heaven

Why You Should Not Want to Go to Hell

/ Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Hell is hot, loud, miserable, eternal, and has zero customer service. Also, the Wi‑Fi is terrible.

Wooden sign with text 'HELL IS NO JOKE. FIERY WARNING. The wages of sin is death. Repent.' near a smoky, burning canyon
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1. The Climate Is… Suboptimal

Hell makes Death Valley in August look like a breezy Colorado morning. If you’ve ever stepped outside in July and said, “Wow, it feels like the devil’s armpit out here,” congratulations—you’ve already experienced the mild setting. Jesus described hell as a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:50). Translation: no shade, no breeze, no Sonic Happy Hour. If you’re thinking, “Well, I like warm weather,” let me lovingly challenge you with eternal consequences. Eternity is a long time to be medium‑rare.

2. The Neighbors Are… Not Ideal

You know that one driver who cuts you off, then slows down, then signals left while turning right? Imagine being stuck behind that guy forever. Hell is full of people who said, “I don’t need God, I’ll do things my own way.” Which is basically the spiritual equivalent of saying, “I don’t need Google Maps, I’ll just vibe it.” Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” In other words, your gut feeling is not always your friend.

3. The Noise Level Is Worse Than a Walmart on Black Friday

Jesus described hell as a place of “wailing.” (Matthew 13:42) Not singing. Not humming. Not even off‑key karaoke. Wailing. Forever. If you’ve ever lived in an apartment with upstairs neighbors who apparently train elephants at 2 AM, you already know the ambiance.

4. Zero Comforts, Zero Breaks, Zero Escape

Hell has:

  • No vacations
  • No naps
  • No iced coffee
  • No Chick‑fil‑A
  • No air conditioning
  • No hope

Revelation 14:11 says the torment “has no rest day or night.” Even your worst Monday has a bedtime. Hell doesn’t. It will be constant torment for eternity.

5. God Doesn’t Want You There Anyway

Hell was never designed for humans. It was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). So, going to hell is basically crashing a party you weren’t invited to…

…except the party is on fire
…everyone is screaming
…and the host hates you.

God’s heart is clear: “He is not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). He literally went to the cross to keep you out of hell.

6. Heaven Is a Much Better Option

Heaven has:

  • Joy
  • Peace
  • God’s presence
  • No tears
  • No pain
  • No death
  • No HOA fees

Revelation 21:4 says God will wipe away every tear. Hell, meanwhile, hands you a towel and says, “Good luck.” Hell will be missing one key element that heaven will be full of…LOVE.

Final Thought:

Hell is real, terrible, eternal, and absolutely avoidable.
Jesus didn’t just warn us about hell—He made a way out.
And He did it because He loves you more than you can imagine.

God’s rescue plan is not vague, complicated, or hidden. It’s shockingly direct, painfully costly, and unbelievably generous.
Here’s the clearest way to understand it — the way Scripture itself frames it.

The Problem:

The Bible describes the human condition as more than “mistakes” or “bad habits.” It’s a spiritual catastrophe — separation from God, corruption of the heart, and a destiny we cannot escape on our own.

  • Sin separates us — “Your sins have separated you from your God” (Isaiah 59:2).
  • We cannot fix ourselves — “No one is righteous… not even one” (Romans 3:10).
  • Judgment is real — not because God is cruel, but because sin destroys everything it touches.

This is the “cosmic disaster” — a spiritual death we cannot outrun.

The Rescue:

God’s plan is not advice, not self‑improvement, not religion. It is an intervention.

  • Jesus enters our world — fully God, fully man.
  • He takes our place — “He became sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
  • He absorbs the judgment — the wrath, the penalty, the separation.
  • He rises again — proving the rescue is complete.

God didn’t send a plan. He came as the plan.

The Offer:

This is where the gospel becomes almost offensive in its simplicity.

  • Grace — God does the saving.
  • Faith — you trust what He did.
  • New birth — God gives you a new heart, new identity, new destiny.

