Does Hell exist?

 I have been thinking about death recently and what happens when we die. Memento more. It is poignant in view of those dear friends and colleagues from my youth and student days who are no longer here, being dead and in eternity. Some have died recently.

There are those who claim to have had experiences of the afterlife, glimpses of paradise and heavenly encounters, angelic visitations.  I have reservations about these claims, but hope that folk have their reservations in a mansion prepared by the Lord, as mentioned in John 14:2-3. These abodes must be magnificent. Another relevant passage would be 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.  Deep mysteries above and beyond our pay grade?

So do those who are lost, those rejected by God, (who says Depart from Me, you cursed), send folk to hell?  It would appear so, according to Jesus' teaching on Gehenna in the Gospel. It is a place of torment, Luke 16:33, weeping and wailing, gnashing of teeth, (Matthew 13:32) deep regret and separation from God. Jesus spoke uncomfortable words about eternal fire, unquenchable fire, outer darkness (Matthew 25:30).  

How could there be outer darkness if there is eternal fire? Well if you are blind you would know that there could be darkness even when there could be fire all around you. The spiritually blind in hell would be aware of their torment in the eternal fire in that dreadful darkness.

Some years ago I wrote in a journal, Hell exists.  It is not a torture chamber constructed by a despot. It is a place of regret, of weeping and wailing, of sadness and despair. It is a place where sins and the consequences of sins are felt, experienced and painfully known. It is a place where the sinner understands and realizes their folly, stupidity and failure. The people of Hell gnash their teeth when they see their sins and selfishness destroying them. Hell is hopelessness, existing without God.

Now I may be wrong about Hell. I may see this important issue incorrectly. But I believe that it is in the Gospel message,  that we are all  hell deserving sinners that Christ has come to seek and to seek, to redeem us and keep us away from the dreadful end. By His grace He has brought salvation, eternal life to all who respond to Him in repentance and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:8-10. John 3:16.

For me, the crucial question is, where will you spend eternity?