Did you ever realize that Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone else in the Bible. The late Pastor D. James Kennedy once shared: “Christ, who came meek and mild to save us from pain and suffering, was the One who talked more about hell than any other person in Scripture.”1
And while hell is not a very popular topic today it is a subject of supreme importance. If Jesus spoke more than anyone else on hell, then this indicates to me how important He considered it. This also indicates just how much Jesus loves us since He spent an inordinate amount of time warning us to avoid spending eternity there.
Sadly, many churches today don’t talk much about hell because it makes people uneasy. But the truth is sharing about hell is one of the most loving things a Christian can ever do because if sinners don’t realize that unless they come to Jesus for forgiveness of their sins they will have to spend an eternity there.
Jesus took the risk of offending individuals by talking so much about hell precisely because He loved people so much. Jesus demonstrated His love by His miracles of healing, feeding the hungry, and yes, by talking about hell. For you see one of Jesus’ supreme acts of love was to warn people how to avoid this most horrible place. True love often means to say the truth, even when it may be unpopular and offend people, in order to help them, avoid future pain and suffering, of which hell is the ultimate example.
As Christians we must be risk takers who are willing to have our feelings hurt now rather than have those we care about go on their merry way thinking that there is no such thing as hell. Jesus came speaking a message of the need to repent and believe in Him, to avoid having to spend an eternity in hell. We must also share the full gospel message of the love of Christ and the reality of hell.
I believe that the greatest way to show people love is to share the truth of the whole gospel message – both the joys of heaven and the horrors of hell. Jesus did just that and so must we!
1 TOP 25 QUOTES BY D. JAMES KENNEDY | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)
Excellent devotional for the day, Curt! The complete gospel message is often not an easy one to share. Christ spent his entire earthly ministry bringing the good news of salvation to many, and they hated him for it. He told his disciples that they, too, would be hated for preaching the same gospel message. I grieve that many so-called “evangelical teachers” fear that message and have deceived themselves into thinking that softening the message will make it more acceptable. Hell is real, and it’s the place Jesus said that many would look for him there and would not find him. I can’t imagine a greater hell than to spend an eternity in a place where Jesus is not.
I am reminded of what Peter said in 1 Peter3:15–16 “.”… if anyone asks about the hope living within you, always be ready to explain your faith with gentleness and respect.” (TPT) .