What In Hell Do You Want?

"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!