"And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

A while back, I was watching a video on the internet of Oprah Winfrey interviewing a man about his religious beliefs. The question of what happens to us when we die was brought up, but the man simply replied, "I don't know. I've never really given it a second thought." Now let's stop and think for just a minute about the description of hell that Jesus gives us in Mark chapter 9. He says that it's a place "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." - A place of constant torment and suffering, where death is nonexistent. Given such a graphic illustration of hell, I simply don't understand how anybody could choose not to give the possibility of ending up in this terrible place a second thought. Unless this man has a life-changing experience with Jesus (thought I pray he does), one day he will wake up in hell wishing he had given his eternity a second thought while it was still in his power to change it.

Hell is more than just a curse word; it is a real place. It's as real as heaven. But even more than that, it has "enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure." (Isaiah 5:14) It's a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Luke 13:28) A place of eternal torment, misery, and sorrow that millions of people are being swept into every single day. In fact, by the time you finish reading this blog, nearly 300 people will have been cast into its depths. If this fact troubles you at all, then don't just sit there and do nothing about it! Take action today!

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."