“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

You don’t climb to God. God comes down to you.

The Result:

The moment you accept Jesus Christ, the moment you ask Him into your life:

  • Your sins are forgiven
  • You are adopted
  • You are made new
  • You are sealed for eternity
  • You become a citizen of heaven

This is not behavior modification. It’s rescue, rebirth, and relocation.

The Response:

God’s plan is complete. The only unfinished part is your response.

  • Turn to Him
  • Trust Him
  • Follow Him

Not by trying harder. By surrendering.

Copyright © 2026 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

The Granite Carver

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His work is seen by many in the oddest, most solemn of places. Photos are taken for posterity. He charges by the letter, so most clients pass on the minimum info. In most cases, that means the name, middle initial, birth date, a dash, and the date of death. He has learned to have the one making a request sign a document verifying that the data is correct.

As he engraves into the stone, he wonders what the individual looked like. If they were kind. If they smiled a lot. Was their life marked by happiness or pain? Did they give of themselves? Or did they only take from others?

He enjoys his craft but is always mindful of the grey cloud that hangs over each stone. Sometimes, he makes up a story about their life to occupy his mind, yet he wonders if they lived a life that was pleasing to God or not. He hopes they did. For he knows that to be absent from the body is to be standing before God. That there is no other reality coming, no matter how hard some want there to be, instead of God. Like reincarnation. And that every man will have to give an account of how they used the free will that God gave them.

He has thought about it several times, yet the truth remains. By the time he starts engraving, it’s too late. Their eternity is already set in stone. Too late for them to decide about their eternity. Too late to accept Jesus as the Son of God and definitely too late to ask for forgiveness of their sins.

If you are reading this blog, it’s not too late for you. No one is etching your name in stone, yet! But hopefully, your name is etched or written in the Book of Life. There, no one can remove it except you by rejecting Jesus.

Thus shall he who conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as Mine] and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels. Rev. 3:5 (AMPC)

Copyright © 2026 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Getting Excited

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When I was a child, as Christmas approached, I would get increasingly excited. I knew we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, but the gifts I received were usually awesome! When I became a father, my excitement grew even more. Not for me, though, but for my children. Why? Because I knew what was coming. I couldn’t wait to see the pure joy on their little faces as they unwrapped their gifts.

The world is facing some tough times. Honestly, without God, I don’t see how people are making it. Where do they find their hope? And where do they place their trust? Is there anything to look forward to? Anything to get excited about?

I have heard, firsthand, stories of individuals who do know God, smiling in the moments before they cross over into heaven. Some even see Jesus coming to welcome them home and to give them a personal escort. I heard of one such story last week. The daughter of the woman who passed said in the final moment her mother started smiling, and the siblings all said in agreement, “Mom, go on home. We will be okay.” And she did. I heard my uncle cried out, “I see him! I see him!” And then he closed his eyes, smiled, and went with Jesus. They got excited because they knew what was coming.

I have read the Bible and have heard countless sermons and teachings about what lies in store for the one who has accepted Jesus Christ. Who has asked for their sins to be forgiven and go on to walk with God. Heaven sounds pretty awesome! Especially when compared to the only other alternative, hell. Yes, times are difficult, but I put my trust and faith in the Lord, God Almighty. He has never let me down before, and I don’t think He will in the future. Personally, I’m not afraid to die. I know in my heart I am ready to stand before God and give an account for how I have lived my life. And honestly, I sometimes get excited about death because I know what is coming!

It’s the Christmas season. I hope there are gifts under your Christmas tree. I hope you have excitement in your heart, not just for the gifts, but for gathering with family and friends. But I hope more that you, too, know and have accepted Jesus into your life, and that is the true source of your excitement. If you have, then you, too, can get excited, for you have the hope of what is coming!

