HELL A REAL PLACE? Luke 16:19-31 What would make a man such as Dr. Scheitzer who had three doctoral degrees (one in medicine, one in theology, and one in philosophy) to leave civilization with all of its culture and amenities and depart for the jungles of darkest Africa? What would motivate a man that he would give up a teaching position in Vienna, Austria to go and deal with people who were so deprived that they were still living in the superstitions of the dark ages for all practical purposes? None other than, the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abrahams bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 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. 25 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. 26 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. 27 Then he said, I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my fathers house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. 29 Abraham said to him,They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. 31 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. NKJV WHEN I WAS A CHILD THIS WAS ONE OF THE FAVORITE STORIES OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS WOULD TELL US IN CHILDREN’S CHURCH. I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY, LATER I CAME TO REALIZE THE REASON BEHIND IT. AS I SHARED BEFORE, I NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT I AS A SINNER NEEDED A SAVIOR AND HAD TO WALK AWAY FROM SIN. INSTEAD WE WERE GIVEN STORIES THAT REPRESENTED THE VALUES OF THE GENERATION OF THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES. “IT WAS A FORM OF GOSPEL.” IN THE SIXTIES THIS WAS A POPULAR THING TO DO, TO PIN THE RICH AGAINST THE POOR. THE WAY THE STORY WAS RELATED TO US WAS THAT; “THE RICH MAN HAD GONE TO HELL BECAUSE HE WAS FILTHY RICH AND LAZAROUS HAD GONE TO PARADISE BECAUSE HE WAS DIRT POOR.” “THE RICH MAN LOVED FINE ARTS AND FINE LIVING, AND HE ENJOYED EATING IN FANCY RESTAURANTS.” NONE OF US KIDS COULD EVER IMAGINE GOING TO EAT AT A FANCY RESTAURANT, OR GO TO A MUSEUM TO LOOK AT FINE ARTS. NONE OF US COULD IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO LIVE IN A MANSION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE RICH MAN WOULD DRESS IN PURPLE AND PURPLE WAS THE COLOR OF ROYALTY BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE DYE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD. WE WERE TOLD THAT HIS UNDERGARMENTS WERE MADE OF FINE LINEN; LINEN WAS THE LIFESTYLE OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS OF THEIR TIME. AND THAT WHILE THIS RICH GUY SPEND MONEY IN HIGH LEAVING LAZAROUS SAT BY HIS GATE STARVING TO DEATH, AS CHILDREN WE WOULD FROWN AT SUCH DESPICABLE KIND OF MAN. WE WERE TOLD THAT POOR LAZAROUS WAS HOMELESS AND ON TOP OF BEING HOMELESS HE WAS CRIPPLED. POOR LAZAROUS HE HAD NO WHERE TO LIVE AND HE WOULD STRUGGLE FROM DAY TO DAY JUST TO HAVE A PIECE OF BREAD TO EAT. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE LITTLE CHILDREN OF FOUR, FIVE AND SIX YEARS OF AGE HAD NOTHING BUT DESDAIN TOWARDS THE RICH. WE WERE THEN HAPPY TO HEAR THA LAZAROUS DIED ONE DAY AND WENT TO PARADISE TO BE COMFORTED, WHILE THE RICH MAN ALSO DIED AND WENT TO HELL TO BE TORMENTED. AHH WE FELT, THERE IS JUSTICE, AFTER ALL. THIS IS THE KIND OF STORY THAT WOULD MAKE FOR A GREAT MOVIE WE THOUGHT, A STORY WHERE THE POOR GET JUSTICE AND THE OPRESSOR GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE! WHILE THIS STORY WARMED OUR HEARTS, LATER AS I CAME TO KNOW CHRIST, I CAME TO REALIZE THAT OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS HAD MISSED THE POINT OF THE STORY! AND HAD FAILED TO GIVE US THE TRUE MESSAGE JESUS WAS TRYING TO CONVAIN TO US, WHICH IS THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION. HERE WE WERE GROWING UP THINKING THAT AS LONG