It's Our Choice

THOMAS HOOKER, THE GREAT PURITAN LEADER AND FOUNDER OF THE COLONY OF CONNETICUT, ONCE WROTE THIS OF HELL:

“CONCEIVE THIS MUCH, IF ALL THE DISEASES IN THE WORLD DID SEIZE ON ONE MAN, AND IF ALL THE TORMENT THAT ALL THE TYRANTS OF THE WORLD COULD DEVISE, WERE CAST AGAINST HIM;

AND IF ALL THE CREATURES IN HEAVEN AND EARTH DID CONSPIRE THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS MAN; AND IF ALL THE DEVILS IN HELL DID LABOR TO INFLICT PUNISHMENT UPON HIM, YOU WOULD THINK THIS MAN TO BE IN A MISERABLE CONDITION. AND YET ALL THIS IS BUT A BEAM OF GOD’S INDIGNATION. IF THE BEAMS OF GOD’S INDIGNATION BE SO HOT, WHAT IS THE FULL SUM OF HIS WRATH WHEN IT SHALL SEIZE UPON THE SOUL OF A SINFUL CREATURE IN FULL MEASURE?”

IT HAS BEEN AN UNQUINCHABLE CURIOSITY OF HUMANITY TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF HELL. WRITINGS, ARTWORK, AND MUSIC, FOR GENERATIONS, HAVE ALL TAKEN A SHOT AT DESCRIBING HELL’S HORRIFIC AND DETESTIBLE EXISTENCE. NO MATTER HOW GRAPHIC WE ARE IN TRYING TO DESCRIBE IT, WE CAN EASILY CONCLUDE THAT THIS PLACE FOR THE DEAD IS A PLACE FILLED WITH INDESCRIBABLE TORMENT, TORTURE, AND AGONY.

THE HEARTBREAKING TRUTH ABOUT HELL IS THAT THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES THERE NOW ARE ALREADY AWAKENED TO A CHANGE OF HEART. IN THE SPLIT-SECOND OF THEIR ARRIVAL, THEY ARE AWAKENED TO THE REALITY THAT IT WAS THEIR CHOICE, IT WAS PREVENTABLE, BUT NOW IT IS TOO LATE.

THE RICH MAN IN OUR SCRIPTURE PASSAGE TODAY HAS FOUND THE TORMENT OF HIS DISPOSITION TOO MUCH TO BEAR. HE BEGS AND HE PLEADS FOR RELIEF, BUT HIS REQUESTS ARE DENIED FOR HE LEARNS THAT IT WAS HIS EARTHLY DECISION THAT KEEPS HIM ANCHORED TO THE ETERNAL REALITY OF HIS FATE.

SADLY, IT IS STILL A DESTINY THAT MANY SUFFER TO THIS DAY. THIS STORY DEPICTS A TRAGIC AND SERIOUS REALITY. THE COMING JUDGMENT IS FIXED AND PERMANENT FOR THOSE WHO REJECT GOD. THE MOMENT OF OUR DEATH WITHOUT SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST COMES THE IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT REALITY OF RECEIVING AND ENDURING AN IRREVERSIBLE FATE.

ETERNAL TORMENT IS IN STORE FOR THOSE WHO KNOW THAT GOD EXISTS BUT HAVE MADE THE CHOICE NOT TO RESPOND TO HIM IN THIS LIFE. SUFFERING AND BEING IN CONSTANT TORMENT WILL BE SET AND FINAL. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY NEGOTIATING OR AQUITTALS. ONCE ENTERED, ONE CANNOT ESCAPE OR BE SET FREE.

THIS PARABLE IS AMONG THE MOST TRAGIC AND SERIOUS WARNINGS IN THE BIBLE. IT TELLS US THAT WE ARE TO LOVE GOD AND OTHERS AS OURSELVES. THAT REAL JOY IN THIS LIFE DOES NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS.

THE RICH MAN REMAINS NAMELESS SO THAT WE CAN PLACE OURSELVES IN HIS POSITION TO ENSURE WE DO NOT LIVE OUR LIVES RECKLESSLY AND IN NEGLIGENCE OF OTHERS.

GOD BLESSES US ACCORDING TO HIS RICH MERCY AND GRACE. WE MUST NOT SQUANDER THAT GIFT ON “SELF” BUT BE FOUND GENEROUSLY INVESTING ALL WE HAVE FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS.

THE RICH MAN’S LUXURY AND SPLENDOR WAS LUDICROUS. IN FACT, BY STATING HE WAS “DRESSED IN PURPLE AND FINE LINEN” INDICATES THAT HIS DISPLAY OF WEALTH WAS OVER THE TOP AND QUITE FLAMBOYANT. THE MAN HAD DAILY BANQUETS THAT WERE SO ELABORATE THAT WHAT WAS LEFT OVER AND THROW IN THE TRASH WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR LAZARUS.

THE RICH MAN WAS NO LONGER MOVED WITH COMPASSION AS HIS DAYS WERE FILLED WITH PLEASURE AND SELF-INDULGENCE. HIS ABUNDANCE CATERED ONLY TO HIS PERSONAL PLEASURE, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CAPACITY TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND HIM. NO GENUINE LOVE FOR GOD. NO CARE OR CONCERN FOR HIS NEIGHBOR.

NOW…. BOTH MEN ARE DEAD AND THE TABLES ARE TURNED. THE PERSON OF ABUNDANT PRIVILEGE NOW CRIES OUT FOR JUST AN OUNCE OF PITY. HE IS FULLY AWARE THAT HE IS SEPARATED FROM GOD, IN REAL PAIN, FILLED WITH REGRET OF A LOST OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHICH NOW CAN’T BE REVERSED.

THIS REALITY IS EXCRUCIATING AS IS THE PAIN THAT HELL IS A REALITY THAT INCREASES THAT SUFFERING. THE MAN WAS IN TORMENT. THE WORD FOR “TORMENT” IS PLURAL WHICH MEANS HIS TORMENT WAS MORE THAN JUST THE FIRE. HIS AGONY IS NOW A FULL, NON-STOP-REALITY THAT ALL HE IS NOW EXPERIENCING MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY FOR ALL ETERNITY WAS NOT ONLY SELF-INFLICTED, BUT TOTALLY PREVENTABLE.

THE MAN WHO DENIED THE BEGGAR EVEN WHAT WAS THROWN AWAY IN THE GARBAGE WAS NOW DENIED EVEN A DROP OF WATER TO ALLIEVIATE ANY HOPE OF TAKING AWAY OR CURING HIS AGONY.

THE CHOICES HE MADE ON EARTH HAVE BEEN JUDGED FAIRLY IN ETERNITY AND HE IS SERVING OUT HIS SENTENCE. THE RICH MAN IS IN HELL NOT BECAUSE OF HIS WEALTH, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS SELFISH AND WAS SO CONCERNED ABOUT “SELF” HE MADE NO ROOM FOR OTHERS AND GAVE NO TIME TO HIS NEIGHBOR.