1 Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 2 Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Rom. 5:1-2 (AMPC)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Blind Trust

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April and I visited a friend of mine today. A dear friend whom I hadn’t seen in several years. He’s now getting up in age, and it seems like he is ready to go home. Heaven, that is, as Earth is not home for those who believe in Jesus Christ. I was feeling that if I wanted to see him alive, then I had better go now.

We had to travel two hours away. In fact, to another state to reach his residence. I pulled out my old GPS from storage. I know my phone has it built in, but I don’t like to tie up my phone. One might say I was going “old school.”

We reached our destination without any problems. In fact, we made it without my GPS screaming at me, “Recalculating!” Not once! We had a very nice visit. My friend is a man of God, and I have always admired him and how he lives his life. He talked about how God has always been there with him, guiding and directing him. The way he talked made me think he had blindly trusted God every day after he accepted Him.. We can’t see God, but at times we can feel his presence.

On the drive home, I asked April if she knew where we were. She said, “No. Not at all.” “Is that scary?” I asked. “No. I trust you.” It made me feel good to be trusted.

I have a sense that “blindly trusting” God makes him feel good as well. He wants us to trust him and to believe that He is taking us to the right destination. It shows that we are confident in our God. Remembering He is strong and mighty if we face any battles. If we live consistently according to God’s commands, then we can be sure we will reach our final destination, heaven

Look, God is my deliverer! I will trust in him and not fear. For the Lord gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.” Is. 12:2 (NET)

You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith,
for they trust in you. Is. 26:3 (NET)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

For the Kingdom of Heaven

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I have always been intrigued by Jesus’ teachings. I especially liked it how, while he was speaking, he would point to something and say, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto…” Okay, that’s how it is written in the King James version of the Bible. A current way would be, “God’s kingdom is like…”

That line has had a huge influence on how this blog is written. If you have ever noticed, I try to take something from real life and show how it can relate to the kingdom of God. I think the gospel of Jesus Christ is relational and practical. It’s not just some lofty words that sound nice.

I think that is where so many casual Christians go off-key. They “go” to church, hear a great sermon, but toss it in the trash on the way out. Then they go about their week as if the God who loves them so much hadn’t delivered a custom “love” letter to their heart. God uses people to speak on his behalf. He delights in partnering with them to do his business.

Sunday’s sermons and hopefully this blog should be thought about during the week and should certainly be applied. It may be challenging, but that is where we can ask God to help us. We should always be growing and maturing in our walk with God. I know of some who have been the same hurtful people for many years. They “go” to church almost every time the doors are open, but when they are there, they forget to unlock the doors of their heart.

Boy, I didn’t expect those words to come out when I started writing this post.

Hear the words of God. Whether spoken through a sermon, read in the Bible, or perhaps in these blogs. Think about them. Ponder their meanings. The Bible is relatable. Its words are alive, and they change people, or at least should. The words the Bible contains can be applied to every part of our lives. Even more than Seinfeld-isms.

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

“You’re My New Superhero!”

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We all like heroes. Marvel Comics has proven that with their highly successful movies. It can make us feel good knowing that someone can do something that we cannot do. Perhaps, inside all of us is a secret desire to be a superhero. To have the abilities to do things, hopefully for others, that would help them or better their lives.

Recently, when out and about, I may stop and ask someone for some help. For instance, last week, I asked an older lady at Aldis where they keep ricotta cheese. She told me that it would probably be with the cottage cheese. A few minutes later, I would learn that it indeed was.

I thanked her for her help and said, “You’re my new superhero. In fact, are you wearing a cape?” as I looked behind her. She started laughing pretty loudly and exclaimed, “Oh my goodness. You just made my day.” I have used that line several times, and it always makes people smile and feel special. There is also a popular song titled “Hero” by the Christian rock group Skillet.

Two of the lines in the song go like this:

A hero’s not afraid to give his life
A hero’s gonna save me just in time.