AS WE WERE POOR AND DECENT GOOD PEOPLE WE WOULD MAKE IT TO HEAVEN. BUT IF WE EVER BECAME RICH, WELL…! BUT YOU SEE JESUS NEVER MEANT FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT? THE BIBLE DOESN’T TELL US THAT THE RICH MAN WENT TO HELL BECAUSE HE WAS RICH, AND THAT LAZAROUS WENT TO HEAVEN BECAUSE HE WAS POOR! IT DOESN’T SAY THAT IF WE DECORATE OUR HOME WITH FINE ARTS AND WENT TO EAT AT FOUR STAR RESTAURANTS GOD WAS GOING TO FROWN UPON US! LAZAROUS WAS A MAN WHO SOUGHT GOD OUT EVEN IN HIS MISERABLE CONDITION AND MADE A WISE DECISION WHILE HE WAS STILL ALIVE TO PLACE HIS FAITH IN GOD. NOW, I DON’T BELIEVE LAZAROUS WAS HOMELESS, I BELIEVE LAZAROUS HAD A HOME, BUT HE HAD A FRIEND OR LOVE ONE, DROP HIM OFF AT THE GATES OF THIS WEALTHY MAN, FOR THEIR, AT LEAST HE COULD GET SOMETHING TO EAT. I DON’T BELIEVE THAT THE RICH MAN WAS SO CALLOUS THAT HE WOULD DENY LAZAROUS A PIECE OF BREAD. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT “HE BEGGED AT THE TABLE FOR CRUMBS,” THIS TELLS ME THAT THE RICH MAN, FED LAZAROUS FOOD FROM TIME TO TIME. WHILE LAZAROUS HAD NO MEANS TO SUPPORT HIMSELF GOD NEVER FAIL TO CARE FOR HIS BASIC NEEDS, WHICH IS FOOD AND SHELTER. YET IN ALL OF HIS MISFORTUNES LAZAROUS STILL SOUGHT GOD AND NEVER LOST HIS FAITH. SO WHEN HE DIED, IT WAS NATURAL FOR THE ANGELS OF GOD TO COME PICK HIM UP AND TO TAKE HIM HOME; A GLORIOUS PLACE WHERE HE COULD ENJOY ALL OF THE COMFORTS THAT HE NEVER HAD IN THIS LIFE. WHILE THE RICH MAN WHO WENT TO CHURCH FROM TIME TO TIME TO SCRATCH HIS RELIGIOUS EGO, NEVER TRULY PLACED HIS FAITH IN GOD. BOTH THE RICH MAN AND LAZAROUS HEARD THE SAME PREACHER; SABATH AFTER SABATH, YET THE RICH MAN IN HIS HEART FELT HE HAD EVERYTHING HE NEEDED THEREFORE GOD HAD NO ROOM IN HIS HEART. “CHANGE, I DON’T NEED TO CHANGE; I LIKE MY LIFE THE WAY IT IS THANK YOU VERY MUCH!” LISTEN THE RICH MAN WAS NOT AN EVIL PERSON, PEOPLE DON’T GO TO HEAVEN BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD, JUST AS PEOPLE DON’T GO TO HELL BECAUSE “THEY ARE EVIL!” PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN BECAUSE THEY MADE A CHOICE TO PLACE THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST, JUST AS PEOPLE GO TO HELL BECAUSE THEY HAVE REJECTED GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION. I BELIEVE THAT GOD PLACED LAZAROUS IN THE RICH MAN’S LIFE SO HE COULD SEE FIRST HAND THE MERCY OF GOD AND SECONDLY TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A BLESSING TO LAZAROU’S LIFE! GOD PLACED LAZAROUS IN THIS MAN’S PATH SO HE COULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HOW GOD TAKES CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM BUT CANNOT CARE FOR THEMSELVES. GOD WANTED TO SHOW THE RICH MAN THAT WHILE LAZAROUS HAD FINANCIAL NEEDS IN HIS LIFE, HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE WAS IN ORDER. AND GOD IN HIS INFINITE MERCY WANTED THE RICH MAN TO EXPERIENCE THE TRUE BLESSINGS THAT ONLY COME WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE RIGHT WITH GOD. ONLY ETERNITY IS GOING TO TELL US WHAT WOULD HAD HAPPENED IF THE RICH MAN WOULD HAVE GAIN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT GOD WAS TRYING TO DO. RECENTLY I PREACHE A MESSAGE ON HOW HAVING INFORMATION IS NOT ENOUGH, WE MUST ALSO HAVE UNDERSTANDING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO OBEY GOD. IN OUR ILLUSTRATION BEFORE SCRIPTURE WE ALSO FIND A RICH MAN. WHO UNLIKE THE RICH MAN OF THE BIBLE, HAD GAINED UNDERSTANDING AND WAS ABLE TO OBEY GOD. DR. ALBERT SCHWEITZER WAS TOUCHED BY THIS BIBLE STORY AND MADE A CHOICE TO PLACE HIS FAITH IN CHRIST. AND GOD IN TURN WAS ABLE TO REVEAL TO HIM HIS TRUE PURPOSE IN LIFE. AS HE READ THE BIBLE HE COULD HEAR GOD SAYING, “LISTEN I PROSPER YOU AND MADE YOU RICH, SO THAT YOU CAN USE THOSE RESOURCES TO ADVANCE THE GOSPEL.”YES I WANT YOU TO ENJOY LIFE; YES