬
ReplyDeleteYes, God gives us ample opportunities to repent and return to Him. I guess you are right; those who end up in hell are so obstinately sure that they right, and therefore God is wrong. I know some who are definitely sure that God does not exist; and would not consider one in a million chance that they are wrong.
DeletePeople choose to go to hell. God does not send them there. And also, no one goes to Heaven against their will.
God bless, Maureen.
P.S. I’d be interested in your thoughts and the comments of your readers on the topic of purgatory
ReplyDeleteHi Maureen,
DeleteHere are three articles I wrote about Purgatory:
https://timeforreflections.blogspot.com/2013/06/forgotten-in-purgatory.html
https://timeforreflections.blogspot.com/2015/01/purgatory-purification-center.html
https://timeforreflections.blogspot.com/2019/12/father-ignatius-visits-purgatory.html
God bless.
Thanks I will check those out
DeleteOh Victor....this is a very deep one!! I do believe Hell is REAL. I do often think about those who are mentally ill or the babies who are born addicted to drugs which leads to a lifelong sentence of failures. God is a merciful God and HE understands each person's circumstances. I believe that our spiritual life is built on Mercy, Grace and love....therefore, none of us know the full extent of God's mercy and grace. I do believe in Heaven and in Hell
ReplyDeleteYes Shug; Heaven and Hell do exist; although in what form or shape is anyone's guess. Jesus said Heaven is a mansion with many rooms. Is it really a building? Or was He using imagery His contemporaries would understand. In the same way He described Hell as a fire.
DeleteI believe God is merciful and forgiving. He will not judge harshly anyone who has done wrong outwith their personal responsibility; like the mentally ill or those addicted to drinks and drugs etc ... In order to sin, the individual must know that what he is doing is seriously wrong, that it is a sin against God, and yet do it all the same without coercion or force from anyone else.
God bless you and yours, Shug. And thank you.
I do believe in Hell. I think it is between God and that person. The person has a choice for sure.
ReplyDeleteAmen Sandie. I agree.
DeleteGod bless you.
Live life the right way and you won't go to Hell.
ReplyDeleteAmen. God bless, Bill.
DeleteMy impatient self can't begin to grasp Eternity. Unlike those Shug mentioned, I do believe we have a choice. Once more you've given me something to think about -- disappearance, no light no soul sounds terrifying.
ReplyDeleteHello Mevely,
DeleteHere are my personal thoughts, and as I said, these are not Biblical. As humans, we find it difficult understanding eternity ... what does for ever really mean? Can really a person, however bad, be tormented in hell in an ever lasting fire for ever and ever and ever? Our minds cannot fathom that. And perhaps we would think that at some stage anyone would have pity and say enough is enough.
So my thoughts ... there are many people, including some I sadly know, who believe there is no God and at death there is nothing. No God, no judgement, no Heaven or Hell. Nothing. So, I think, maybe God grants them that wish. At their death their souls die too and go away ... for ever. And those who have loved and obeyed God are welcomed in Heaven ... for eternity.
Just a thought!
God bless you.