One might say that Jesus Christ is the ultimate hero. He laid down his life for us because he was not afraid to die. He knew three days later he would be alive again. And he came here from heaven to save us from eternal death. By accepting him and what he did on the cross, which forgives us of our sins, we can live forever with him.

You need a hero. You need Jesus. Please accept or invite him into your life to save you and then to help you with whatever you need. With anything that matters to you, because it matters to him.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 (MSG)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Saying, “See ya later.”

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I learned a couple of weeks ago about an older gentleman who passed away. I had only known him for about twenty years. He was always smiling and had such a sweet, gentle spirit of God about him. He was very positive in his attitude and way of life and very encouraging, too.

He was the kind of man that you never minded being around. When I met him, he had already aged. Wrinkled skin, and what hair he had was grey. If there were ever an “Adopt a Grandparent” program, he would be the first man to be picked. Hearing of his passing was difficult to accept, but knowing that he was now in heaven and that I was prepared to go there myself, I knew I would see him again. So I didn’t have to say, “Goodbye,” but instead said, “See ya later.”

If you are ready to stand before God and know that your sins have been forgiven by accepting Jesus Christ into your life, and a person you know has, too, then you have the hope of seeing them again. But if one of you has not accepted Jesus, then when death occurs, you or they will never be seen again.

I never did find out when his funeral was going to be, so I didn’t attend. But a few nights ago, I had a dream with him and his wife in it. The atmosphere was nice and sweet. The sun was shining very brightly, and the birds were chirping. We were trying to get somewhere but had trouble finding the correct path that would lead us to our destination. The three of us laughed at our struggle and kept trying.

When I woke up and recalled the dream, I had a good feeling in my spirit. I knew it was me saying to him, “See ya later.” Then, watching him walk ahead alone, leaving his wife and me behind.” I’m glad I had the opportunity to know him and spend the time we had together.

I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, Phi. 1:3 (ASV)

And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.
1 Thes. 4:13-14 (MSG)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Nope!

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A man once told his wife that the reason he didn’t go to church and had dismissed his belief in God is because he was abused as a little boy in a main denominational church, and he couldn’t believe a loving God would allow that to happen. I hate that it did happen. It was so wrong, but the truth is this: you will not be exempt from hell because of someone else’s moral failure! Nope! Notta!

The Bible is clear about this issue. “Everyone must die once. After a person dies, he is judged.” Heb. 9:27 (ICB) That same man will not be judged for the sins of someone else, but he will be judged for how “he” lived his life.

All people have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory. 24 People are made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ. 25 God sent him to die in our place to take away our sins. We receive forgiveness through faith. And all of this is because of the blood of Jesus’ death. Rom. 3:23-25a (ICB)

Recently, a famous senior pastor, who proceeded over several campus locations and was on television, had his past sins revealed. The indiscretion took place many years ago but was disclosed. He probably thought it was hidden and would never be known publicly. This shows that scripture is true when it says, “Everything that is hidden will become clear. Every secret thing will be made known.” Luke 8:17 (ICB)

My point in bringing this up is no one can say, “See. The church is full of hypocrites, and I don’t want to be like them. I’m just as good as they are. So, I will live my life how I want to!” The church is indeed full of imperfect people, but they are forgiven if they have asked God to forgive them in the name of Jesus.

A reporter once asked President Bill Clinton, “You have committed an indiscretion in the Oval Office, yet we see you go to church and carrying a Bible.” President Clinton smirked and replied, “If anybody needed to be in church, don’t you think I should have?” Honestly, he was right.

There is no getting around this matter. There are only two eternities. One is heaven, and the other is hell. God cannot allow people into heaven who are filthy and have not been washed in the blood of Jesus. Fair or not, that is the way it is and must be. For God is Holy.