I WANT YOU TO ENJOY FANCY RESTAURANTS AND FINE ARTS IF YOU LIKE. BUT I ALSO WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE CHURCH, I WANT YOU TO BE GENEROUS IN YOUR GIVING TOWARDS MY KINGDOM. DON’T BE LIKE THE FOOLISH RICH MAN WHOM I BLESSED, WHO INSTEAD OF BEEN WISE WITH THE RESOURCES I GAVE HIM; HE THOUGHT, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH ALL OF THIS ABUNDANCE? “I KNOW, I AM GOING TO BUILD MY SELF MORE BARNS SO THAT I CAN STORE MY GOODS AND IF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH I WILL BUILD MORE, SO THAT I HAVE ROOM TO STORE ALL OF MY BLESSINGS.” AND GOD CAME DOWN AND SAID, “YOU FOOL, THIS NIGHT YOU ARE GOING TO DIE AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE ACCUMULATED WHO IS GOING TO GET TO KEEP IT?” DR. SCHWEITZER WAS WISE AND AS HE READ THE STORY OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZAROUS, HE WAS MOVED IN HIS SPIRIT AND MADE A SOLID DECISION IN HIS HEART TO MAKE HIS LIFE COUNT! NOW I WANT YOU TO NOTICE SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THIS STORY, BECAUSE THE WORLD LOVES TO NAME THE WORLD’S WEALTHIEST PEOPLE!” We all know the names of the rich. We know the Donald Trumps, the Sam Walton’s, the Warren Buffets ETC. GOD HOWEVER, IS NOT LIKE THAT, IN OUR PARABLE WE DON’T FIND THE RICH MAN BEING NAMED, WE ONLY FIND LAZAROUS BEING NAMED. NOT BECAUSE GOD HATES THE RICH AND LOVES THE POOR, GOD LOVES ALL HUMANITY THE SAME AND GAVE HIS SON FOR THEM. IN THE BIBLE WE FIND MANY WEALTHY MEN OF GOD BEING NAMED. WEALTHY MEN LIKE, NOAH, ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB, JOSEPH, DANIEL, NEHEMIAH, JOB, DAVID, SOLOMON, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON THESE WERE ALL VERY RICH AND WEALTHY PEOPLE, BUT THESE PEOPLE WERE ALSO VERY WISE WITH THE RESOURCES GOD PLACE IN THEIR HANDS. GOD HOWEVER MADE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD. WHEN HE SAVED US, HE DID SO THAT WE COULD MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE WERE CREATED TO GLORIFY THE NAME OF GOD AND IT IS THOSE WHOM MAKE A CHOICE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT GOD MAKES SURE THAT THEIR NAMES ARE REMEMBERED. THE SAME IS TRUE WITH THE RICH MAN; GOD BLESSED THIS MAN NOT SO THAT HE COULD HOARD IT ALL TO HIMSELF, BUT SO THAT HE COULD IN TURN BLESS OTHERS. YET THIS MAN MADE THREE BAD CHOICES, EACH TIME WORSE THAN THE ONE BEFORE. FIRST HE CHOSE TO HOARD ALL THE WEALTH TO HIMSELF. HE REFUSED TO FULFILL HIS CALLING LIFE; BUT THE WORSE DECISION OF ALL, IS THAT HE REFUSE TO PLACE HIS FAITH IN GOD. THIS IS GOING TO BOTHER SOME PEOPLE TODAY, TO FIND OUT THAT THE RICH MAN WAS NOT A BAD PERSON, YET HE STILL WENT TO HELL. RECENTLY A PREACHER WENT ON NATIONAL TV, SAYING THAT THERE WAS NO HELL BECAUSE IN HIS HEART HE CANNOT CONCEIVE HOW A GOOD GOD WOULD SEND PEOPLE TO HELL. AND WHILE THIS MAN’S MESSAGE IS CORRUPT AND PERVERTED, HE IS RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING. GOD NEVER SENDS ANYONE TO HELL. PEOPLE BY THEIR BY OWN CHOICE, CHOOSE TO REJECT GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION. Romans 1:21-22 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, NKJV THE TRUTH IS THAT THERE IS A REAL HELL; A HELL THAT WAS MADE FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS. BUT AS MAN REBELLED AGAINST GOD, THE PENALTY WAS DEATH, OR SEPARATION FROM GOD. THIS IS WHAT SIN DOES, IT SEPARATE US FROM A LOVING GOD. THIS IS THE REASON WHY JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS, SO THAT WE COULD BE RECONCILE BACK WITH GOD AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID THAT HORRIBLE PLACE. HE ENDURED A CRUEL DEATH AND HE TOOK THE PUNISHMENT THAT WAS JUSTLY DUE TO US ON HIS BODY, PROVIDING US A WAY OF ESCAPE FOR US. NOW PEOPLE CAN RECEIVE THE GIFT OF GOD WHICH IS ETERNAL LIFE, OR CHOOSE TO REJECT GOD’S GIFT, GOD’S ONLY SON AND BY CHOICE END UP IN HELL! 