Wait -- that’s giving the devil too much credit. Why, a peewee football team could score on Dallas if the Cowboys were too apathetic to don their gear and take the field.
    So what happened to hell? We believers have either forgotten to talk about it or we’ve been coerced into keeping silent.
    Oh, but talking about hell makes sinners squirm and drives them away from the church where they could get help, right? Let’s be honest, such talk makes many a church member uncomfortable, doesn’t it?
    That’s because too many "Christians" really aren’t right with God. Thus they don’t want to hear about the horrors of hell. They’d rather have their ears tickled while secretly sliding down the slippery slope.
    They really don’t like to listen to Jesus, because nobody had more to say about hell. Again and again, He warned of eternal torment so fierce you’ll gnash your teeth.
    Many church officials avoid mention of hell in trying to package God and market Jesus in a positive way sinners can stomach. That’s lowering Almighty God to society’s standards of acceptance, when it ought to be the other way around.
    Selling Christ without mentioning hell denies who Jesus is and what He accomplished for us. Jesus was humiliated, battered, lashed, pierced and crucified in our place. With His blood, He paid hell’s price in full for each and every sinner -- me and you included.
    I believe our Savior then descended into hell’s horrible flames in our place to seal the deal. There, He defeated the devil and arose again, opening the door for us to heaven through the once-for-all sacrifice of His precious blood.
    You say we can’t help the situation if hell, fire and brimstone preaching isn’t coming from pulpits? Sure we can!
    We could and should ask our pastors when they last preached on hell. Yet, that's not the answer.
    When sharing with others what Lord Jesus did for you, though, be sure to mention the flip side of God’s free gift of heaven -- escape from the certain fires of hell. Their eternal lives depend on us.