Hell’s Shocking Realities

“Hell’s Shocking Realities”

Rev. 20:11-15

 

SUBJECT: HELL/EVANGELISM

THEME: Perhaps a better understanding of Hell will stir us to become more consistent evangelists for our Lord.

RELEVANCE: Our compassion for the perishing multitudes must be informed and aroused by the realities of Hell, to encourage us to become involved or remain with the task of evangelism. Multitudes are dying without Christ and going to Hell, who will give themselves to consistently point them to Christ?

INTRODUCTION:

The dreadful final future of the unsaved is distinctly outlined for all to witness! Rev. 20:14-15, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is why we need to be motivated to share the Gospel and send out missionaries! Our neighbors and the world are destined for a Devil’s Hell forever! We must be concerned to reach them for Christ before it’s too late.  

MESSAGE:

I.  What Is Meant by “Hell”?

Hell is the place of imprisonment and punishment for those who revolt against God.

A. HELL WAS ORIGNALLY CREATED FOR SATAN AND THE REBELLIOUS ANGELS. Matthew 25:41

B. UNSAVED PEOPLE WILL BE COMMITTED TO HELL ALSO (Mt. 25:41-46).

C. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TAUGHT AND WARNED PEOPLE MUCH OF AN ENDLESS HELL.

D. IN THE O.T. THE WORD HELL (SHEOL) HAS TWO MEANINGS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND. Hell in common usage designates the grave and the place of future punishment for the unbelieving.

II. What Is Hell Really Like? (N.T.)

We need not be confused or vague about our perceptions of Hell. God afford us reliable insight into this subject in the Bible, especially the New Testament.

A. IMAGERY WE MUST PAY ATTENTION TO!

Hell is a place of conscious and everlasting punishment, judgment, and fiery torment for the wicked, the devil, and his angels.  

1. A Place of Punishment.

Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Hell is described as a real and final place of conscious torment, fire, and everlasting punishment for unrepentant sinners who reject God.

A.   The Idea of Punishment in Hell is Evident!

·        Revelation 20:15, And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

·        2 Thessalonians 1:9, Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

·        Matthew 13:42, And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

B.   God Warns of the Eternal Punishment of Hell.

·        Everlasting Punishment is Depicted: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25:46).

·        Fire and Brimstone are Mentioned: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone... and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10).  

·        The Fiery Furnace is Declared: The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:41-42).  

When referring to the final place of permanent punishment and fire, God uses imagery of unquenchable fire and eternal separation from God’s presence.  

2. A Place of Banishment.

2 Thes. 1:9, Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

They Shall Experience Everlasting Destruction, Vs 9   “....with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

A.   The phrase “Everlasting Destruction” is not a reference to total annihilation or a ceasing to exist.  Once a life begins it will last forever; the soul and spirit of a person will never cease to exist, they are everlasting in their nature.

B.   It actually means to be eternally separated from the presence of God—banished. This is just what the verse said.  It means complete and final ruin and loss from all that life and eternity could have been. It means being excluded from all the joy, pleasure, companionship, peace, and satisfaction of Heaven. Cut off, banished, separated from God and His glory forever! Everlasting destruction in HELL!

C.   Rev 21:8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Leon Morris said, “If there is any truth in scripture at all, this is true---that those who stubbornly refuse to submit to the gospel, and to love and obey Jesus Christ, incur . . . .   an infinite and irreparable loss.  They pass into a night on which no morning ever dawns.”

3. A Place of Fire.

Mark 9:44-48, Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [45] 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: [46] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [47] 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: [48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (See also Mt. 13:42,50; Mk. 9:44-48; Re. 20:15; 14:10)

1. Everlasting Fire is Defended: Matthew 25:41 declares eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
2. The Lake of Fire is Delineated: Revelation 20:15 tells us anyone not found in the book of life will be cast into a lake of fire.
3. A Fiery Furnace is Described: Matthew 13:42 points to a furnace of fire where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Hell is often described using fiery imagery to convey ultimate judgment, ongoing destruction, or eternal separation from goodness. These descriptions representing literal physical flames are powerful and profound indicators for spiritual anguish, darkness, and loss.

