Dear Family and Friends,

Hell.

Not a topic we talk about sitting around the dinner table.

Not a topic many pastors preach about either. Except maybe the Baptists.

So, why are we ‘touching’ on this topic of hell today?

Aileen listened to an audio book this week. The story was so captivating, I couldn’t help but listen in.

The book was Matthew Perry’s autobiography, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.

I recommend reading this book. It’s well written and will leave you with an insider’s perspective on addiction.

In short, addiction is not always the result of bad choices.

And addiction steals lives, as it appears to have done to Mr. Perry.

Besides being reminded of Matthew Perry’s passing, we learned this week of the passing of two others. One a long-time friend, the other a relative.

Both passed unexpectedly. Both had full lives ahead of them.

I’m saddened by this tragedy of life called death.

I’m also saddened that we live life assuming all those around us will be here tomorrow. And then one day, they are not…

But I am joyful knowing all three knew God. All three followed Jesus Christ. And we know where all three are today.

So, why then are we talking about Hell – and not Heaven?

Being surrounded by death led me to think of those who choose to not follow Jesus. The ones who go their own way.

“So God let these people go their own way. They did what they wanted to do [ ]. They gave up the truth about God for a lie, and they worshiped God’s creation instead of God, who will be praised forever. Amen.”  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭CEV‬

The best explanation of these verses comes from C.S. Lewis’The Great Divorce:

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.”

All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.”

My simple question for us today is: Don’t we all have family members and friends who may one day face a God uttering this painful phrase? Unless someone changes their minds? 

On hell, there’s more to say. But that will come another day. 

In love always,