Now it may trouble some of you that I have used the example of a "Christian alcoholic" to show how God allows Christians to suffer in order to bring deliverance to many others who are yet trapped in their sins. It is never wise to be a "Sinning Christian," but at the same time, don't be a self-righteous Pharisee, either, for the main purpose and ministry of Jesus is "to save sinners." Luke 19:10
Also, there are many hells that people find themselves in that have nothing to do with their own personal holiness or piety. If you as a parent lose a child to cancer, that is a hell. If a drunken driver smashes into your wife's car and she becomes a quadriplegic, that is a hell. If a teenage son becomes addicted to drugs, that is a hell. If you lose your job after 20 years and can't find another, that is a hell.
There are many hells, and our God allows His Christians to descend into them, and one of the reasons why is so He can use us to create a solid road out that others might be saved. It is always God's purpose to save sinners and to save them by the billions, but often the only way to rescue them is to send someone who can preach to them the gospel of Jesus in the particular language of our target audience. The language of the divorced. The language of the sex addict. The language of the gang member. The language of the abused. The language of rejection. The language of cancer. The language of rape. The language of legalism.
If God should call you to descend into one of these hells, where in your suffering you learn the language of salvation for that special group of tormented people, then take great comfort in this: Our God promises us that the more we suffer for Jesus, the greater will be our reward. Luke 6:20-38 And what is the "greatest reward?" It is the souls who are saved because of your Godly example in the midst of your pain. Your reward is the people who will follow you into Heaven!
