Last week I was reading some old journals and I came across an entry that I was concerned about a friend's view on religion. This friend was not convinced that there was a hell. He proceeded to explain that hell will exist after the world ends but does not exist now. Through all of the church background that I have and the religion classes that I have taken, I don't think I could explain to you what hell would be geographically. I do believe that when a person dies, they will spend eternity in the presence of God or completely outside of the presence of God. To me, spending eternity outside of the presence of God is enough to claim that a hell does exist.
Each day provides us with an opportunity to live in the presence of God. Even if we choose to continue our existence upon this earth denying God and turning our backs on Him, we still get to live in His presence. There is a multitude of objects on this earth that is testimony to His existence... from the beauty of plants to the everyday gifts that He knows will speak to the core of our hearts. Additionally, God will spend every moment possible pursuing us with the hope that one day we will turn our lives and hearts to Him and begin living in the relationship that He designed us for. However, if we continue to deny God that relationship and cease to exist in this life, He will deny us in the next. Time is up... the clock has stopped ticking... it has come to an end and the denial of allowing God into our lives will move us into an eternal existence without Him. We will be outside of His presence forever. There will be no more beauty, no more gifts, and no more pursuit. Time is up... it is done.
I don't know about you but the thought of living outside of the presence of God is enough to convince me that hell does exist and it exists right now. It completely breaks my heart to know that people truly do spend eternity apart from God. I am so thankful that I will not have to experience what it would be like. Everyday my life is filled with hope and grand expectations because I know that God is right there with me and we are walking hand in hand. It is my heart's desire that everyone gets to experience God in close and intimate ways.
