Is there such a place as hell?

Rudyard Kipling spoke of six honest serving men in his poem 'The Elephant’s child', lets think about some of these in relation to the subject of Hell. 

Who and Where

The BBC reported on 6^thFebruary 2019 that European Council President, Donald Tusk had spoken of a 'special place in hell' for 'those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it out safely'. It is interesting that a politician refers to Hell in a world which rarely gives God much notice. To be honest only God know the full extent of Hell. Mr Tusk states who he envisages going to a special place in Hell.  He may have big responsibilities within the EU Administration but he has no responsibility in consigning anyone to Hell, that is God's prerogative alone and thankfully the Bible states that His aim is not to get us into Hell but into Heaven.  The scripture records that 'He (God) is not willing that any should perish,' 2 Peter 3. 9.

Early in January 1957 a SASRA preacher came into Billet 454 RAF Henlow, Beds to talk to the men present, about God and the Bible.  Before he left that night he asked three questions 

1. Do you believe in God? 
2. Do you believe in Heaven and Hell? 
3.  If you were to die tonight where would you go, Heaven or Hell?  

The pain of death

 

Over the past few weeks, two of my good friends have died, writes Bert Cargill of St Monans Gospel Hall, men in the same age group as myself, so it was sad to see them go. I’m sure that you will have had this experience too at some point. Many years of friendship and common interests had given us great opportunities to share and care in church-based events and everyday ones. That is finished now, but we have the great prospect of a reunion in heaven one day, a place where there is no death, no sorrow, no pain, no loss. As it says in Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

What is the world's best selling book?

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

When I wrote this piece, I was about to go to the airport to board a flight from Wellington, New Zealand, to the UK via Sydney, Australia. We were travelling home to Liverpool in the North West of England. Home is a wonderful place to be with your own ‘kith and kin’. It is never more appreciated than when you are away from them. Though we were not looking forward to the 30 hours of travelling, the anticipation of seeing our family and grandchildren again makes up for any minor discomfort.

Carole (my wife) and I had been away for about five weeks. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the southern hemisphere. The plan was to visit some churches in Australia and New Zealand to speak at conferences and seminars on the world’s best-selling book, the Bible.

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

It never fails to amaze me how timeless and cross-cultural the Bible is. It addresses the most profound issues that we as humans grapple with, such as:

Where do we come from - our origin?

Why do evil and suffering exist?

Why are we all mortal beings who eventually die?

Where do our consciousness, identity, creativity, and intelligence come from?

Why is there order and design?

Why are we all morally aware of right and wrong?

Why do we need help to do what is right?

Where did the universal concepts of love, hope and peace come from?

What if you could discover the true meaning of life?

All photos used courtesy of Unsplash

I want to ask you today the same question that the James (one of the writers of the New Testament in the Bible) asked nearly 2000 years ago - "What is your life?". What's it all about? Songs have been written about it; films have been produced about it.  For many, there is no greater question to be answered and yet most people believe that they probably will never ever find the true answer.

Are you satisfied?

 

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

Within the heart of every human being is a strong desire for something that seems elusive—true and lasting satisfaction. Satisfaction is rarely found because anything we enjoy only lasts for a limited time. This applies to almost everything we enjoy, whether a delicious meal, a holiday away, or good times with friends and family. There is a degree of truth in the saying, “All good things must come to an end.” 

 

The Bible seems to back this up, it tells of a man called Moses, a godly man who initially lived in Ancient Egypt who ultimately led the Children of Israel out of slavery. The New Testament records in Hebrews 11:25 that he “choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” The Bible says that the things that we enjoy on earth, whether they are good things or sinful things, they only last for a season. King Solomon, probably the richest man of his time, understood this too; he said in Ecclesiastes 1:8: “The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear has its fill of hearing”. That is to say, we never have enough stimulus to keep our natural senses interested. The Lord Jesus said that it was foolish to find satisfaction in the material things around us. Luke 12:15 says, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things the things which he possesses.” 

Through the Bible in 66 Days - Galatians

 

If you’ve ever wondered what Christianity is really about — rules or rescue, effort or grace — the book of Galatians answers it plainly. Paul writes like a man on fire because the very heart of the Gospel was under attack. Some were teaching that you needed Jesus plus good works, Jesus plus the law, Jesus plus human effort to be saved.

Paul says absolutely not.

The Gospel is Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone — or it is not the Gospel at all.

1. The Problem: People Adding to the Gospel

Some teachers had slipped into the churches of Galatia, saying:

“You need to keep the Jewish law to be saved.”

“You need to do certain works to stay saved.”

“You need to earn God’s acceptance.”

Paul responds with the force of a man defending the cross:

“If righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” — Galatians 2:21

In other words, if you could save yourself by being good, Jesus didn’t need to die.

Through the Bible in 66 Days - 2nd Corinthians

If 1 Corinthians was Paul taking the Corinthians by the shoulders and saying, “Brothers and sisters, this needs sorting,” then 2 Corinthians is him saying, “Thank you for listening — but some of you still need to take God seriously.” It is one of the most personal, emotional, and Christ‑centred letters Paul ever wrote.