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. HELL IS A REAL PLACE, A PLACE OF DARKNESS AND NAGTHING OF TEETH, YET HELL IS NOT THE END OF THE SINNER’S JOURNEY! “HELL IS JUST A WAITING PLACE; JUST AS THE COUNTY JAIL, IS A WAITING PLACE FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE SENT TO PRISON. Revelation 20:10 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NKJV Revelation 20:14-15 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. NKJV WHAT DID THE RICH MAN DO TO DESERVE SUCH A HORRIBLE PLACE? “HE REJECTED THE GIFT OF GOD!” John 3:16-17 16 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. NKJV HE HEARD THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION BUT CHOSE TO REJECT IT! HOW DO YOU KNOW PASTOR? LUKE 16: 27 Then he said, I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my fathers house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. 29 Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. 31 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. PEOPLE MUST MAKE A CHOICE OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL TO BELIEVE AND ACCEPT GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION; NO ONE CAN MAKE IT FOR THEM. 1 Cor 1:18 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. KJV THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THE GOSPEL IS FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO PERISH! BUT IS SALVATION TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO RECEIVE IT. THE SAME MESSAGE HE HAD REJECTED BEFORE HE DIED, WAS THE SAME MESSAGE HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS WERE GOING TO HEAR. AND LIKE HIM THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A CHOICE, RECEIVE GOD’S GIFT OR REJECT IT, THIS WAS THEIR CHOICE. SO AS WE CAN SEE THIS EVENING IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE RICH OR POOR, WHAT IS TRULY GOING TO MATTER IN LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO WITH GOD’S GIFT! Heb 2:3 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ; which at the first began to Be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; KJV CHURCH ATTENDANCE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET SOMEONE INTO HEAVEN. DOING GOOD DEEDS ALONE IS NOT GOING TO GET ANYONE INTO HEAVEN. GOD TELLS US THAT ALL OF OUR GOOD DEEDS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. Isa 64:6 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags ; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. KJV THIS IS WHY GOD CALLS ON US AND SAYS COME LET US REASON TOGETHER. Isa 1:18 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson , they shall be as wool. KJV Rev 3:20 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. KJV THERE IS ONLY ONE-WAY TO ENTER HEAVEN AND THAT IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. John 14:6 6 Jesus said to him, I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJV John 6:37 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. NKJV THIS EVENING IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR THAT YOU MAY ENJOY ETERNAL . IF YOU KNOW HIM IT IS HIS DESIRE THAT YOU FIND YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE, THAT YOU CONTINUE TRUSTING HIM, THAT REGARDLESS WHAT YOU MAY BE FACING TODAY YOU MUST REMEMBER IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY IT WILL SOON PASS. ETERNITY HOWEVER IS FOREVER…WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE.. WE CAN FULFILL GOD’S PURPOSES FOR OUR LIVES OR LIVE LIFE AS WE WISH AND FACE THE CONSEQUENCES IN ETERNITY. WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE; NO ONE CAN MAKE THAT CHOICE FOR US. S
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 23:28:47 +0000
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