Mesothelioma cancer has made “asbestos” a household word in the last 40 years. Asbestos is a heat-resistant fibrous material that was commonly used in building construction, especially for insulation and as a fire retardant. It is also used in fire-resistant materials like automobile brake pads and linings. Note that asbestos is extremely durable and resistant to fire.
Do you know where the word “asbestos” comes from? It is a transliteration of a Greek word that means “not extinguishable; unquenchable.” But the way that Jesus used the word is much worse than any physical health risk that one might experience today. The word is found four times in the gospels, where Jesus described hell as a place of “unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17), with “the fire that shall never be quenched” (Mark 9:43, 45).
I feel sorry for those who are suffering from asbestos-related afflictions in this life, but those pale in comparison to the eternal asbestos-related afflictions in hell! Rule of thumb: Avoid both!