4. A Place of Darkness.

2 Peter 2:17, These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. These false religious charlatans are fake! They promise spiritual help and wisdom but offer nothing real or sustaining. These deceivers are completely useless and face a final judgment of eternal darkness in Hell showing they lead people into spiritual blindness and will end up separated from God.

We are warned to watch out for corrupt leaders. These individuals use smooth words, appeal to carnality, and false promises of freedom to trick new believers, but they are really just chasing money and pleasing their own carnal desires.

“The mist of darkness is reserved for ever” points to their perpetual destination. Despite their boasting and manipulation, eternal gloom and divine blackness—judgment are safely stored up “reserved” as their certain punishment (Compass Bible Church). God describes aspects of final punishment using this imagery of “darkness.”

A.   There are Clear References to Darkness

·       “Outer Darkness”: Matthew 8:12, Matthew 22:13, and Matthew 25:30 explicitly use the phrase “outer darkness” where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

·       The “Mist of Darkness”: 2 Peter 2:17 and Jude 1:13 both speak of the “mist of darkness” or “blackness of darkness” reserved for the unrepentant.

B.   Resolving the Apparent Contradiction of Light and Darkness Imagery

·       Merged Ideas are the Correct Focus, not Contradictory: Many view these descriptions as complementary or literally multiple facets of separation from God, conveying total ruin, distress, and the absence of God’s light rather than a mere physical contradiction.

By “outer darkness,” we mean a state of intense separation, deep anguish, sorrow, and regret. Separation from God’s light involves complete detachment from God, who is the Source of light, goodness, and life. Beloved, we are referring to powerful and profound, multifaceted spiritual and physical torment.

B. DESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE HEART GRIPPING!

Visuals of Hell often evoke deep fear because of raw human suffering and psychological terrors. These haunting depictions warn people, enforce moral convictions, and explore the absolute depths of despair. To say the least, these depictions are nothing short of heart gripping!

1. There will be Consciousness and Feelings.

Luke 16:23, And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Also see Matt. 25:30)

The Bible views conscious feelings and emotions as an essential, designed part of human personhood. Because people are made in God’s image, experiencing emotions reflects God’s own capacity for love, grief, joy, and anger. Rather than ignoring feelings, Scripture teaches us to acknowledge, process, and align them with his truth.

A.   Hell is a Space of Awaken and Active Perception. The Bible portrays hell (Gehenna or the lake of fire) as a place of active, conscious awareness. Rather than a state of extinction, the lost will have experiences involving specific emotional and physical reactions like sorrow, pain, and distress.

B.   Note these Wide-Awake Expressions of Conscious Sufferings:

·        Deep Weeping: Jesus repeatedly uses the phrase “weeping” to denote intense sadness, grief, and crying out.

·        “Gnashing of Teeth”: The associated phrase “gnashing of teeth” points to severe physical pain, anger, frustration, or profound regret.

·        Torment and Anguish: When we examine Revelation 14:10 closely we note individuals being “tormented with fire and brimstone (sulfur),” implying an ongoing, conscious sensory and psychological burden.

·        No Rest Ever: Revelation 19:3 and 14:11 state there is “no rest day or night,” indicating an unbroken, alert state of suffering rather than unconsciousness or sleep.

The imagery of hell acts as a gripping, hyper-conscious awakening. These are stark, terrifying visuals—like unquenchable fire, dark pits, and eternal separation—they jolt the human conscience, forcing a sudden, acute awareness of mortality, moral accountability, and the heavy weight of earthly choices.

2. There will be Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth.

Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus uses this powerful imagery to describe the profound anguish, sorrow, and ultimate rejection experienced by those excluded from the Kingdom of God. –Bible Gateway

A.   The Bible, phrase “gnashing of teeth” appears seven times used only by Jesus in the Gospels (six times in Matthew, once in Luke) to describe the intense anguish, sorrow, and despair of those shut out from the kingdom of God. The phrase portrays extreme pain, agonizing grief, and bitter regret or frustration over eternal loss. (See Matt. 8:12; 13:50; 22:13; 24:51; Luk. 13:28)

B.   Often when Jesus uses this phrase “gnashing of teeth”, it also symbolizes intense anger, rage, and bitter resentment rather than mere physical pain. These actions reflect bitter fury instead of humble repentance! People in outer darkness feel indignant rage and resentment toward God and the righteous because these individuals missed out on their expected rewards. The “gnashing of teeth” captures the defiant responses, outraged frustrations, rebellious attitudes, angry reaction to final judgment and eternal separation from God…an unyielding irritation towards God and His kingdom.

