Since we’re going to speak about hell, my thoughts instantly goes to nation music. For individuals who are offended, please know that I’m no less than partially joking. I do detest nation music, although. It is advisable know this.
Let’s think about for a second that somebody (clearly somebody who doesn’t know me) has tasked me with the job of compiling a listing of one of the best nation music songs ever, and to make use of these to create a whole expertise for a rustic music fan. I’ll have to know all about boot scootin’ and no matter different ugly issues nation music followers would take pleasure in. I’m going to fail miserably at this job. I wouldn’t have it in me. Liking nation music goes towards my character, my rules, and all that’s respectable and proper on the earth.
That’s a foolish illustration, however now I’ve a critical query. How can we are saying {that a} good and loving God can create a spot as terrible and horrible as hell? Wouldn’t we’ve to say that such an terrible place is exterior the character of God?
To reply this we’ll ask the who, what, how, and why of hell.
What Is Hell?
It’s past the scope of this text to debate in depth the varied metaphors and such used of hell. There are theological questions on how literal we should always take among the descriptions. There are even discussions about whether or not or not hell is a spot of everlasting aware torment. These are nice dialogue to have, however they fall exterior the scope of this query.
In line with Scripture, Hell is portrayed as a spot of everlasting separation from the goodness of God. If God is current (and I might say He’s), then He’s current in judgment. Hell is usually described as a lake of fireplace, outer darkness, or a spot of weeping and gnashing of tooth. Revelation 20:14-15 paints a vivid image: “Then Dying and Hades have been thrown into the lake of fireplace. That is the second demise, the lake of fireplace. And if anybody’s title was not discovered written within the e book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fireplace.”
For our objective in the present day we are able to merely say that hell is a spot of judgment, the place the wages of sin (demise) are paid. Hell is a spot of separation from the goodness of God, and all the great which He has created. How may we are saying that God may create such an terrible place? We start to reply this query once we take into account who hell is for.
Who Is Hell For?
In Matthew 25:41 Jesus speaks of judgment from the Son of Man, “Then he’ll say to these on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fireplace ready for the satan and his angels.'” We see right here that hell was initially created (or ready) for the satan and his angels. It was not initially created for humanity. However we learn in Revelation 21:8, “However as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will probably be within the lake that burns with fireplace and sulfur, which is the second demise.”
It seems that this “lake of fireplace” ready for the satan and his angels, turns into the future of a few of humanity — those that proceed to dwell in riot. Hell was initially ready for religious entities (like fallen angels), however those that persist in riot towards God place their lot with those that reject the goodness of God. Due to this fact, we’d additionally say that hell turns into the vacation spot of unrepentant human beings. What C.S. Lewis stated on this level needs to be thought of as nicely:
“There are solely two sorts of individuals ultimately: those that say to God, ‘Thy will probably be executed,’ and people to whom God says, ultimately, ‘Thy will probably be executed.’ All which are in hell select it. With out that self-choice there might be no hell. No soul that severely and always needs pleasure will ever miss it. Those that search discover to those that knock, it’s opened.”
Why Would a Loving God Create Hell?
C.S. Lewis wasn’t a fan of the doctrine of hell, however admitted that it’s in Scripture. Lewis had problem with our central query — how can a loving God create hell? However a part of his reply, and what has helped me, is to assume by the character of hell.
Hell is for many who hurt and refuse to cease harming. I admire how Joe Rigney (with a little bit of assist from Lewis) depicts hell:
“Hell is an eternal spoil, a decay, crumbling, retreating into your self, a lack of all rationality and pleasure, a plunging into distress. However, it’s a self-plunging. It’s a gnawing and an ache, but it surely’s oriented inward, downward into the abyss.”
If we take into consideration hell being the unhappy results of humanity pitting itself towards God and goodness, then it evokes me to alter the query. Slightly than asking “How may a great God create hell,” I now ask “How may he not?” It’s right here that God’s justice and holiness are on show. A loving and holy God will hate all that goes towards His good creation and harms goodness.
Each analogy falls aside sooner or later, but it surely’s useful to consider this in additional acquainted phrases. If there’s an evil man who’s doing hurt to my daughter, and the one means for me to guard her is to deliver struggling to this man, then it isn’t solely okay, it’s morally mandatory. I’m not arguing right here for bloodthirstiness, however fairly to assist us reframe the character of hell. It’s for many who hurt and can proceed to decide on hurt. It’s simply, then, for a loving God to separate them from all that’s good.
To make use of the phrases of Lewis, “the doorways of hell are locked on the within.” The satan and his angels — and all those that select the second demise as a substitute of redemption — will frequently select this path. It’s good for God to separate evil and wickedness from His good kingdom.
How Can I Keep away from Hell?
Scripture tells us that “the wages of sin is demise.” The listing in Revelation 21:8 isn’t reserved for many who are particularly depraved. It’s all of us. When Adam and Eve took the chunk of the forbidden fruit, humanity was plunged into spoil. We have been kicked out of the Backyard — a logo of humanity being solid out of God’s good presence.
Fortunately, spoil isn’t the tip of the story. God has given us a plan of redemption. Jesus turned a person, the second Adam, in order that the place humanity was as soon as destined for spoil, we at the moment are given hope of a future. Jesus takes us again to the Backyard — again into the presence of God. After we are united to Jesus, then His future turns into our future.
Merely talking, we keep away from hell by altering groups. If we solid our lot with those that oppose God, who proceed to perpetuate hurt, who refuse to unite to Jesus by grace by religion, then we’re making our determination for hell. That’s our “crew” of origin. But, we’re commanded by God to repent (change groups) and unite ourselves to the dominion of His beloved Son. When this occurs, the guarantees of Revelation 21:1-7 change into ours — as a substitute of the vacation spot of the demonic.
Conclusion
Did God create hell?
Merely put, sure. He created hell as a spot for many who would perpetually hurt, who would trample His glory, besmirch goodness, and wreak havoc upon the great thing about God’s good creation. And when humanity joined sides with evil — this turned our lot. Fortunately, God has made a means for us to not solely keep away from hell, however to be restored to the goodness and glory which we have been initially created to take pleasure in.
Picture credit score: ©Getty Photos/wacomka
Mike Leake is husband to Nikki and father to Isaiah and Hannah. He’s additionally the lead pastor at Calvary of Neosho, MO. Mike is the writer of Torn to Heal and Jesus Is All You Want. His writing house is https://mikeleake.web and you’ll join with him on Twitter @mikeleake. Mike has a brand new writing mission at Proverbs4Today.
Initially revealed February 11, 2026.
