Describing Every Person in Hell

I loathe talking about hell, but to be balanced Biblically, it is a subject that must be discussed. The Old Testament writers addressed it. Jesus certainly didn’t avoid it. Paul, Peter, John, and Jude all speak about it.

Some deny hell’s existence, but it is real.

Many Christians know it is real, but we struggle with thinking of how many people will spend eternity there.

But have you ever tried to summarize every person in hell in just one word? It’s more challenging than you think.

The easy answer, I guess, would be “evil.” That is a true description, but we struggle with it, because evil is such a strong word. We reserve it for the Hitlers, bin Ladens, and Husseins of the world. For the Neros, Mussolinis, and Stalins. In other words, for those who were truly evil and who displayed their evil in historically-altering ways.

So, what about “sinful?” Again, that is a true description of those who will be in hell, because sin is what causes people to inhabit that place. But, again, we struggle with that word because of that “ful” on the end…short for “full.” Not everyone who is there will have been full of sin. They will have sinned, but many will be there though they thought they were doing things that were right.

Is it possible, then, to summarize every inhabitant of hell in just one word? I think it is.

What would be that word?

Regretful.

Hell will be filled with regret from every person.

• Some will regret fully sinful, evil lifestyles. They will regret murders, rapes, and other atrocious acts.
• Some will regret making fun of Christians and of the cross of Jesus.
• Some will regret missing the clear evidence that God does not exist.
• Some will regret thinking that denominationalism is a good thing, because everyone can just pick their own way.
• Some will regret following Mohammad, Buddha, or the Great Spirit.
• Some will regret showing up for Church and thinking that’s all there was to following Christ.
• Some will regret covetousness.
• Some will regret apathy.
• Some will regret not standing up for those who couldn’t fight for themselves.
• Some will regret procrastination.
• Some will regret not fighting for their family.
• Some will regret their “whatever” attitude as it pertained to entertainment.
• Some will regret not controlling their anger.
• Some will regret being carried away by false doctrine.
• Some will regret that they ever had a “following.”
• Some will regret worry.
• Some will regret their late nights online.
• Some will regret not listening when invited to the youth group meetings.
• Some will regret letting their children play sports instead of attending worship.
• Some will regret immodesty.
• Some will regret a lack of grace to others.
• Some will regret not maturing in the faith.

And the one that should make every Christian’s heart ache, some will regret that no one ever told them of Jesus…the Way Out of hell.

…and we will regret never telling them.

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Photo Credit: Bert Cash on creative commons

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