How, in the Hell?

By Warren Hodge

Every unbeliever that dies an unbeliever will find themselves in a literal hell.  Every person whether we are a believer or unbeliever has experienced or will experience their own figurative hell – situations and/or conditions we all go through or have gone through that were so painstaking, tumultuous and discomforting that we likened them to hell.

The real question is: “How, in the hell, do we praise and worship God?”  Is there some equation or formula that enables one believer to retain the praises of God while another, going through the same thing, loses their praise?

In Scripture we find the strength and inspiration to draw from the examples of fellow saints in Christ who have gone through a figurative hell and yet shined in the midst of it - holding on to their praise.  David had his ordeal with Saul and says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).  David did nothing and said nothing that deserved him the pursuit for his life.  He was just being who God made him to be, a shepherd boy ordained to be king of Israel.

It can seem that the flames of our hell are intensified when we didn’t contribute to the cause of the fire.  Not that they are, but it seems to be because when innocence is attacked, the attack bears a stronger offense.  And what about the hell we catch for standing up for what is right?  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood for God and didn’t bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue and were thrown into a fiery furnace.  Their response: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18, NLT). We also draw strength and inspiration from our fellow brothers/sisters that have impacted our present era such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who stood up for civil rights and didn’t bow to the immoral and uncivilized treatment of white supremacists.  He and others like him had a hell to go through for standing for what was right.

Let’s examine those who have caused their own hell and yet still managed to retain worship and praise.  We’ve ALL been there.....in the belly of a figurative hell and as we look around as we look up and down we are ultimately compelled to look nowhere else but in the mirror.  We find ourselves in situations and conditions where we are our own authors. Remember Jonah.........but in the belly of the whale he capitulated and prayed, “...I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone” (Jonah 2:9 NLT).  Jonah authored his own hell by being disobedient, but he also authored his own deliverance by praise.  God will get you out of that which you have put yourself into!

It is the degree of love for, and faith in, the Almighty God which empowers continual praise and worship from a saint of God catching and/or going through hell.  No equation, except for that which is comprised of the degree of your relationship (love and faith) with God.  David loved and had unspeakable faith in God.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego loved and had faith in God.  In one breath they say, “He will rescue us from your power...” and in another breath, “But even if he doesn’t....we will never serve your gods...”  This may appear to be a contradiction of their faith.  At one time they proclaim that He will rescue them and at another time they entertain the possibility that He might not rescue them.  Despite what He does, they still have faith and their love seals the deal to make it known that it is Him they serve - no matter what. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continued to preach despite the continued threats to him and his family’s life and the bombings of his house.  He continued to proclaim love and racial equality in a time where racial tensions ran high.  And what is it that kept him praising and worshipping and doing the will of God?  His love for and faith in God.  Indubitably, we can say there has been a change to this nation as a result of his influence and others like him.

Saints, it is the degree of your faith that preserves your praise in hell, it is the degree of your love for God that preserves your worship in hell, it is your praise and worship that God uses to preserve you in hell.

Come hell or high water PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, PRAISE HIM!

“...the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!”
- Daniel 3:27 NLT

“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth”
- Psalm 34:1 KJV