Why god showed this man hell

Reflection

Accounts of people describing visions of hell tend to provoke strong reactions, from fascination to scepticism to fear, and it is wise to hold such personal testimonies with some caution since Scripture itself gives us far less vivid detail than popular imagination often supplies. What the Bible does teach consistently is that human choices matter, that God is patient and desires none to perish, and that judgement is real rather than a scare tactic invented by preachers. Jesus spoke about final separation from God more often and more soberly than almost any other biblical figure, using it as a warning born of love rather than a threat born of cruelty. Second Peter says the Lord is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. Whatever one makes of any individual's reported vision, the underlying biblical message is consistent: this life matters, choices have weight, and mercy is offered now rather than held back until it is too late.

Questions to sit with

• How do you personally respond when you hear accounts of near death or visionary experiences?
• Does the idea of judgement change how you think about the choices you make today?
• What do you find most striking about the balance of warning and mercy in the Gospels?

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