Château d’If is a 16th-century, French prison.

Located on an island near Marseille, it was escape-proof. Nobody ever got out. If you were imprisoned in Château d’If, you died there.

A terrible place.

But there is another escape-proof prison far worse than Château d’If. It’s called, “hell.”

The Bible speaks often of hell. Jesus, during his time on earth, spoke of hell maybe even more than he spoke of heaven.

We need to know about hell. For hell is just as real as heaven.

The Bible tells us what hell is “like,” using symbols such as the lake of fire.

Hell, the lake of fire, and outer darkness are all terms describing the final destination of those who reject Jesus Christ. It’s a place of perpetual suffering and misery. Every person whose name is not in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

While the Bible describes Hell using terminology such as fire and flame, it means more than just a physical place. Hell is a place of “torment.” (Matthew 25:41). In fact, the worst aspect of hell is eternal, conscious, guilty, shameful separation from God and all forms of goodness. Hell is far worse than a literal fire.

But here’s the good news.

Suppose prisoners at the Château d’If were offered free tickets to a paradise island. How many would refuse?

Well, God offers free tickets for heaven to all who trust Jesus alone for their salvation. Jesus paid the price in full when he died on the cross for our sins. His shed blood and death cancel guilt and impute righteousness to all who believe. Heaven is their destination.

“For, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

There are no tickets for hell. It’s a default destination.

Only those who refuse the free tickets to heaven go to hell.

Be sure your name is written in God’s book of life.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Amen