Among the teachings of Scripture that are sometimes questioned by religious people is the reality of Hell. The question might be asked, “How could a faithful God allow people He has created to be tormented for eternity?”
Upon sincere examination of His Word, the better question is, “how could a faithful God not do this?”
The word “faithful” has multiple definitions, but generally refers to one who is trustworthy (see Strong G4103). A faithful individual is one who can be depended on to keep his word.
Scripture is full of proof that no one’s promises can be depended on more than God’s.
Consider the generation of Israelites who entered Canaan. After this generation was taught the Law by Moses, they were promised great rewards if they were obedient to the Law (Deut. 28:1-14). They were also promised harsh punishment if they were disobedient (Deut. 28:15-68).
The remainder of the Old Testament shows how a faithful God followed up on these promises.
Joshua 6 and 7 shows the contrast between God rewarding the Israelites for their obedience (fall of Jericho) and punishing Israel for disobedience (failure to defeat the men of Ai).
This trend continues throughout the Old Testament with the generations that followed.
God did not “back track” on His promise to reward Jacob’s descendants when they were faithful, but He also held fast to His promise to punish them when they were not.
While God’s punishment was often temporal in nature throughout the Old Testament, the key punishment we are warned about in the New Testament is the eternal torment of Hell.
Such punishment involves spending eternity with “the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). Hell is described as a place of “everlasting punishment” (Matt. 25:46). It is a place where there is a “fire that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:45). It is further described as a “furnace of fire” where “there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:50).
The one who refuses to believe this truth is not standing up for the faithfulness of God. He is denying it. Our faithful God keeps His promises, including His warnings of judgment against disobedience.
The surety of Hell does not demean the surety of Heaven though. The reasons we can trust that Hell is real are the same reasons we can trust that Heaven is real. “Fire and brimstone” warnings are not intended to discourage, but to promote full surrender to God.
God promises that those who do surrender to Him will be blessed with eternal comfort in His presence with the righteous of all ages. His faithfulness assures that this promise will be kept.
A faithful God will follow through with all that He has promised. This is a wonderful comfort for the obedient, but it is also cause for taking His warnings of punishment seriously. Both Heaven and Hell are real.
– Michael Hickox