Why Does Hell Exist?

Why does hell exist? This similar to asking if God is good, why would He send people to hell? Hell exists to separate it from, goodness and not contaminate it. Heaven would not be heaven if sin and evil where present in it.

Let’s consider logically why there is a hell and why people go there. First can you image goodness without justice? Heaven is heaven because in heaven there is not even the presence of sin or evil. Although in this world our justice system seems to have lost some of its bearings goodness requires justice for it to exist. Even children have the concept of fairness, even though it may be distorted from their perspective. There could be no goodness without justice. If goodness was not just it would be evil.

God is described in the Bible as not only good but as just and Holy. Holiness is taking our perspective of goodness and super charging it by 100%. God is so Holy that nothing evil can exist in the fulness of His presence. God is good, justice and holy. His beauty is beyond destruction and His presence more glorious than we could ever imagine.

God created man as eternal beings. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Why didn’t he just create man as temporary beings that ceased to exist after this life? He created us in His image. (Genesis 1:27) Why did He have to create us in His image as eternal beings. He chooses to give us the ability to choose. He gave us a certain amount of free will. He limits His Sovereignty in its fullness for a time, while still remaining Sovereign, so that we could have free will. He created the best possible world while at the same time giving man that free will. Our choices can bring life or death. It did for Adam and Eve and it does for us. We inherited radical corruption from sin but God in His grace draws us to Himself and enables us to respond to Him. He does not force us. We are judged for our sin, not Adam and Eve’s. We can be redeemed in Christ. God created man with an eternal soul. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

How can God be good if He created a hell in eternity? As mentioned, hell is required for goodness to actually exist. Satan rebelled against God and wanted to be his own god and so mankind followed in his footsteps. God has reserved hell for those fallen angels along with Satan in hell, for they cannot be in God’s glorious holy presence. God says in his word, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment” (2 Peter 2:4). These angels were created eternal as well. The fallen angels cannot be redeemed their choice has been sealed. You have a choice. To much who is given much is required.

What will hell be like? Jesus describes it as punishment and a fire that burns and torments. This I believe is figurative and man burns with regret, remorse and hatred. It will last forever. Imagine living 80-90 years of ease and neglect of God and then compare that to eternity. Eternity is forever, much more than a 1,000 trillion years.

God went way over and above what goodness, justice and holiness required went He came in human flesh in Jesus, (John 1:1,14) He provided the remedy for our sin. He took on the justice we deserve and died in our place at the hands of His own creation to expose how terrible sin is and rescue man from death—spiritual death now and eternal death to come. His is the love substitute. If we refuse the remedy, we will in a sense sending ourselves to hell. We will be tortured by the sin we have so loved in nothingness and darkness. Don’t mistake God’s goodness for weakness.

Some people say it is only a religion of fear. If I say to you if you jump without a parachute at 10,000 feet you will die, am I trying to scare you or just talking sense? Those without Christ and a vital living connection to Him are already going to hell. None enter heaven based on how good they are as compared to their neighbour. Our goodness must be compared to Jesus who was without sin and thus we are all sinners. Jesus is the parachute. Only by His grace are we saved.

How do you connect with God in this life. Learn the truth. Read the Bible, pray and learn in a church that teaches the gospel. Ask God to help you repent and have faith and have the strength to commit to being a public follower of Christ. If we are ready, we can pray a prayer to receive Him as a public follower and receive Him as your Savior and Lord. You can pray a prayer similar to this: “Dear God I confess that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to take the penalty of my sin to satisfy divine justice and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Ask you to forgive my sin and come into my life and be my Savior and Lord. Thank you.”

If you prayed this prayer, you will notice the difference and your life will change. If not, you need to be diligent to learn the truth and set aside all obstacles. The problem is not on God’s side but yours. God express his hearts desires in this scripture, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Pray that you might come to repentance and submit to God’s Word. After receiving Christ the first thing Jesus instructs us to do is be baptized as a public follower of Christ.

Of course it is not all just about the life to come. Jesus gives us true life here. We can connect with the living God. Nothing in this life is greater. He will bless us with His presence, love, joy and strength. Choose this day heaven or your destiny is sure in hell. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God is ready to receive you sincere and honest repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.