It is your evil that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause him to turn away from you.  And then he does not hear you. Is. 59:2 (ICB)

Each creature was calling to the others: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heaven’s armies. His glory fills the whole earth.” Is. 6:3 (ICB)

God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 1 Jn. 1:5b (ICB)

Your eyes are too good to look at evil. You cannot stand to see people do wrong. So how can you put up with those evil people? How can you be quiet when wicked people defeat people who are better than they are? Hab. 1:13 (ICB)

That is why God had to turn his back on his Son, Jesus, while he was dying on the cross because Jesus took on the sins of the world. So get it through your head today: either accept God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ or die as a sinner and be condemned to spending eternity in hell. It’s your choice. You will not be able to blame anyone else.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

It is Finished

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Endings can evoke a variety of emotions. For example, when you finish a good book, a good movie, maybe a bad movie, or when someone’s life ends. Sometimes, April will ask after we finish a movie, “Now what?” It’s a good question.

When Jesus died on the cross, his last words as a man were, “It is finished!” His thirty-three-year mission to boldly go where no God had gone before was over. “Now what?”

The very moment he died, here comes my favorite part: the curtain that hung in the temple was ripped from top to bottom. Now, there was no more separation between God and man. It meant that if we accept Jesus and ask him to forgive us of our sins, we now have access to God Himself. We can actually enter the throne room of heaven and have an audience with the Creator of the universe!

When man dies on Earth, it’s over. The end. It is finished. “Then what?” The very next thing he will see is God as he stands before him. God will look in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” to see if his name is written in it. If not, God will have no choice but to send him to hell. By the way, in the beginning, every name was written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life.” The only person that can remove your name – is you!

God wants people to love him freely of their free will. So, He gave man the right to choose to live for Him or to live for Satan. That’s it. There are no other sides to life. You will not be reincarnated. You won’t simply die and wind up in nothingness. You will live for eternity, either in heaven or hell. Choose life in heaven. Accept Jesus. Have your sins forgiven. The reason you must have your sins paid for by Jesus is because God is Holy and cannot be in the presence of sin. The End!

At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. Mat. 27:51 (MSG)

Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City (heaven), and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in.
Rev. 21:27 (MSG)  In parentheses mine.

Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
Heb. 9:27 (NIV)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Game of Chess

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The game of chess came about in 1475. Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces, with the objective to checkmate the opponent’s king.

If you have never played, know that the different pieces can only move in specific ways and a number of spaces at a time. There is a hierarchy of pieces from the pawns to the king. There is only one King who becomes the final victor.

The battle between two sides has always been a key part of a good story. Good vs. evil. Light vs. darkness. And, of course, The Rebel Alliance vs. The Evil Empire. I have often thought of God vs. Satan as a chess game, and humans are the pieces that do battle for either side.

Satan wanted to be a god unto himself, but there can only be one at the top. When he and one-third of the angels rose up against God, He had no choice but to banish them from heaven forever. Ever since that time, Satan has been waring against God to get revenge, take over, and destroy His kingdom.

Chess is only a game, but life isn’t! When life ends, there is only heaven or hell. One may say they don’t believe in God. Heaven isn’t real. They may refuse of their own will not to accept God’s gift of salvation to be saved from hell. They may say, “I don’t believe in hell,” but hell believes in them. Satan is not playing a game. Out of hate, he is trying to win. He doesn’t care about humans. He will use them to get back at God and then destroy them. His biggest lie is that there is no God and that there is no punishment for not accepting Him.

I am definitely on God’s side. I am not the King, and I am certainly NOT the queen (LOL), but I have thought of myself as a mere pawn. My moves are limited; therefore, I need to follow the instructions of the King. Who is the King? That is Jesus Christ. The King of Kings. I hope you will choose to be on God’s side. Willing to be led by Him and live according to His ways, which are pure, right, and out of love. For when God says, “Checkmate,” it will all be over once and for all.

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Rev. 12:7-9 (NKJV)

14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Rev. 17:14 (NKJV)

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[b] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Rev. 20:7-10 (NKJV)

15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:15 (NKJV)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved