“Go to hell!” A screaming curse I haven’t heard to my face in a long time. My thoughts had been jarred recently about such things. How many times had I said that to someone I wondered? Did I ever mean it? Until recent years I can’t say I ever believed it to be a real place in existence.
Controversial topic for sure but one we shouldn’t avoid if we really are about “the good news and love”. I loaned a new friend a couple books of testimony from those few persons who have been allowed to share their encounters. I don’t doubt hell to be real. It’s just not my nature to scare the living daylights out of people with discussion. I doubt I’m doing them any favors with my silence, but it’s not an easy subject. There is always a word that rings in my heart though….Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire (from Jude 1:22-23a). It’s not too difficult to understand what the fire represents.
Thinking about what I’ve said in past anger now makes me take inventory to speak aloud the mercy needed. I wonder just how many can be snatched from the fire with my prayers offered in love?