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In a previous article we noted that many people are very uncomfortable with the idea that there could be a place called Hell wherein God would assign to eternal punishment the souls of the unrighteous. Looking to the scriptures, God’s word, we learned that the Greek word most commonly rendered “Hell” in our English translations is “Gehenna.,” a specific word that identifies a definite place. “Gehenna” is used twelve times in the New Testament, eleven of those by the Lord Himself. Repeatedly it is used in phrases such as “cast into Hell” (Matt. 5:29, 30; Mk. 9:45; Lk. 12:5), “destroyed in Hell” (Matt. 10:28), “cast into Hell fire” (Matt. 18:9; Mk. 9:47) and “to go to Hell“ (Mk. 9:43). Reading objectively, it is nearly impossible to conclude anything other than Hell is a real place!
Many people are most uncomfortable with the concept of a place of punishment called “Hell” in scripture. Many believe Hell to be inconsistent with their concept of a loving, kind, merciful God of grace. Well, is Hell real?
I enjoy watching the Olympic games. Besides the enjoyment factor, they have at least a couple of good effects for society as a whole that may not get much notice. First, they’ve provide television programming that’s pretty family oriented and also rather compelling to watch. What a change that is! Second, they provide repeated and emphatic visual lessons that demonstrate that being ever so close to victory is still defeat.
What’s the best thing a mother can do for her child? Certainly, one of the strongest desires in the heart of a mother is for the welfare and well being of her child. Typically speaking, little compares with the devotion of a mother to her child. Motherly love is one of the greatest examples of compassion in the human experience. There is little that a mother would not do to save or protect her child, even to the point of giving her life. So, what’s the best thing a mother can do for her child?
Jesus stated, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Think about what that statement says. First, we can know truth. Jesus said so. Some people think that truth is relative. They believe that truth changes based on time, circumstances and personal feeling and interpretation. They see truth as fluid, always adjusting, changing. What is true today may not be true tomorrow, and then it may be true again next week. Jesus, however, settled the matter. His statement is unequivocal; we can know truth!
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September 2022
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