Intellectuals are too intelligent for their own good. Proverbs 3:5 advises us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.” Why did God tell us this? He knew the intelligence He gave us was inadequate to understand many of His spiritual things, as well as many earthly phenomena. The intelligentsia don’t realize this truth. Even some theologians don’t realize it.

For example, take Dr. J. P. Moreland, a well-respected theologian. In an interview with journalist Lee Strobel (”The Case for Faith”), speaking of hell, he said, “We know that the reference to flames is figurative because if you try to take it literally, it makes no sense. For example, hell is described as a place of utter darkness and yet there are flames, too. How can that be? Flames would light things up.” I have to wonder if Moreland’s explanation is not a way to sooth his own doubts and fears. Moreland is obviously guilty of the same mistake many intelligent people make by leaning on their own understanding instead of trusting God.

God created fire, light, darkness and everything in the universe. Why could He not make fire that does not emit light? When I was a young boy, I made a mistake that I’ve never repeated. I walked by the stove one day and wondered if the burners, which looked cold, could be hot. So I foolishly patted my hand on one to see. I quickly jerked my hand away from a very hot burner! I didn’t injure my hand, but it certainly did give me excruciating pain. That little incident taught me some early wisdom that has remained with me all these years.

The Bible does speak of the outer darkness of hell, but Jesus also told about the rich man in hell begging Abraham to send Lazarus with one drop of water to cool his tongue. He told Abraham, “…for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:24).

The Bible makes clear that hell is not only a place of torment but also a Lake of Fire. Read Matthew 13:42, 18:8; Revelation 20:10, 21:8. A fate of condemnation in hell is too horrible to contemplate, and that accounts for the lack of belief in its existence by most people. But not believing something does not make it go away. I am greatly concerned for unbelievers, who must stand before Christ condemned one day soon and then be cast into that Lake of Fire reserved for Satan and his demons.

The Lake of Fire, we are told, burns with fire and sulfur. It will burn forever unquenched. That means all who practice lawlessness, as the Bible warns, will be there forever. What a frightening and repulsive thought!

The saddest thing of all is that no one has to go there. Romans 10:13 promises that all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved. And God, my friends, keeps every single one of His promises.