1. A Letter of Thanks — and a Call to Finish the Job

Many believers in Corinth had responded well to Paul’s first letter. They had repented, corrected the immorality, and taken sin seriously. Paul rejoices in this. He says God “comforts the downcast” and that he was comforted when he heard of their obedience (2 Cor. 7:6–7).

But some still resisted. Some still questioned Paul’s authority. Some still refused to repent. So Paul writes again—thankful, relieved, yet still urging them to fully submit to the Lord.

This is the Gospel pattern:

Through the Bible in 66 Days - Acts

The Book of Acts is the second volume written by Dr Luke, the same careful historian who wrote the Gospel of Luke. He continues his account for his friend Theophilus, showing what happened after the Lord Jesus rose from the dead and returned to heaven. If Luke’s Gospel tells us what Jesus began to do and teach, Acts tells us what Jesus continued to do through His people by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts is a fast‑moving book—full of journeys, preaching, conversions, opposition, miracles, and changed lives. It begins in Jerusalem and ends in Rome, showing how the gospel spread from a small group of believers to the heart of the Roman Empire. In other words, it takes the message of Christ from Jerusalem to Rome, covering the whole known world.

Two Main Sections — Peter and Paul

The book divides neatly into two parts:

Through the Bible in 66 Days - John

 

John wrote his Gospel as an older man looking back over a lifetime of walking with the Lord Jesus. He wasn’t guessing. He wasn’t repeating rumours. He was an eyewitness. He had seen the miracles, heard the teaching, watched the crowds react, and stood at the foot of the cross. And now, near the end of his life, he tells us why he wrote it all down:

“These are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through His name.” (John 20:31)

That is the heartbeat of the whole book. John wants you to know who Jesus really is and to have eternal life.

Seven Signs That Point to Jesus as the Son of God

John chooses seven signs—seven miracles—to prove that Jesus is not just a good teacher or a kind healer, but God Himself. Each sign is like a spotlight showing His power:

• Turning water into wine (John 2)

• Healing the nobleman’s son (John 4)

• Healing the lame man at Bethesda (John 5)

• Feeding the five thousand (John 6)

• Walking on water (John 6)

• Giving sight to the man born blind (John 9)

• Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11)

These aren’t random acts of kindness. They are deliberate signs showing that Jesus has the power of God—power over sickness, nature, blindness, and even death.

Through the Bible in 66 Days - Matthew

 

The Gospel in Matthew – Meeting the King Who Came to Save

The Gospel of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament, but it also serves as a bridge to the Old Testament. It stands with one foot in the promises of the Old Testament and the other in the fulfilment found in Jesus Christ. 

Matthew wants his readers―especially Jewish readers―to see that Jesus is the promised King, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, and the Saviour of the world.

But Matthew is not just a history book. It is a Gospel―good news. It tells us who Jesus is, why He came, and how we can know God through Him.

1. Jesus in History – A Real Man in a Real World

Matthew begins with something many modern readers skip: a genealogy. But this is not a dry list of names. It is Matthew’s way of saying, “You can check this. Jesus is rooted in real history.”

He traces the Lord Jesus through Abraham and David (Matthew 1:1).

This shows:

• Jesus is a Jew, descended from Abraham.

• Jesus is the rightful heir to Israel’s throne, descended from David.

• Jesus fulfils God’s promises to both men.

But Matthew also shows something unique. Jesus has a family tree, yet He is sinless. We all come from Adam and inherit his sin (Romans 5:12), but Jesus was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23). This means He entered the world without the sin that marks every one of us. As the angel said, “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”.

Through the Bible in 66 Days - Nahum

Nahum: The God Who Judges, The God Who Saves

There are parts of the Bible we rarely visit, and Nahum is often one of them. Yet this short prophecy is very relevant for our generation. It reminds us that God is not only the Saviour who delights in mercy—as Jonah discovered—but also the Judge who acts in righteousness, as Nahum boldly announced.

Jonah's ministry resulted in the repentance of Nineveh. Nahum's ministry, about a century later, announced the judgment of God upon the same people. One hundred (or perhaps 150) years separate these two books. Still, the lesson is timeless: when you forget what God has done for you, you set yourself up for trouble, i.e. God's judgment.

1. The Core Message of Nahum

G. Campbell Morgan summarised Nahum's message like this:

"The core of the predictive message of Nahum was the utter destruction of a great city and a great people by the will and act of God."

R. K. Harrison adds: "In this small prophecy of doom, the author demonstrated… that the God of the nation whom the Assyrians had despised was in fact the artificer and controller of all human destiny."

This is not merely history. It is a reality for us in our current world. It is gospel truth. 

The New Testament affirms the same truth:

• God rules over nations — "He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness" (Acts 17:31).

• God's justice is perfect — "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right" (Genesis 18:25, echoed in the NT principle of divine justice).

Nahum reminds us that God is not passive. He acts, He intervenes, and He judges.