"WHAT IN HELL DO YOU WANT?"
(Text: Matthew 13:41-43)
2/2/2003
By: Larry L. Schoonover)
INTRODUCTION:
I have a question to put before you this morning for consideration. The question is perhaps one of the most serious that I have ever put before you and its importance is such that I haven’t either the time or the inclination to be diplomatic about it.
The question is this: "What in hell do you want?"
What I have just read from scripture gives a small but powerful and troubling glimpse inside the bounds of hell - and I want to know, please answer for me this question, "What is there in hell that you want?"
You might "bristle" at the question and even be thinking right now, "Is this preacher really so stupid as to think there’s anything in hell that I desire?" Well, let’s consider a few facts:
* There are some present today who are lost.
* Anyone without Jesus is lost and on their way to hell!
(1 John 5:12)
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
* Everyone who goes to hell chooses to do so!
(Deut. 30:19)
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
* God sets life & death before us to chose for ourselves.
You have heard, week after week and month after month, what heaven and hell are like - and yet, with this knowledge you continue to say "No" to the Holy Spirit of God and have not been saved! Why? Why choose hell over heaven?
This is why I asked the question as I did. as crude and as blunt as it may be, the question remains on the table and we must give an answer, "What in hell do you want?"
If you know that:
* God loves you, and
* Jesus died for you, and
* God will forgive your sin and save your soul if you ask Him to, and
* Heaven is a glorious place of blessing.
and yet - you will not be saved, then I want to know. I would like to somehow understand what the attraction of hell is that you choose to go there rather than to go to heaven!
I have had people throughout the years share with me their attraction to hell - and it is sad, to say the least. But I continue to press the issue and force the question today, "What, if you have thus far rejected Christ as Savior, is your attraction to hell?"
Is it the attraction toward:
FELLOWSHIP?
Listen, you need to understand this - there will be no fellowship in hell!
[Illustration]
I have actually had a number of people through the years say to me, "I want to go to hell and be with all my friends." How foolish! Your friends may very well be in hell or on their way to hell but you will never see them!
Some folks think of hell as not being "that bad". Amazing! They see hell as one big "beer party" spent watching NFL on a big screen TV in a place that is hot to the point of being extremely uncomfortable but they will be able to "handle" it,
somehow. - What fools!
Hell is a lonely place!
(Matthew 25:30)
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
"Outer darkness" ensures one will be all alone!
[Illustration]
Hell is described as a place of darkness or blackness. The only way I can imagine the total isolation broght on by such complete darkness is the blackness felt deep inside a cavern. I have toured a number of caverns in the United States. Almost every tour I have been on will at some point bring the visitors to rest in a safe place where the tour guide explains the depth of the darkness inside the cavern and how that, if left for a certain period, the darkness is so complete it will lead to blindness. It is a darkness so deep that one can stick their finger in their eye and never see it approaching. This is as complete a darkness as man can know. However, this darkness will be multiplied many times over for those who spend eternity in hell.
"Weeping and gnashing of teeth" (give examples of such horrendous pain)
These descriptions don’t sound like a "party" attitude or environment to me - does it to you? Hell will undoubtedly be a place of unimaginable agony and loneliness.
I do sincerely hope that your "attraction" to hell is not based upon a false and foolish idea that you will get to spend time and fellowship with your family and friends - that just won’t be the case!
Perhaps your attraction to hell is based upon a sense of.
INDEPENDANCE?
Only God knows just how many poor souls have been carried into hell because of pride !
* Pride says, "I’ll go to heaven on my own terms." Pride says, "I’ll come to God my way." Pride says, "I’ll come to God when I get ready." Pride says, "I’ll do it my way."
But, what does God have to say about such thinking?
(John 3:3)
3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
(John 14:6)
6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
It is very, very clear then that: 1) You must be born again if you are to go to heaven and miss hell, and 2) Jesus is the only way to be saved!
I have actually had people to say to me, "I am a good man. I do. (They list all their good qualities, works, religious belief and moral behavior), and if that isn’t good enough for God - then I’ll just go to hell!
Guess what? It isn’t good enough for God and you will go to hell if you are depending on your own merit, regardless of how good you may be! Why? Because you are not saved by works but by the precious blood of Christ!
(1 Peter 1:18-19)
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain
conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
I want you to understand something here: There is not one proud man in hell today!
(Isa. 45:22-23)
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
(Philippians 2:9-11)
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
* Do you honestly think that somehow God will exempt you?
* Do you think that somehow God will make an exception in your case?
* Do you think that somehow God will excuse you from His holy requirements even though He doesn’t excuse anyone else?
I ask once again, "What is the attraction of hell for you - that you would turn down the offer of immediate forgiveness and eternal life? What about hell is desirable? What in hell do you want?"
Let’s take a moment to highlight some of the differences between heaven and hell.
(format into two columns for comparing the contrasts)
Heaven Hell
A place of blessing A place of torment
A place of peace A place of restlessness and anguish
A place of eternal life A place of eternal death (without ever being able to die)
A place without sin or sinners A place filled with the vile, the hateful and evil of the ages
A place of fellowship A place of isolation and lonliness
A place of joy and gladness A place of sorrow, fear, and despair
A place of worship and of service A place behind a "one way mirror" - looking across that great fixed gulf upon what could have been
A place of no remembrance of the former things, for all tears will be wiped away and all things made new A place of heightened memory - remembering every time the gospel was heard & turned down, every opportunity that was wasted, every excuse that was ever made, every person who loved you in Jesus Christ.
(scriptures set in contrast)
(Revelation 21:1-5a)
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God
himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new
(Revelation 22:1-5)
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
(Mark 9:47-48)
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
(Isaiah 45:22-23)
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Hell is real! Hell is forever!
Everyone will bow before Jesus Christ and confess His lordship. You can do it now, willingly, and as a result receive forgiveness of sin and eternal life, or you can reject His offer of life. but take note of this, you will one day bow before Him anyway and you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord! You will do this just before you hear those awful words, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:."
(Matthew 25:41)
Now I ask you, which of these two places do you really want to spend eternity in? Why would you choose death? Why would you choose hell?
Conclusion:
A few weeks ago I sat with a man and his wife at their home to hear him respond in this way to the questions that were asked of him.
* Yes, I know God loves me.
* Yes, I know Jesus died for me. I don’t doubt it a bit.
* Yes, I believe Jesus will save me if I asked him to.
* I know I am lost and would go to hell if I died today.
* No, I do not want to accept Jesus to be my Savior.
When I hear a man’s confession, made with full knowledge of God’s love, grace and invitation to life eternal and of the consequence of dying in sin. I can’t help but wonder, "What is the attraction of hell that would lead one to choose death instead of life?"
What is the attraction of hell for you - that you would turn Jesus away today?
What in hell do you want?
Copyright (c) Larry L. Schoonover, 2003
All Rights Reserved
