Hell

Luke 16:19-31

We are in the midst of a revolution like no other we have ever experienced. For the first time, scientists are seriously talking about reprogramming the human in order to re-grow organs, turn genes off and on, download software into implanted devices, and inject nanobots into your blood that can cure cancer or safely introduce insulin into a diabetic's blood. All this is geared towards extending the lifespan of a human.\r
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It's exciting stuff with names like: RNA interference, nanoparticles, imaging individual internueronal connections firing in the brain in real time, cures for pulmonary hypertension, and using therapeutic cloning to remake our organs as younger versions of themselves by correcting DNA errors.\r
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I'm certainly all for taking care of our bodies and living as long as the Lord allows, but I think all this misses the point. We can do all the reprogramming of our physical bodies, but what about reprogramming the soul? You see, no matter how long we extend life, our bodies will eventually give out. Or they will be destroyed in some way by natural or human causes. What humanity fails to grapple with adequately is what happens then? \r
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By extending human life we are simply giving us humans more time to do the evil that we naturally do due to our choice in the Garden of Eden. In the parable that Jesus tells in Luke 16:19-31 we see that tending to the physical does not tend to the spiritual, or the eternal. \r
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Character - Not Circumstances\r
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The rich man's riches weren't his sin, selfishness was. The Pharisees considered wealth as a sign of God's blessing. It's about who you are, not what you have. Lazarus had nothing, but because he had God, he possessed all he really needed. The rich man did not change his character when he went to Hades.\r
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By the way, this parable suggests there is no such thing as purgatory, a place where people go to mend their ways until they can get to heaven. 1 Peter 3:9 talks about the "prison" where Jesus went and preached after His death. But as here, there is no mention of release or parole from that prison.\r
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Trust in God, not in the material\r
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The rich man got "his" good things-pleasure spent only on oneself. Lazarus got "evil" things-not "sinful" but just difficult. The dogs licking the sores, by the way-not cute little puppies trying to clean the wound. Dogs in those days were scavengers filled with diseases. A modern day equivalent might be rats. Having these animals lick your wounds would not have been pleasant. \r
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Where Do You Want Your Reward?\r
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Jesus said in Matthew 6 that those who sounded the trumpet when they gave received that as their reward. Living a luxurious or easy life is a goal for much of our society. To choose to live a life like Lazarus would be laughable. I can think of one person who did, though: the Apostle Paul. While Paul didn't cry out "beat me up, please!" He knew that following Christ meant life was going to be hard rather than easy.\r
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2 Tim 3:12 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted ESV \r
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Col 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ESV\r
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All You Have is God's Word-All You Need is God's Word\r
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Miracles or apparitions or angels don't save people. The only thing that saves people is the Word of God that is spoken into a heart where it pierces them, they realize they have sinned and need salvation and turn to God for that salvation through Jesus Christ. Also - God is fair. No one gets an unfair advantage of coming back from the other side of death. \r
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Hades is real \r
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The Greek word is actually Hades - and it means "the place not seen." The Greek is the rendering of the Hebrew Sheol, the abode of the dead. The understanding of Hades is that it was an actual location somewhere under the earth and was divided up into two segments - "Abraham's Bosom" which is where the faithful went when they died, awaiting the Messiah to come and pick them up." The other place is called "hell" was a place of torment. The word actually means "torture." This is not The Lake of Fire, or Gehenna which is the ultimate destination of Satan, his demons, and those humans that have rejected Jesus Christ. I don't think it's reasonable to assume Jesus was only using allegory here. Hades is real, hell is real. Ephesians 4:7-9 talk about how Jesus, when He died, led those held in Abraham's Bosom out to be with Him. (check on this more)\r
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There are no "second chances." \r
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The gulf between Hades and Abraham's Bosom was uncrossable. Hebrews 9:27 says that "it is appointed once for man to die and after that comes judgment." \r
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Hell is not a vacation. \r
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In fact it is a place of pain. Being apart from God is pain. Notice the man's character didn't change. He even argues with Abraham. It is not a hospital for the lost, but a prison for the condemned. There is consciousness there too; it is not the cessation of existence. \r
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Your earthly position does not relate to your eternal position. \r
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Don't make the mistake of thinking that someone who is rich or powerful or famous here will get anywhere in heaven. In fact, the Bible says several times that it is actually more difficult for those to come to faith in Jesus because what they have on earth gives them a false sense of self-sufficiency. \r
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Lazarus' Witness \r
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Some commentators suggest that Lazarus must have witnessed to the rich man, or least the rich man knew that Lazarus feared God-that's why he wanted Lazarus to go back. \r
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Conclusions\r
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What can we as Christians learn from this parable?\r
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Don't look to the world to help you or look up to the world's role models for how to live\r
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Don't base your opinion of how God feels about you by your circumstances\r
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Keep giving out God's Word\r
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Romans 1:16-17For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." ESV\r