The Bible also uses many other descriptions of Hell! A place of remorse (Lk. 16:27-28), torment (Lk. 16:23; Re. 20:10), a place of worms (Mk. 9:44, 46, 48; Is. 66:24), thirst (Lk. 16:24), a place without hope of escape (Lk. 16:26), and a place of unfulfilled desires and unanswered prayers (Lk. 16:27-31). Beloved, these are heart breaking realizations regarding real people’s forever experiences. We need selfless courage to reach and warn them of the wrath to come!

 

Stay Focused…Even During the Pain

Stay Focused…Even During the Pain

Romans 5:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:15; Hebrews 5:14; Colossians 1:28-29; James 1:2-4

 

Theme: The chances of being sidetracked increase with trouble and pain, but we must remain focused on learning of the Lord and drawing closer to Him.

Relevance:

By the grace of God, we can stay focused during pain by fixing our eyes on Jesus, trusting God’s permanent presence instead of temporary suffering, and casting our worries on Him through prayer. Remember clarity frequently follows the act of following His guidance rather than preceding it. Scripture frames pain as a brief test that builds endurance, spiritual strength, and eternal hope.

Introduction:

The idea of maturing in Christ is a subject we have given substantial thought to and have even taught this on a regular basis.  As a missionary-pastor, I routinely encouraged, instructed, and coached others through the various stages of personal spiritual development. You see, spiritually we mature with diet and exercise much like we do physically. The word of God provides our meat, bread, milk, honey, water, and ‘green pastures.’ The encouraging and directing words of a spiritually minded coach help tremendously.

As we obey God we begin to understand and appreciate more of Him and His Word. Obedience acts as a pathway to spiritual growth. By putting our faith into practice, we often gain clarity, build a deeper trust, and experience a closer relationship with God. Obedience shows our love, trust, and faith in Him. Insight frequently arises from the act of following His guidance rather than preceding it. This trend of obedience will also feed our souls deeply as more clarity comes with our compliance; thus, our experiences of God’s truth teaches and trains us further (Luk. 11:28; Jn. 13:17; Prov. 2:9).

Still the possibility of distraction exists, especially during painful experiences; we must focus ourselves on spiritual growth still. The following thoughts help us do just that.

Lesson:

God Continually Recommends Incredible Spiritual Self-control to Overcome Serious Challenges to our Development.

A. Cooperate with God’s Work in You. Philippians 2:12-13, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

·        We are to live out and show the reality of our salvation with deep respect and seriousness before God. Christ’s followers are responsible for actively living out and expressing the inner change God has already given us. It does not mean earning salvation by good performances; rather, it shows our efforts in obedience cooperates with God’s inner power, which supplies both the desire and the ability to please Him.

·        The verb “work out” carries the meaning of “work to full completion,” such as working out a problem in mathematics. In Paul’s day it was also used for “working a mine,” that is, getting out of the mine all the valuable ore possible; or “working a field” so as to get the greatest harvest possible. The purpose God wants us to achieve is Christlikeness, “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). There are problems in life, but God will help us to “work them out.” Our lives have tremendous potential, like a mine or a field, and He wants to help us fulfill that potential.^[1]

o   Just as you unpack a box or exercise a muscle to display what is already inside, believers are called to let their internal faith manifest visibly in daily obedience and character.

o   “Both to will and to do of his good pleasure”: God changes our inner desires ("to will") and then gives us the strength and opportunity to carry them out ("to do").

     B.  Dedicate Yourself to Growth to Influence Others Likewise.  1 Timothy 4:15, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all") indicates a Christian leader must deeply focus on spiritual truths, fully dedicate their life to practicing them, and let their ongoing personal growth be clearly seen by everyone.

·        “Meditate upon these things” that is spend time thinking deeply about and practicing sound spiritual teachings and our God-given duties rather than just knowing them.

·        “Give thyself wholly to them” literally dedicate our whole heart, time, and energy to these godly tasks without holding back or getting distracted.

