Are you surprised? I know I was … I NEVER expected to find GOOD things in Hell! But as I searched for the truth about about Hell this week, I was surprised to come across some very interesting facts. There ARE good things in Hell. I have made a list of ten of these unexpected discoveries. Let’s take a look at them together!

Photo courtesy of: Patrick Dentler

1. Good, Strong Bodies

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. (1 Timothy 4:8 NKJV)

The pursuit of living longer and healthier has become an obsession in our society. Hundreds of hours are invested in exercise programs and thousands of dollars are being spent on health supplements and methods. Yet our body only lives a short time, while our spirit is eternal. How foolish, then, to neglect the pursuit of godliness as it is taught in God’s Word!

2. Good Vision

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:22-23 NKJV)

3. Good Memory

On earth, we may choose to forget our offensive ways, but in eternity we will be reminded of the offenses we neglected to confess and turn away from.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37 NKJV)

“Then 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 in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. (Luke 16:24-25 NKJV)

4. Good Understanding

It is said that hindsight is 20/20. But there is a problem with hindsight … it arrives too late to be used for our benefit. In the following passage, we see the rich man in Hell, hoping to use his new found wisdom to benefit his brothers, now that he understands the importance of the decisions we make before our death.

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:27-31 NIV)

5. Good Theology

There will be no unbelievers in eternity …

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV)

6. Good Priorities

On earth, we struggle with understanding which needs are real and which ‘needs’ are nothing more than evil desires that will lead us away from God’s presence and into the darkness of the Evil One. It’s strange, isn’t it? The darkness of sin on earth confuses us, yet in the darkness of Hell there will be vivid clarity about what the REAL needs were.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NKJV)

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:32-33 NLT)

7. Good Examples

Seeing the devastation that has come upon those who rebelled against Holy God is certainly a powerful motivator. I’m thankful Jesus gave us the example of the rich man in Hell. It is a very revealing glimpse of the truth of Hell, and it stands in stark contrast to the ‘Hellish’ fantasies the ungodly seem to enjoy. Isaiah gives us a nugget of truth about Hell in chapter 66 of his book, and Jesus validates Isaiah’s nugget by referring to it three times in Mark 9 when He is speaking of Hell. Take a Look at the horror he describes in the following passage.

“As surely as My new heavens and earth will remain, so will you always be My people, with a name that will never disappear,” says the LORD. “All humanity will come to worship Me from week to week and from month to month. And as they go out, they will see the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against Me. For the worms that devour them will never die, and the fire that burns them will never go out. All who pass by will view them with utter horror.“ (Isaiah 66:22-24 NLT)

8. Good Intentions

Apparently, living in Hell does not remove a person’s affections for those he loves. I used this same passage in item 4 of this list, but I’d like to use it here to make a different point. The rich man in Hell still loved his brothers, and he still had a desire to do good for them. Notice how he pleads with Abraham on their behalf.

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:27-31 NIV)

9. Good Number of Residents

Before you have a stroke, let me explain! I CERTAINLY don’t mean to suggest that it is good for so many people to spend eternity in Hell. I’m using the term ‘good number’ as our forefathers used it … meaning a LOT! So you COULD read item 9 as ‘A LOT of Residents.’ See … I haven’t completely lost it!

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)

10. Good People

I’m talking about good, moral people. Like those who invest their lives working with volunteer services, or people who would literally give you the shirt off their back … yet they have never made the decision to follow Jesus. People like the rich young ruler in the following passage:

You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.’” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:19-22 NKJV)

How good would be good enough to avoid Hell?

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10 NIV)

So What Can Be Done To Save Good People From Hell?

The Bible gives us this clear and simple answer …

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24 NIV)

But unless you repent, you too will all perish. (Luke 13:3b NIV)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10 NIV)

Keeping it real,