I have always believed God’s Word in regard to the place called hell. But after working in a prison for the past five years I am persuaded even more that hell really exists and that many souls are imprisoned there at this very moment!

I have seen men of all walks of life and of every race confined in prison for the various crimes they have committed against mankind. I have talked to many prisoners who tell much the same story of how prison was a place talked about, but it wasn’t for them. They wouldn’t get caught, and if they did, a good lawyer would get them off. But alas, every one of them will tell you that the moment they walked through those cold prison gates and listened to the doors closing between them and freedom they became instant believers. All that they had heard about these places was now reality — there were no more doubts. To put it mildly, they became believers the hard way.

But one will say, "I still don’t believe that there is a place called hell." Well, if mankind can have their prisons for crimes committed in this life, how much more then is God Almighty justified in having His prison called hell for unrepentant sinners. Any prisoner will tell you that seeing is believing when one is already there, although obviously it is too late to do anything about it.

That is why it is written in God’s Word, "The devils believe and tremble" (Jas. 2:19). They were the first sinners who rebelled in unbelief against God. Jesus spoke of it as, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" (Luke 10:18). The creatures (devils) who fell with Satan said to the Lord, "Art thou come hither to torment us before [our] time?" (Matt. 8:29). Yes, they believe and tremble knowing that there is a final place (prison) of judgment and torment awaiting them (Rev. 20:12-15).

One must also realize that the devils believe because the consequences of their unbelief became an instant reality. As the Bible says, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23). When Cain slew Abel the words, "Thou shalt surely die," spoken earlier to Adam and Eve became a shocking reality. So it is with those who do not believe in hell_a shocking reality awaits them also, but then it will be too late!

I remember a prisoner telling me of how he came to Christ after hearing the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. Being in prison was very real to him but when he read of the rich man being in God’s prison called hell he then realized that the rich man was still there and in torment for over two thousand years now. He said that his three years already served was bad enough_but forever in prison was unbearable to think about! That thought caused him to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour right then, lest he should also end up in that place.

In our time we hear of many persons who are taking their own lives thinking that it will end all of their misery and sorrow. Trusting in Christ as Saviour would have lifted their burdens and given them eternal life as we read in John 6:37 and Matt. 11:28-30. But alas, most often they hear of the gospel but will have none of Him (Luke 13:34).

A very close relative told me of his drug problem while he was in the Army. He said that at times he was tempted to overdose in order to end the confusion and frustrations that were pressing him sorely, but he said the Word of God taught to him as a child, concerning hell, caused him to have a change of mind. He also added that while he was in this state of confusion he had doubts as to whether he was really saved or not. Thus, the Holy Spirit through the Word warns us of this place called hell before it is too late. How good is His love and grace toward us for we read that He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9).

Just think, there will be no birds singing in hell, no children’s laughter, no flowers blossoming, no sunshine, no trees bearing fruit, no tender love, just never-ending sorrow. In light of these awful circumstances, who will be so foolish as to say that it isn’t so! How solemn are the lines of the well-known gospel song:

Eternity, where? eternity, where?
The question so solemn_eternity, where?

Listen to God’s appeal of grace and love, dear reader, before it is too late. He has promised that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).

FRAGMENT Is God unjust in sending sinners to hell for eternity? Consider this:People who go to hell will receive exactly what they desired in this life. For those who shrink from having God’s penetrating light shine into their souls (John 3:19,20), hell will be "outer darkness" (Matt. 8:12). For those who refuse to drink of the living water by which they would never thirst again John 4:10-14), hell will be intense, unquenchable thirst (Luke 16:24). For those who reject God’s offer of eternal life with Christ in heaven, hell will be eternal separation from Christ and consequent anguish at the realization of what they are missing (Luke 13:28).