TEXT: Psalm 22:1

SUBJECT: What makes hell so bad?

There is intense physical pain, of course. That's why it's called "The Lake of Fire". Nothing hurts worse than a burn; even a little is agonizing. Can you imagine how much it must hurt to be immersed in fire--without the relief unconsciousness brings? Appalling pain. But that's not the worst thing about hell.

There's also the deprivation of hell--doing without the most basic things. The Rich Man lifted up his eyes in hell, but didn't ask for champagne or gourmet food or a soft bed to sleep on, but for a drop of water on his burning tongue. But even that would not be given. Total deprivation. But that's not the worst thing about hell either.

There is also the despair of knowing hell never ends; it's where "the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched". In the Inferno, Dante has a sign at the gates of hell, "Abandon hope, all who enter here". If "hope deferred makes the heart sick", can you imagine having no hope at all? Utter and eternal despair. But that's also not the worst thing about hell.

Think of the loneliness of hell. It is "Chains of darkness", darkness implying no fellowship of any kind. Multitudes go to hell together, but they lose each other once they get there. Crushing solitude forever. But not the worst thing about hell.

There is the company of hell--not fellowship, but company. The devil is in hell; he and his demons will add to its torment. Read the New Testament and you'll see how cruel Satan is. He possessed little children and threw them into fire and water; he bent double old ladies; he made men sleep in tombs; why, he even make pigs drown themselves! The company of devils--forever. Awful, but not the worst thing about hell.

No, the worst thing about hell is the loss of God. "Depart from Me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you". The unsaved are "Punished with everlasting destruction from the Presence of God". That's what makes hell so hellish!

You see, one can suffer many agonies of body and soul and remain both content and even happy. Paul did. A "thorn in the flesh" racked his body; poverty made him do without; enemies and traitors grieved his soul; he was often alone and forsaken; devils tormented him. Yet, in all this, he "rejoiced". For all these things--sickness, sorrow, doing-without, and more--"Could not separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".

People can endure these things, but nobody can tolerate separation from God! We sometimes say men live without God. But that's not quite true. The most dogmatic Atheist enjoys many favors from God. Even he's not cut off from the mercies and fellowship of God.

No one on earth has been finally forsaken by God. No one, that is, but the Lord Jesus Christ.

For three hours one day, He suffered the total loss of God's Presence. It's not that he felt abandoned--we've all felt that way. He was abandoned! That's why He cried,

Everything hell is, He suffered on the cross. The physical pain; the doing-without; the loneliness; the despair; the torments of Satan--and the loss of God. He bore these things in His body and soul on the tree.

Why?

Most people thought He deserved them. "He is stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted".

But they were wrong. He suffered these things--not because He deserved them--but because we do. The holiest man in the world would roast in hell--if he got what was coming to him! But he doesn't--and neither do we. Because Jesus Christ suffered the wrath of God in our place--in your place.

He did it because He loves you--John 15:13.

The Lord's Supper, therefore, is a vivid and powerful reminder of Christ's love for His people. People who earned hell, but God heaven instead. Because of what Christ did for us.

Let's observe the Lord's Supper, therefore, in solemn and joyful gratitude. Solemn because--what an awesome thing Christ did for us. Joyful because He really did it for us.

How precious is your salvation? So precious that Jesus Christ endured hell to obtain it for you.