Using the story of Jonah and the testimony of Scripture, Pastor Tommy Boring delivers a sobering message titled “Two Hells, One Hope.” This sermon draws a powerful distinction between the temporary consequences of rebellion in a believer’s life and the eternal reality of hell for those who reject Jesus Christ.
Beginning in Jonah 1:17 and Jonah 2:2, Pastor Boring examines Jonah’s experience in the belly of the great fish, where the prophet described his affliction as being in the “belly of hell.” Though Jonah found himself in a place of darkness, despair, and discipline because of his disobedience, there was still something available to him: hope. Jonah could still pray, God could still hear, and repentance could still bring restoration.
The message explains that many believers have experienced a similar “hell” in this life. When God’s children become indifferent, rebellious, or wander from His will, they often find themselves in painful situations of their own making. Yet even in those moments, God remains willing to hear a repentant cry and extend mercy. Jonah’s experience was not punishment without purpose. It was God’s way of awakening him and bringing him back to obedience.
In contrast, Pastor Boring presents the terrifying reality of eternal hell as described throughout Scripture. Unlike Jonah’s temporary affliction, the eternal hell awaiting those who die without Christ offers no relief, no second chances, and no escape. Referencing the rich man in Luke 16, the sermon highlights the immediate torment, the absence of hope, and the irreversible nature of eternity without God.
Several striking differences are emphasized:
Jonah could pray, and God heard him. In eternal hell, the opportunity to call upon God has passed.Jonah still had hope. Eternal hell offers none.Jonah was alive and able to repent. After death, the opportunity for salvation is gone.Jonah received a second chance. Those who die without Christ will not.Jonah’s suffering ended when he turned back to God. Eternal punishment has no ending.Throughout the message, listeners are reminded that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, not for mankind. God desires that all people come to repentance and be saved. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God has provided a way of escape from judgment and eternal separation.
Pastor Boring stresses the urgency of responding to God while there is still time. No one is promised tomorrow. The opportunity to receive Christ exists only in this life. The message repeatedly points to the truth that while a person is breathing, there is hope. Once life ends, eternity is settled.
“Two Hells, One Hope” is both a warning and an invitation. It warns of the dangers of rebellion and the reality of eternal judgment, while offering the only true hope found in Jesus Christ. Whether someone is a wandering believer in need of restoration or a lost sinner in need of salvation, God’s call remains the same: come to Him today.
If God is speaking to your heart, don’t put off what needs to be settled. Today is the day of salvation.