God’s Presence Is Hell to the Wicked
MICHAEL ANGELO painted on the wall of the Sistine Chapel his idea of the last judgment. He represents it as if the wicked would gladly have entered into Heaven, but they are by fierce angels hurled down to hell, where the devils put them to the torture. This is, with more or less variation, the idea of many people concerning future punishment. It is thought that the wicked would creep or force themselves into Heaven, but that they are prevented and thrust back by the vigilance, the power and the wrath of the Almighty and his angels. Now it seems to me that it is unnecessary to suppose all this, for those whose hearts are hard would not enter into Heaven if they could. No, not even if their Father should come out and entreat them; they will not enter in. They have that in their hearts which makes them look for their freedom away from the presence of God. Under the piercing glance of his all-seeing eye, they will call upon the mountains to fall on them and the rocks to cover them; anything rather than the presence of God. For them God's presence is hell, and they find that "our God is a consuming fire." For them it is equally hell away from God's presence. Let them take their choice. In either case there is no escape, for in their impenitent hearts they are fostering the worm that gnaws, even as both the prodigal son (up to the time of his repentance) and the elder brother made themselves supremely miserable, the kindness and forbearance of their father availing nothing to allay the misery.