«Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world» (Matthew 25:34, NLT).
WHY does the topic of hell seem to be a universal obsession? Regardless of whether we are Catholic, Protestants, Orthodox, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jewish, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, atheists, or agnostics, hell ends up taking a relevant place in our daily lives. But what is hell? According to a study published by the Pew Research Center, fifty-eight percent of Americans believe hell is a place «where people who have led bad lives and die without being sorry are eternally punished.»
The Greek word translated as «hell» in the New Testament is geenna. It might be a transliteration of the Hebrew gé-hinnöm, «valley [of the son] of Hinnom.» That was the valley where children’s sacrifices were offered during the reign of Ahaz and Manasseh. Altars had also been built there to worship false gods. This gé-hinnöm became known as the «Valley of Slaughter» (see Jeremiah 7:32; 19:6). «Hell» is not a place of torment, but the name that is given to the definitive sentence against sin.
Why do people insist on defending a Dantesque vision of hell? Perhaps because many of us assume that the best way to bring sinners back to the fold is to acquaint them with eternal punishment. But fear is not one of the elements God uses to draw us to Him. The Lord says, «l drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love» (Hosea 11:4). On the other hand, Jesus declared, «And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself» (John 12:32). God’s force of attraction is love.
Now then, «hell» is not important to us at all. None of us have anything to do with that word. Why? Because Matthew 25:41 states that eternal fire has been «prepared for the devil and his angels.» Do we grasp what this verse is saying? Eternal fire was designed for demonic powers. God has prepared exactly the opposite for us, and very soon we will hear the words, «Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world» (Matthew 25:34, NLT).
God has prepared a «kingdom,» not a hell for us in eternity. And the existence of that kingdom should not lead us to be distressed about punishment, but to look forward to His Second Coming (see 2 Timothy 4:8).
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate
