I had gotten into an argument with some of my high school friends. I no longer remember what the argument was about but it was loud and long. At some point one of them looked at me and said-"You can just go to Hell!" It did not sound like an invitation, more of a curse. Who wants to go to Hell? For many Christians this is the ONE place you don't want to end up.
But what if Hell is where we need to be? I am old enough to have learned The Apostle's Creed when it contained this phrase: "He (Jesus, after he died and before he was resurrected, for those who do not know the creed) descended into hell." Someone in the early church decided this phrase needed to be in a statement of belief. Few say or include this anymore. Why would Jesus go to Hell?
One clue may be found in the New Testament letter we know as I Peter: "and, in the spirit, he went to preach to the spirits in prison (Hell?). They refused to believe long ago, while God patiently waited to receive them, in Noah's time (that was LONG AGO!), when the ark was being built." (I Peter 3:19, 20 New Jerusalem Bible). Whatever they meant or how it was originally said these words give me pause.
This is food for thought regarding what happens on the other side of the grave. Maybe those in Hell (an assumption of faith that it exists by the Church) are not forgotten by God and still hear the message of grace (I like that idea). I like to think Jesus still makes the trip every now and then. What really intrigues me is if we could see this as a 'modeling' by Jesus for his followers on this side of the grave.
Have you ever heard someone talk about their life being a 'living hell' or 'I don't have to go to hell, I'm living it right now'? Or have you ever found yourself looking at someones circumstances and thinking/saying 'that must be hell'? Just wondering if what I heard as a curse in my teen years is really a call from Jesus. Look around with me. Maybe we need to go to hell to bring the message of hope to someone living in their hell on earth. See you in Hell:>)
This post convicts me that I have not been as willing (though I say 'not able') to go on mission trips to places where people are hurting from wind, rain, floods and poverty. I hope to be able and willing to do so sometime soon.
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