I’m excited to be diving into a new series this weekend – “Heaven!”

We don’t talk enough, sing enough, read enough, or think enough about heaven.

The four messages are Heaven Needs TV, Heaven on Earth, Heaven Unplugged, and Heaven – Peekaboo.  The third message is about Hell – not a popular topic.  Here is a recent journal entry I wrote about hell:

Get Off Easy – Matthew 11:22

Scripture

At Judgment Day they’ll get off easy compared to you.  Matthew 11:22, MSG

It will be more bearable (moderately good; agreeable) on the day of judgment than for you.  Matt. 11:22, NIV

Observation

Is Jesus speaking of degrees of punishment in hell?  Will hell have a terrible basement, a bad first story and a better second story?

I’ve long felt from scriptures that there will be degrees of reward in heaven.  The Bible also seems to plainly teach degrees of judgment in hell.

Application

‘Hell week’ is coming up at Westside in May.  That is the week we will talk about ‘Heaven Unplugged.’  There is a lot of talk about hell going around the Christian community these days since Rob Bell upset the apple cart with his book ‘Love Wins.’

Here are a few things I know (from the Bible) about Hell: (1) It wasn’t originally prepared for people, but for Satan and his demon minions; (2) Jesus will judge more fairly than any other human being would (for example, he asked the Father not to give a demerit to the people who put him on the cross); (3) Jesus himself spoke of degrees of punishment at the final judgment; (4) If you don’t have an iPhone (e.g. – Heaven), you don’t have an iPhone (e.g. – Hell); (5) The very worst thing about hell will be that God won’t be there; (6) The second worst thing about hell will be hellish relationships.

Prayer

Lord, hell is too hot and eternity is too long for me to sit on my butt.  Help me cooperate with you as you continue to work diligently to de-populate Hell.