Today I will share a message on heaven and hell. I know full well that “hell-fire preaching” (to use a phrase with frayed edges!) does not change a soul. However, before finishing I shall tell you what does.
As we begin, I want you to use your imagination for a moment. Picture the citizens of a certain kingdom falling one after another, over a great cliff. These foolish ones seem determined to take this dangerous, well-pounded way. Now, knowing of the treacherous road, its broken shoulder and other dangers, the good king tries in vain to stop his subjects from traveling that way. All along he has warnings posted. He orders all to use the other more narrow, safer road, and he makes it as passable as he can. Now, is the king to blame for the bones below? No! Nor, will I waste time defending our great God and King who has gone to infinite pains to keep us from the road to destruction. The very dying form of His Son cries out to men, “Stop! Turn back from the Broad Way. Enter the way of life.” Those who enter hell are themselves guilty, not God!
Where will you spend eternity?
This message will be a general study aimed at answering the most basic questions on man’s eternal destiny.
Our text is the story Jesus told of the unnamed rich man who perished in hell, while the beggar outside his door entered the bliss of eternal life. Open your Bible and read Luke 16:19-31. Here is a stirring narrative.
I. IS THERE REALLY A HELL?
The answer is simply and directly, Yes. Jesus here says so.
And, surely we all expect wrongs to be righted finally by God. Some years ago the news pictured a group of Indians pounding on the U. S. Justice Department’s locked door. They were demanding that injustices suffered by them be righted. So Christians cry, “How long, Lord?” God will one day bring justice.
Our text pictures the crippled beggar Lazarus vainly grasping even for the scraps thrown from the rich man’s table. The dogs who licked his sores were his only caring companions. Tragic that the relation between man and animals is so often better than that between men!
Yet, Lazarus was a citizen of heaven! “God has helped” is the very meaning of the name “Lazarus.” So the just God did exactly that: He brought judgment on both these lives.
II. WHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH?
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died.” That is no surprise, but the Scripture adds that he was “carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.” Royally escorted into glory. What a moment death is! Things change.
Speaking of that, let us look now at the other man there in all his splendid ease. “The rich man also died.” Is not this the way of life? Death comes to all. Why do not people live in the light of this universal FACT?
Now, pay particular attention to the immediacy of reward. Verse 23 shows poor Lazarus now rich in rest and joy. The very next verse shows the wealthy man now impoverished in the torments of hell.
It is true that a final judgment will occur as earth’s history ends (Revelation 20), but it is also a fact that as men die they go directly to joy or doom.
Young people, as you choose your friends and your heroes, consider their life’s end. See them as they will look after death. How will it be then?
III. WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE?
So often I am asked, “Will we know one another in heaven?” Notice that our text repeatedly uses names — the same names — after death. Lazarus was the same individual person in heaven as on earth. Both Lazarus and Abraham were recognized. If we know each other on earth, shall we know less in heaven?
Another good word here is in verse 25 where Abraham says of Lazarus, “Now he is comforted.” Ah, what release when God takes the last burden off our heavy hearts and we are forever comforted! If we truly repent, our eternal place will be a happy home of fellowship.
IV. WHAT IS HELL LIKE?
Again, our text teaches the individual’s identity after death — even in hell. The wealthy sinner is the same individual, and he is pictured by Jesus as being fully conscious. (Indeed the only ones who are never unconscious are the dead!)
Let us now call forth the testimony of the man who went to hell. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments…. 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,” verses 23, 24. Hear his testimony. “I am tormented in this flame.”
Divided from every Christian friend, lost from every last good, he begs even for a drop of water. Riches, entertainment, pleasures mean nothing now. A true Christian should never take a beat-dog attitude in this life. We should remember how things are in eternity.
Abraham refuses the wretched plea. Hear him speak, “Now he (Lazarus) is comforted here and you are in agony.” Luke 16:25. That is it — the whole story. Some will be comforted and some will be in torment. The words torment or agony occur several times in this account of the rich man’s tragic end.
See the words of Abraham to him, “Son, remember!” Memory alive forever will scourge the disobedient for their stubborn ingratitude, their neglect of Jesus Christ.
V. IS HELL’S TORMENT ETERNAL?
Hush! Abraham speaks again and with news yet more terrible — of things yet to come: “besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us,” verse 26.
There can be no passing in or out of either place of eternal destiny. The gulf of separation is said to be a great chasm. Indeed, there is a huge difference between the two destinies possible to men. Give heed also to the words, “set in place” or fixed with no possible exchange forever. No more chances. No one “can cross over from there.” Imagine the helpless cries of an astronaut adrift in outer space because his craft had been hopelessly crippled. Far worse is the condition of this once rich man!
VI. HOW MAY WE ESCAPE HELL AND ARRIVE IN GOD’S HEAVEN?
The poor man now cries out on behalf of his five brothers yet living on the earth. (I cannot help but wonder what the parents years before had thought as they looked into the faces of their six sons. Did they ever consider their souls’ destiny?) He pleads that one be sent from the dead to warn them “lest they also come into this place of torment.” Abraham refuses saying they already have the sufficient witness of the Scripture.
The pitiful dialogue continues: “No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” Now, notice that he knows exactly what other men need to do — repent. Have you, friend, truly repented and placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior? That means you have to turn away from sin, thank Jesus that He died for your sins, and in prayer ask for forgiveness. Then Christ will enter your life!
Abraham replies yet again, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” Now, One has arisen from the dead. Jesus has accomplished even that. We have our risen Lord’s testimony to us.
All you have to do, friend, is to open your heart to Jesus. He is alive. He will hear your call if you pray to Him in earnest — right where you are, and just as you are. (See Romans 10:9-13.) Heaven can at last be yours — and a new life right now.