God has, for His wise purposes, allowed a foretaste of both heaven and hell to be felt upon this earth and in our present experiences. No, it is not a literal heaven and a literal hell (those are real places that will be far more extreme), but a foretaste of it. But why?

If we only had foretastes of heaven and not of hell, we would not worry that the day of eternal accounting was before us; we would not consider our rebellion against God — our ignoring of Him who is altogether worthy of all honour.

But if there were only foretastes of hell here on earth, we would think that there is no hope for us at all. We would think only judgement and wrath await.

But how about that balance of the two, between those foretastes of heaven and hell? Is it, we might ask, a proper balance?

For many, when they ask why there is so much evil and suffering in the world, they ask how there can be a loving God if He allows such things to occur. For many of us, the question is, “why so much of a foretaste of hell?” It is, we think, too much.

On the other hand, some of us don’t ask why there is so much good! Given our rebellion against God, given that the entire human race has sinned, has declared war against the Creator upon whom we are dependent at each moment — given what we have done, how is it that there is so much good?

If you are suffering right now, might I commend Psalm 104 to you?

“You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.” — Psalm 104:10–14 (ESV)

Think about all the grace and kindness that God has brought into this world: the springs that gush forth that water the earth and make it fruitful; the birds of the heavens that sit among the branches making their sweet singing songs as if in praise of their Creator; the plants growing from the good soil that God has made. Soon the harvest will be upon us, and soon at dinner table after dinner table there will be food, and not just a scarcity, but an abundance.

And then there is the wine! Oh, I know what all you Baptists and Mennonites are thinking! But as one sits at a banquet, and after one eats in the presence of family, the wine makes the heart glad! It lifts the spirits and allows for laughter, for singing, and for joy.

What is all of that? It is a foretaste of heaven! God has determined that there would be both. And why is that?

The answer is found in the book of Lamentations.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope… Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven” — Lamentations 3:25–29,40–41

Why do we experience heaven? Because God is merciful, and for all who wait on Him, He will allow you to flee from the coming judgment and the hell that follows to His merciful care found in the Cross of Jesus, so that you will inherit the heaven that is to come! Let your present trials remind you of that. There is hope!

There is much more to be said about suffering and the foretastes of hell that seem so unbearable, so I will consider more of the biblical reasons and results of suffering in an upcoming audio series, “Trusting God in Suffering.” I come to this topic having experienced it myself. Whether you are feeling more of heaven or hell right now, join me to grow in the truth, that we may stand firm and even grow in the hour of suffering.