·        “That thy profiting may appear to all” we must ensure our spiritual maturity and progress move forward visibly so other people can see the real, positive impact of our faith.

·        Paul is encouraging Timothy to give himself undividedly and undistractedly to the work of the Lord. He should be all-out in his efforts. In this way, his progress will be evident to all. Paul does not want Timothy to hit a plateau in his Christian service and then settle down into a comfortable rut. Rather, he wants him to be always advancing in the things of the Lord.^[2]

     C.  Keep Maturing and Developing Discernment Daily. Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”) shows that deep spiritual truth is for mature believers. True maturity comes from regular practice and using God's word to tell right from wrong.

·       “Strong meat” refers to deep and advanced teachings of the faith, unlike “milk” or basic beginner instructions.

·       “Of full age” indicates spiritually mature people who have grown past their early stages as new believers.

·       “By reason of use” means learning and growing through ongoing, daily practice of our faith.

·       “Exercised to discern both good and evil” that is training your mind and heart over time to spot the difference between right and wrong, or truth and false teaching.

·       Once more the writer betrayed his concern about his readers’ ability to reject the false ideas which confronted them. Had they been sufficiently mature they would be able to “distinguish” those ideas as “evil” over against the truths they should have known were “good.” But he feared that this capability was not yet really theirs, though he would make every effort to instill it in them.^[3]

D. Remain Focused and On Mission to Continue Developing Believers. Paul notes his toil and struggle, energized by Christ’s power, to present everyone fully mature in Christ. 

Colossians 1:28-29 states: “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” The great Apostle viewed his core mission as boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ, correcting and instructing all believers with godly wisdom to help them grow spiritually mature, while relying entirely on Christ’s powerful energy working inside him to do the hard work.

·       “Perfect in Christ Jesus” points to mature, complete, and fully grown in the faith, rather than completely sinless.

·       “Labour and striving” indicates ministry takes intense, hard work and personal sweat (“striving” is an athletic word for competing in a contest).

·       “His working in me mightily” Paul did not rely on his own strength; he depended on God’s power actively moving through him to accomplish spiritual results.

·       Spiritual adults in Christ, no longer babes in Christ (Heb. 5:14), mature and ripened Christians (4:12), the full-grown man in Christ (Eph. 4:13). The relatively perfect (Phil. 3:15) will on that day of the presentation be fully developed as here (Col. 4:12; Eph. 4:13).^[4]

The Word of God presents pain as a brief test that builds endurance, spiritual strength, and eternal hope. Still the possibility exists for distractions, especially during difficult experiences; we must focus ourselves even more tenaciously on spiritual growth during these seasons. Remember, obedience is our pathway to upward growth in Christ. We often gain clarity, build a deeper trust, and experience a closer relationship with God when we are compliant. Obedience to truth is an active choice turning basic facts into deep, everyday nuts and bolts understanding.

Matthew Henry noted, “We must continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel; that is, we must be so well fixed in our minds as not to be moved from it by any temptations. We must be stedfast and immovable (1 Co. 15:58) and hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, Heb. 10:23.”^[5]

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^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 77.

^[2] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2094.

^[3] Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 793.

^[4] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Col 1:28.

^[5] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2332.

Choosing Truth Over Facts

Choosing Truth Over Facts

John 8:32; 14:6; 17:17; 2 Cor. 5:7; Hebrews 11:1

Theme: Authentic facts point to God’s truth; we must live by God’s truth and not mere facts…by faith and not by sight.

Relevance:

John 8:32, says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Accepting and actively living by Christ’s teachings provides a deep spiritual awakening (salvation) that breaks the heavy chains of sin, fear, and spiritual blindness. God also delivers us from spiritual confusion when we believe Him instead of our circumstances. Facts are subject to misleading manipulation leading to greater sin, darkness, and bondage, but embracing God’s truth is freeing, liberating, and life transforming!  

So, choosing God’s reality over the visible or empirical world is defined as faith. Hebrews 11:1 states: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Rather than relying strictly on physical observation or human scientific measurement, biblical faith treats God, His word, and unseen spiritual truths as the ultimate foundation of reality.

Introduction:

The Jews did not know the truth, and they were in a terrible form of bondage. They were in the bondage of ignorance, error, sin, law, and superstition. Those who truly know the Lord Jesus are delivered from sin, they walk in the light, and are led by the Holy Spirit of God.^[1]

Jews who had believed Him indicates that some paid attention to Jesus’ words without necessarily committing themselves to Him personally (cf. 6:53). It was possible to “believe” in the message of repentance and the coming kingdom without being born again. Continuing in the truth is the sign of true followers and learners (disciples). If they really grasped His message, they would find salvation truth. Knowing this salvation truth would liberate them from their bondage in sin.^[2]

The idea of ‘truth over facts’ entails prioritizing God’s statements, a deeper, overarching Bible principle, or a divine reality over objective, verifiable data. While facts are strict, measurable bits of information, we view God’s truth, a Bible-based experiences, or an essential takeaway as having higher significance; we know these realities transcend individual data points.

Please Note these Core Differences:

• Facts: Objective, provable, and independent of personal feelings (things like statistical data, IDs, digital driver’s licenses, diplomas—university degrees, or documented events).
• Truth: Personal value placed on God, Jesus Christ, revelation—His statements/promises, core Bible messages, or God’s higher purpose.

Truth is absolute, unchanging reality rooted in God’s perfect character. He does not merely speak the truth; He literally embodies it. It is revealed through His unchanging nature, the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, who stated, “I am the way and the truth and the life”.

The distinctions can be summarized by noting the differences between Scripture and Modern Science. Believers should always base their lives on truth and only on ‘science’ where it agrees with ‘truth.’

But not everyone agrees, “Critics argue that dismissing data in favor of a preferred narrative contributes to Truth Decay, undermines shared objective reality, and opens the door to misinformation and bias.” (The Dangerous Mindset of My Truth)

However, I would much rather disagree with mere people, than to be at odds with God!

Again, it has been noted, “Generally, truth decay is a cultural condition marked by a shrinking reliance on objective facts, data, and analysis in public life. The term describes how opinions and personal beliefs increasingly overshadow verifiable facts.” (The News Literacy Project, Jennifer Kavanagh)

While I do not advocate in any way adopting a ‘My Truth’ mentality, I must insist that we believe an honest God regarding anything He says…especially when God’s Truth contradicts human data, research, or credentials.  

Lesson:

First Note Key Bible Passages on Faith and God’s Unseen Reality!

1. Hebrews 11:1: Defines faith itself as the solid proof (substance) and conviction (evidence) of realities that human eyes cannot detect.

·       Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass.

·       Faith must have some revelation from God, some promise of God as its foundation. It is not a leap in the dark. It demands the surest evidence in the universe, and finds it in the word of God. It is not limited to possibilities but invades the realm of the impossible. Someone has said, “Faith begins where possibilities end. If it’s possible, then there’s no glory for God in it.”^[3]

2. Hebrews 11:3: Account for creation in this respect: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” This establishes that the spiritual and spoken power of God preceded and produced the physical universe.

·       Faith is also a way of viewing all experience since it is the way in which believers see the universe (tous aiōnas, lit., “the ages,” also rendered “the universe” in 1:2) for what it is—a creation by God.^[4]

·       [B]elievers accept by faith that God created the physical universe out of nothing using His spoken command, originating visible reality from the invisible. (Bible Reference)

·       Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear means the material, visible world came into existence from an invisible source (ex nihilo, or out of nothing), rather than being formed from pre-existing physical matter. (Bible Reference)

3. 2 Corinthians 5:7: States the daily walk of a believer: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

·       Christ’s followers are called to conduct our daily lives and make decisions by trusting in God’s unseen promises and eternal realities, rather than relying solely on physical circumstances, temporary hardships, or human senses. The three Hebrew boys understood this perfectly in Daniel 3. The average ‘worlding’ will not appreciate thinking this way!

·       Not by “sight”: Refusing to let temporary physical obstacles, fears, or what is immediately visible dictate hope or obedience. Remember the temporary nature of our earthly bodies and the absolute certainty of an eternal heavenly home. Keep going because our ultimate hope is anchored in Christ and future resurrection, not what we can physically touch or see right now.

4. 2 Corinthians 4:18: Directs our attention past temporary physical metrics to eternal invisible truths: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

·       Believers must fix our focus on spiritual, everlasting realities rather than temporary, physical troubles. Visible, earthly things—including pain and material life—are temporary (temporal), while invisible spiritual truths like God's glory and heaven last forever (eternal). We must not give up despite intense suffering. Eternal glory makes present trials feel small and short-lived.

·       Paul compared the sufferings he had experienced, severe as they were (2 Cor. 11:23–29), to light and momentary troubles (thlipseōs, “pressures, hardships”; cf. 1:4). They were nothing in view of the eternal glory that would be his when he would be in Jesus’ “presence” (4:14) and would be like Him (1 Cor. 15:49; Phil 3:21; 1 John 3:2). This is amazing: all of his heavy, continuous burdens were, he said, “light” (the Gr. elaphron means “light in weight, easy to bear”; used in the NT only twice: here and in Matt. 11:30) and “momentary” (the Gr. parautika means “brief, for the slight moment, on the spot”). Though, as he wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8, his hardships were “far beyond” (hyperbolēn) his ability to endure, he said his coming glory … far outweighs them all (hyperbolēn eis hyperbolēn is lit., “extraordinary unto the extraordinary”).^[5]

5. The Perspective of Faith (Truth) vs. Empirical Science Evidence (Modern Scientific Facts)

·        Separate Fields of Consideration: Scripture positions God as the Creator not as a hypothesis to be tested by the scientific method! He must be approached purely through trust and reverence (“without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”) Hebrews 11:6. Beloved, trusting God’s reality and goodness is the absolute requirement for any real relationship with Him.

o   The entire Christian walk is something that cannot function or start without reliance on the unseen.

o   Seeking God requires intentional, continuous effort through prayer, obedience, and looking to His promises rather than just passive agreement is a must.

·        The Source of Absolute Truth: Where empirical science relies on what can be measured, weighed, and seen, biblical reality instructs the believer to accept divine revelation as more certain than changing physical circumstances or human reasoning.

o   God’s Character and Word Define Ultimate Reality. Truth is not merely a changing human idea. It is a permanent standard rooted in God’s unchanging nature, meaning what God says is always real, right, and faithful.

o   God as Truth: Scripture describes God as a “God of truth” (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 31:5, and Isaiah 65:16), He cannot lie, His essence defines what is real, and He cannot break promises (Hebrews 6:18, Titus 1:2). God is the ultimate source of reliability and absolute truth!

o   Jesus as Truth: Jesus states in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” showing that truth is embodied in a person rather than just abstract rules. Jesus is the exclusive path to God, the ultimate source of divine truth, and the giver of eternal life, asserting that relationship with God is found only through Him. Jesus embodies the absolute and final revelation of God’s character and word.

o   Spirit as Truth: The Holy Spirit is explicitly called the “Spirit of truth” by Jesus Christ. He is promised as a helper who dwells with believers, teaches us, and guides us into all truth. As the Witness he confirms and testifies to the reality of Jesus Christ. As the Teacher he speaks only what He hears from the Father and the Son, leading people away from error deeper into Jesus, the Truth. (Jn 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 Jn. 5:6)

o   The Word as Truth: Psalm 119:160 states, “Thy word is true from the beginning,” establishing the Bible as an absolute, error-free standard for everyone. Beloved, God’s word is entirely true from start to finish, and His fair laws last forever. He does not lie or make mistakes. Everything He says is pure fact, from the first book of the Bible to the last. His word is absolute truth.

o   Truth is Immutable: God’s truth does not shift with time, culture, or personal feelings. It remains constant for all people.

Clearly, a believer must choose truth over mere facts. Facts should point to truth, but unfortunately facts can be manipulated or ‘cherry picked’ causing confusion and enhancing the darkness, lies, deceptions, and bondage. Truth has the power to make us free of sin and its influences upon our lives. Where the facts cannot be verified by the Scriptures we must go with Bible evidence or God’s statements—truth. For us God’s facts are the ‘alternative facts’ we must appeal to for authority. Though facts may enjoy a certain level of rigor and alignment with Modern Science, we still choose the Word of God first and foremost. Quote the Bible and let them fact check that!

 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1517.

^[2] Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 304–305.

^[3] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2195.

^[4] Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 807.

^[5] David K. Lowery, “2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 565.