Grace and peace to you, my beloved brothers and sisters. It is a joy to gather with you today, to share in the warmth of our fellowship, to feel the bonds of our shared faith, and to find solace and strength in the Word of God. We are indeed a family, united by the blood of Christ, bound by His love, and driven by His mission to save those who are lost. Today, we turn our hearts and minds to a topic of great importance, a topic that is often shrouded in mystery and fear – the reality of Hell.
[Title: Hell: The Everlasting Home of the Lost]
It's a sobering subject, isn't it? It's not something we often bring up in our daily conversations, nor is it a theme we eagerly anticipate in our Sunday sermons. Yet, it is a reality that we must face, a truth that we must acknowledge, for it is a part of the grand narrative of our faith. And it would be a sad thing if I, like some pastors of the day wanted to sweep it under the rug so to speak.
I know for most of us, the idea of hell scares you, and want me not to talk about it. But if I speak to you heaven and not of hell, then I have given you a half truth, for which I would have to answer to God for. So, believe you me, I am going to do my job. But I want to remove your fears about the place called hell by giving you this quote: "When you fear God, you have nothing else to fear." This is a powerful statement that we should keep in our hearts as we navigate through this difficult topic. Fear not the realities of Hell, for our God is with us. Fear not the habitat of the godless, for we are secured in the arms of our Savior. Fear not the hopelessness of rejecters, for we are bathed in the hope of Christ.
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then 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.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.
Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
Luke 16:19-31
Hell's Reality
In the passage we just read, we find a vivid description of the afterlife. It's a stark contrast between two realities - a place of comfort and a place of torment. The rich man, who lived a life of luxury, finds himself in a place of agony after death. Lazarus, the beggar, who suffered greatly during his earthly life, is comforted in the afterlife. This passage gives us a glimpse into the reality of Hell - a place of torment, separated from the comfort and presence of God.
The rich man's torment is described in detail. He is in agony, suffering in the flames. He longs for even a drop of water to cool his burning tongue. This tells us that Hell is a place of physical suffering. It's not just a state of mind or a metaphorical place. It's a real place where those who reject God's grace will experience real, physical torment. Remember that this is told by Jesus, and He is speaking of real people.
But the torment of Hell is not just physical. The rich man also experiences emotional and spiritual torment. He sees Lazarus, the beggar he ignored in life, comforted in the afterlife. He realizes the consequences of his choices and actions during his earthly life. He experiences regret, despair, and a longing for relief that will never be granted. This tells us that Hell is also a place of emotional and spiritual suffering.
The rich man's torment is further intensified by his separation from God. He is in Hades, far away from Abraham's side. He is separated from God's presence, from His love, comfort, and mercy. This tells us that Hell is a place of separation from God. It's a place where God's presence is absent, where His love and mercy are not experienced.
The rich man's plea for relief and his request for Lazarus to warn his brothers show his desperation and helplessness. He is unable to change his situation. He is unable to escape from his torment. He is unable to warn his brothers and prevent them from sharing his fate. This tells us that Hell is a place of helplessness and hopelessness. It's a place where there are no second chances, no opportunity for repentance, no possibility of escape.
In this passage, we see the reality of Hell. It's a place of physical, emotional, and spiritual torment. It's a place of separation from God. It's a place of helplessness and hopelessness. It's a place of eternal suffering for those who reject God's grace.
But this passage also reminds us of the importance of our choices and actions during our earthly life. The rich man ignored Lazarus during his life. He lived a life of luxury, without regard for the poor and needy. He rejected God's grace and chose to live for himself. His choices and actions determined his eternal destiny.
Lazarus, on the other hand, suffered greatly during his earthly life. But in the afterlife, he is comforted. His suffering is not in vain. His faith in God, despite his circumstances, leads him to a place of comfort and peace. His choices and actions, his faith in God, determine his eternal destiny.
This passage challenges us to examine our own choices and actions. Are we living for ourselves, ignoring the poor and needy, rejecting God's grace? Or are we living for God, showing compassion to the poor and needy, accepting God's grace? Our choices and actions have eternal consequences. They determine our eternal destiny - comfort with God or torment in Hell.
This passage also encourages us to share the good news of God's grace with others. The rich man wants Lazarus to warn his brothers, to prevent them from sharing his fate. We have the same responsibility. We are called to share the good news of God's grace, to warn others of the reality of Hell, to lead them to a relationship with God, to a place of comfort and peace.
In this passage, we see the reality of Hell. But we also see the importance of our choices and actions, the responsibility to share the good news of God's grace, and the hope of comfort and peace with God. Let us take these truths to heart. Let us live for God, show compassion to the poor and needy, accept God's grace, share the good news, and look forward to the comfort and peace with God. This all starts with us accepting Jesus into our lives, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us through this trouble world we live in.
