Child, “I think I am going to Hell!” I reply “Really? You would choose to go to hell? Why would anyone do that?”

If you could travel to heaven and hell and take a camera so that you could bring back photographs of what these places were like I wonder what they would look like? Most people would suggest it rather odd if you say you have glimpsed heaven or hell. Perhaps I have or perhaps I have glimpsed shadows of their reality. Either way heaven was a wondrous place, and hell was terrifying. Imagine standing at the top of a valley with wondrous sunlight streaming through everything. The cool breeze refreshing you with every breath. Almost like this picture.

Next look down the other valley that is devoid of light, cold and painful to walk through. Your worst pain in life is doubled as you walk through this valley and tiredness is never satified.

You see, I think too many people in this culture are distracted by the world and worldliness has clouded many minds so that they think either first; the possibility of hell is not real, even though they could admit there was a heaven of sorts, or second; that Hell is not a bad place. Almost like the myth that it will have all the good music like heavy rock. The third option is also terrifying, a life of nothing when you die, darkness, and nothing, not even thought.

I believe the enemy of this world doesn’t need to do much to convince us that hell is a place to be chosen, he only needs to distract us from choosing the right path. After spending a few days in London I was shocked at the mindless rushing and staring at phones that went on. The mindless acts of apathy for community. You might think it is ironic that I am creating a type of blog, but I devot very little time to this blog as I need as much time to devote to God in prayer, which is the most important thing we can do for God’s kingdom and our relationship with God.

I have seen the effects of the enemy and yet many people do their best to avoid talking about him, just like the Harry Potter films with the characters not mentioning the name of Voldermorte. I wonder how the World Wars would have turned out if we had not admitted there was an enemy, if Hitler was just ignored? It doesn’t bare thinking about because the results would have been terrifying, and yet you talk about the effects of not choosing Jesus as a saviour, not choosing God who was incarnate in human form and gave us a clear image of what God is. Jesus gave us a clear warning about rejecting God.

But I find it a truth that when things are going well, and my human idea of a good career is once again on its perfect path, then I spend less time seeking His voice. It is only when adversity comes my way that I am forced to once again turn back to Him who guides me and guides all who seek Him, and listen to where He tells me to walk.

How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. ²⁰ Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. ²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:19b-21

I am also reminded that Jesus drank that cup of adversity and He spoke about this in the garden of Gethsemane with deep anguish;

Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Matthew 26:39

Dear Lord, I am comforted that you are patient and you hear all who cry for help.
Hear our cry tonight as we once again seek your guidance of which direction to walk.
Amen