Text: Luke 16:19-31
Introduction
We are all guaranteed one thing, and that is, we will one day leave this earth and have to stand before our Creator. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). It does not matter what our station in life is, we are going to die. “One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet … And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them” (Job 21:23, 25-26). Most people think they are good and destined for Heaven. Many do not believe Hell exists. It might surprise us to learn that the Lord Jesus Christ spoke more about Hell than Heaven. That is how serious a matter it is.
Note: This story is probably a parable, but one based on real events. Also we tend to see Abraham’s Bosom [Paradise] as being two sections; one where the saved go, and the other for the lost. If we read the text correctly, the spirit of the beggar went to Abraham’s Bosom, but the rich man's body was buried in a costly tomb, while his spirit went to Hades (:22). The eternal destiny of both men was irreversible at death.
There is no comfort in Hell
“But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented” (Luke 16:25). Notice that the rich man had all the good things of life, such as wealth, designer clothing, and fine food, while he was alive. None of these travelled with him to Hades. He could no longer enjoy any of those comforts, and nothing but eternal torment was now his lot. His earthly life was consumed in self-centredness. He had made the wrong choices and was now paying the price. The unsaved often ask, “How can the God of love allow any of his creatures to suffer in Hell?” The question is, how can He not? Hell, is not compatible with God’s love, but it is a direct consequence of it.
There is no peace in Hell
“And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:24). Imagine thinking that just one drop of water could ease the torments of Hell! There is no peace, but constant torment, anguish and sorrow in Hell. Peace must be found on this side of eternity, and it can only be found in Christ. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
There is no mercy in Hell
“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Luke 16:26). There is no possibility of the slightest mercy for those who go to Hell. Those who reject Christ make light of God’s love while they sin away the day of His mercy. “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). One day His mercy will run out for the rebellious. “Here all judges have a mixture of mercy, but the wrath of God will be poured out upon the wicked without mixture. Imagine yourself to be cast into a fiery oven, and imagine also that your body were to lie there for a quarter of an hour, full of fire, as full within and without as a bright coal fire, all the while full of quick sense; what horror would you feel at the entrance of such a furnace? Oh! Then how would your heart sink if you knew that after millions and millions of ages your torment would be no nearer to an end than ever it was. But your torment in hell will be immensely greater than this illustration represents” (Jonathan Edwards).
There is no companionship in Hell
When the rich man died (see Luke 16:22), he died alone. Though many of his friends would eventually arrive in the same place, he would not see them. There was no one nearby to help him. How many times have we heard foolish people say, “I do not mind going to Hell, because all my friends will be there.” There is no friendship in Hell. It is an eternal prison where no one comes to visit and no hope of reprieve (Luke 16:26).
There is no hope in Hell
“Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27-28). The last thing those who are suffering in Hell want to know is that their loved ones are there too. They do not even have the pleasure of hearing that a relative has given their lives to the Lord. Hell is a place of total hopelessness. “For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth” (Isaiah 38:18).
Conclusion
What will it take to get people to believe in Christ and escape the torments of Hell? Will great miracles and preachers convince them? Maybe they would accept Christ if one of their relatives came back from the dead! The fact is, they will not believe if they will not to believe. “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:29-31).
Why will they not believe? They love their sinful ways. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:19-20). Unbelief is due, not to a lack of evidence, but to a sinful and rebellious heart. The atheist, Isaac Asimov, wrote, “I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse.” Yet he too must stand before the Judgement Seat regardless if he believe in Heaven and Hell or not. As a sign outside a church asks, "How will you spend eternity - Smoking or Non-smoking?
© 8/2/2008