Luke 16:22-23,
“the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up
his eyes, being in torments.”
In the account, Jesus tells
of two men, one a sickly old beggar named Lazarus, and an
unnamed rich man that fared sumptuously every day. Both men
died, but Lazarus entered into an eternal rest and the rich man
lifted up his eyes in hell. The rich man went to sleep in
comfort and awoke in torment. The physical heat of hell is
revealed in several ways. The word of God tells us that hell is
a place of fire and flames. Any time there is a combination of
fire and flames, it is hot because heat is generated. When
describing hell the Bible said of the rich man, “being in
torments.” I have been told that the word “torments”
is the strongest word that the Jewish people had to describe
unbearable pain. Lastly, the fact that one drop of water held on
the end of the finger would relive suffering to any degree tells
us that hell is hot. “Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip
of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented
in this flame” (vs. 24). This rich man found himself
experiencing the physical pain generated by the fire of hell. It
would be bad enough if the physical pain was all that the rich
man experienced, but there was the mental aspect that made hell
even hotter! There are three things that I can think of that
would intensify the physical hotness of hell.
(I) The Comfort of the Past
– vs. 19
It was said of the rich man
that he was “clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day.” Can you imagine the contrast between
the two worlds that this rich man found himself in? On earth, he
never experienced want. At the first tingle of thirst, he would
call for a servant, that servant would return with wine, water,
or some liquid of refreshment. The supply would not be just
enough to get by, but the rich man could drink until he could
hold no more. If he felt a twinge of hunger, he simply motioned
to a servant and a banquet table was spread with every type of
food and delight to satisfy the taste buds. Whether he reclined
on the bed, sat in a chair, or simply walked across the room,
there was nothing harsh or abrasive that touched his skin for
the rich man “was clothed in purple and fine linen.” He
knew nothing but luxury! All that has now changed! Nothing to
quench his thirst or satisfy the pains of hunger and there is
the continual burning of the flames as it eats at the once
pampered skin. Hell is bad enough, but to have come from a place
that every desire is met to having nothing, there could be
nothing worse.
(II) The Companionship of
the Future – vs. 27-28
The rich man
would rise from the couch and look out the widow. When he did
anger would rise up in his heart. There at his gate was that
sickly old beggar, Lazarus. Why doesn’t he associate with his
own crowd and go back to the projects where he belongs! The rich
man did not keep company with that element of society. In fact,
the death of the old beggar was welcome news to the rich man’s
ears. The rich man only rubbed shoulders with the upper crust
and may have had a name as an elaborate host among the wealthy.
This type of attitude may be seen in the life of a Pharisee
named Simon. Simon prepared Jesus a great supper and invited all
of his rich friends to come and dine with Jesus. When a woman
from the streets entered and began to kiss and wash our Lords
feet, Simon said within his heart, “This man, if he were a
prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is
that toucheth him: for she is a sinner” (Luke 7:39). Simon
and the rich man did not associate with any one they considered
beneath them. Can you imagine the horror when the rich man saw
who his companions were in hell? They were thieves, robbers,
murderers, adulterers, whores, and people that committed acts
that were not mentioned in mixed company. All those people that
he had shunned and sheltered himself from were now his
companions. But, that is not the worst of it. There was another
group that would soon become his companions in hell. The rich
man said,
“I have five brethren; that he may testify unto
them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (vs. 28).
If something did not change, the rich man would share the lake
of fire with those he hated and those he loved. If there was one
thing that the rich man was certain of, it was the fact that he
did not want any of his loved ones to go to hell. Just think of
what it would be like for a mother or father suffering the
torments of hell knowing that their son or daughter, grandson or
granddaughter would soon join them in that hideous place of
pain. The pains of hell were only intensified when the rich man
thought of his own flesh and blood joining him in that terrible
place.
(III) The Conditions that
are Eternal – vs. 26
I am sure that
there were times that the rich man had discomfort or some pain
in this present world. It matters not how much money one has; it
does not isolate them from all discomforts associated with life.
There would be times when sickness came to the rich man, a
friend, or family member. But, it would soon pass. There were
financial problems and servant problems, yet time had a way of
working it all out and for the most part life was good. But, the
rich man knew that time was not going to fix or change one
aspect of hell even one degree. He was doomed to spend an
eternity in hell!
The physical aspects of
hell were terrible! But, the mental aspects only served to
intensify the flames and the pain. This is the final abode of
all that do not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
How does man avoid such a terrible place?
Romans 10:13
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved.”
Romans 10:10
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
John 3:16 “For God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.”
John 3:17 “For God
sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.”
John 3:18 “He that
believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God.”
John 3:19
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.”
Don’t be the companion of
the rich man in hell! He does not want you there. Will you trust
Christ as your Saviour? If we can help you come to know the Lord
as your Saviour, please write. If you are saves, spread the
gospel, tell some one about the great Saviour that loves sinners
and is willing to save them.
