The Reality of Hell (Luke 16:19-31; Mark 9:42-28)

The Reality of Hell (Luke 16:19-31; Mark 9:42-28)

 19 “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 man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 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. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." (Luke 16:19-23)

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44 where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ " (Mark 9:42-44)

The subject of hell is a controversial one but the existense of hell cannot be ignored or disregarded. One does that at one's peril. It is not a comfortable subject but it is a subject that demands great attention. It is not a subject that many people want to talk about but it is one that impacts everyone's life. Some people will avoid hell because of their positive response to the hope of salvation and redemption yet others will languish in hell because of their obstinate, prideful, irrational rejection of the hope of salvation and redemption. Let me state without any fear or favour, without any hesistation that Jesus is the Hope of salvation and redemption (John 14:6). He is the only Way to God the Father. 

 In fact He alone is the One who died for mankind on the cross of Calvary; He bore our sins, was crucified not because He committed sin but because He loved us so much to die for us. Oh, what love demonstrated, what courage displayed, what sacrifice given for unworthy individuals like you and I. The crucifixion of Jesus is not only recorded in the Bible (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) but in the writings of secular historians like Tacitus, a Roman historian and Josephus,  a Jewish historian.  Hear what the Bible says:

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

Jesus became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God not by compulsion but by our freewill. In other words, no-one is cajoled into becoming a believer, it is the individual's choice whether or not to accept Jesus. You would agree that there are consequences for the choices we make.

Before I go any further, I would like to state that the words in the biblical passages quoted above were spoken by Jesus. Would Jesus lie? No way. Furthermore, if Jesus said it, it was and still is very important. Someone once said, "if you miss Heaven, you cannot miss hell". This means that there is no middle ground; there is no purgatory; there is no straddling of the fence. 

Every decision we make leads to a final outcome - where we spend eternity. It's either hell or Heaven. The question that arises is not really about the existence of hell but why it exists in the first place. Hell was prepared for satan and his demons. However, when an individual decides to pitch his or her tent in the devil's coutyard, what is the right reward for such an individual? And by the way, hell can be avoided. No one needs to go to hell but unfortunately many have made up their minds to go there. Once in hell, there is no escape from it. 

The Bible says,

“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." (Hebrews 13:5)

Come to Jesus not just for the avoidance of hell but come so that you will have peace that surpasses all understanding; come so that you will be delivered from the bondage of sin and the devil; come so that your life will be a fruitful one ~ meaningful, productive and in line with the plan and purpose of your creation; come as you are for God loves you. God, who created you has a purpose for your life. Will you allow Him to guide you into that wonderful plan for your life?

Instead of us wasting time debating on hell which is a reality, let us come to the throne of grace, where love abounds, where mercy flows, where divine purpose is enshrined and pursued. Jesus died for us on the cross of Calvary so that we would be saved from the plight of the devil and his demons - eternal damnation. 

The rich man was in torment in Hades, a terrible holding place pending the final casting away into hell. The irony is that while he was on earth, he had numerous opportunities to turn away from his sinful, self-absorbed way to God but he refused. What a sad story! Opportunities wasted; deception embraced; pride enthroned; temporary comfort magnified; eternal consequences disregarded and finally a life lost forever in eternal damnation. All that could have been avoided.

The final question is, "What is your decision?"

May God bless you abundantly as you do what is right in Jesus' Name.