Habitat of the Godless
In the passage from Luke 16, we encounter a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The rich man lived a life of luxury, while Lazarus laid at his gate, covered in sores, longing for the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Both men died, and their experiences in the afterlife were drastically different. Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham's side, a place of comfort and peace. The rich man just died and seemed to just appear in Hades, a place of torment and agony. Here we see a complete reversal: the rich man lived in comfort, while Lazarus lived in torment. After death, the rich man lives in torment, which Lazarus lives in comfort.
In the rich man's plea to Abraham, he describes his suffering as being in agony in fire. The bible indeed describes hell as the lake of fire, which the bible says is composed of fire and brimstone.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15
So, we can Invision the rich man wading in a sea of fire and being that it is composed of fire and brimstone, it does give us a picture of a rolling sea, because brimstone burns with a bluish flame, and since it is sulfur-based, it does liquify while it burns. Just like being a drift at sea, the rich man’s place for eternity is a place of isolation. A great chasm separates him from Abraham and Lazarus, preventing any movement between the two places. The Greek word for “great gulf fixed” is a word which means a gigantic opening, a large span between two points, a chasm or a gulf. It's used in other passages such as Revelation 9:1-2, where it describes the bottomless pit that is opened when the fifth angel sounds his trumpet. In Matthew 25:41, it's used to describe the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. The use of “great gulf fixed” in these passages suggests a vast, insurmountable separation.
The rich man's dwelling place is also described as a place of regret. He begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his family to warn them, so they will not come to this place of torment. Here we see a great sense of regret for the life he led, and a profound remorse for everything that led him to this.
The bible tells us that hell was designed for Satan and the angels that followed him but was enlarged when sin entered the world for those that reject God and follow Satan. Now, you may be saying to yourselves: “I don’t actively follow Satan.” But the fact is that in God’s eye’s and in His justice, not believing on Christ Jesus is the same as following Satan. When you reject Jesus, you reject the God who loves you.
Hopelessness for Rejecters
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:14-17
As we continue to unpack the realities of Hell, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a truth that is both sobering and challenging. This truth is that Hell is the destiny of those who reject Jesus. This is not a truth that we take lightly, nor is it one that we should shy away from. It is a truth that demands our attention, our understanding, and our response. This scripture says it clearly, believe on Christ Jesus and live…reject Him and you perish.
In the landscape of Hell, we find a place that is marked by hopelessness. This hopelessness is not a mere absence of joy or peace, but a complete and utter void of all that is good, all that is pure, and all that is holy. It is a hopelessness that is born out of rejection – a rejection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
The first aspect of this hopelessness that we need to understand is its nature. The hopelessness of Hell is not a passive state of being, but an active, ongoing experience of despair. It is a despair that is felt in every fiber of one's being, a despair that permeates every moment of one's existence. It is a despair that is all-consuming, leaving no room for anything else. This is the despair of those who have chosen to reject Jesus, to turn their backs on the only source of hope and salvation. In this place of hopelessness, the bible says that in this place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. A total sense of regret that will be experienced forever.
In the words of the renowned Christian author, C.S. Lewis, "There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'" This quote captures the essence of the hopelessness of Hell – it is the result of a life lived in rejection of God's will, a life lived in rejection of Jesus Christ, and it is a choice you make. When we stand before God there will not be given for you to state your case, because remember those books that will be opened when you stand before God? Well, they will contain all that is needed to condemn you, and you will not be able to blame it all on others for your current state before God.
The fact of this hopelessness that we need to understand is its permanence. The hopelessness of Hell is not a temporary situation, but an eternal reality. It is a reality that is unchanging, unending, and irreversible. It is a reality that is fixed, that is set, that is final. This is the reality of those who have chosen to reject Jesus, to reject the offer of eternal life that He extends to all who believe in Him.
Finally, we need to understand the response that this hopelessness demands from us. The hopelessness of Hell is not something that we can ignore or dismiss. It is a reality that we must confront, that we must grapple with, that we must respond to. It is a reality that calls us to action, that calls us to accept the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection so that we can be saved, and our name placed in the book of life. So, let us not be complacent in the face of this sobering truth. Let us not be indifferent to the word of God and the gift of salvation Jesus brings. Let us be moved to action, to choice life eternal.
Conclusion
As we close this chapter of our journey through the Word today, let's remember that our God is a God of love, mercy, and justice. The reality of Hell, as sobering as it is, underscores the depth of His love for us. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that we might escape the torment of Hell and enjoy eternal life with Him.
Our God doesn't desire for any of us to perish, but for all to come to repentance. He's given us His Word, His Spirit, and His Son to guide us, to convict us, and to save us. He's given us the church, this beautiful family of believers, to encourage us, to hold us accountable, and to walk with us. He's given us His promises, His faithfulness, and His unfailing love to assure us, to strengthen us, and to inspire us.
So, let's not be disheartened by the reality of Hell, but let's be motivated by the reality of God's love. Let's strive to live lives worthy of His calling, to first, accept the good news of Christ Jesus, and then share the good news of His salvation, and to love others as He has loved us. Let's keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our hearts anchored in His love, and our lives rooted in His Word. "When you fear God, you have nothing else to fear."
The bible tells us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
