Thoughts on eternity

Most, if not all, religions have some sort of concept of the afterlife.  The idea of judgment and eternal life or eternal suffering dates as far back as ancient Egypt circa 3000 BC.
One thing I find particularly interesting in this is the manner in which Western Christianity has developed its doctrine of heaven and hell.  Largely under the influence of Dante's Inferno and the theological gymnastics of speculative thinkers, the doctrine of hell has morphed into something totally foreign to historic Christianity.
Historically and biblically speaking, our vision of hell is radically foreign than the modern vision.  To the average US citizen, hell is the kingdom of Satan, where he rules over a legion of demons, in a fiery domain, surrounded by suffering human souls. But this is not the case.  Satan and the demons are already defeated foes.  They roam about seeking whom they may deceive and ensnare. But Satan has no power or authority to harm anyone, but only that which God allows him or we allow him.  Hell is that place where the wicked wait for the final judgment.  There is no power or authority there for anyone, just suffering.
Essentially, hell is chosen.  Think of our life as a time that we use to prepare and shape our souls for eternity.  All of those things that we freely choose to do will shape us into the form we will hold for eternity.  If we spend a lifetime pursuing pleasure, gratification, selfish and and distraction, we are in essence ignoring God.  If we spend a lifetime ignoring God, why would we want to spend an eternity with him?  Regardless of what you may think now, when the time comes, your desire will not be for God.  If you don't desire to love him now, you won't love him in eternity.
In short, you would be choosing hell.