When people are mourning the death of their loved ones, they will say things like, "He is in a better place now," or "At least she isn't feeling any more pain," or "He will be watching over us from above." These kinds of sentiments bring comfort to those who are grieving. However, as often as we hear them, we can begin to wonder if Hell still exists.

I remember an occasion in which I was talking with a person about her need to be saved. Her response was, "Why do I need to be saved? I am not a bad person." I get the feeling that many people share this opinion. They believe everyone is automatically going to Heaven unless they are a terrible person or do something really bad. What does the Bible say about this?

The question about who is going to Hell is not about who is bad, but about who has sinned. We have all sinned (Rom. 3:23), so we must all be saved.

Revelation 20:14-15 gives us a picture of final judgment: "Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Notice, it doesn't say that only bad people were cast into the lake of fire, but those whose names were not found in the Book of Life (those who were not saved). When the Lord returns in judgment, He is coming "in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:8). Jesus is not bringing fiery vengeance upon bad people, but upon those who do not believe in God and do not obey His gospel.

Jesus was once asked a question about how many people were going to be saved. "Then one said to Him, 'Lord, are there few who are saved?' And He said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able'" (Luke 13:23-24). It doesn't sound like everyone is going to Heaven, does it?

Why is this important? If the devil can fool us into thinking we are not bad enough to go to Hell, then he can keep us on the broad way that leads to destruction. The Bible does not tell us to take a relaxed approach to where we will spend eternity. We are to "strive to enter through the narrow gate." Paul warned the Philippians to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). Hell is not avoided by being better than bad people. Hell can only be avoided by being saved from our sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.