Have you heard the saying, “I feel like I’ve been to Hell and back?” It’s an expression some use when they try to convey a difficult situation they’ve experienced. But the truth is… you truly can’t go to Hell and then back again.
This past Sunday I was asked to be the “Master Teacher” for our youth group. “Master?” No way! But I did enjoy getting deep into God’s word and researching all kinds of theories, stories, and small facts about the topic, “Is Hell Real”.
Get this…I took a muscle relaxant that my doctor had just recently prescribed to me to help me not have so much tension on my teeth at night. Well, I got so into the research one night that after I had been sleeping for a while, my head tossed on the pillow, I heard my heart beating, and then I didn’t hear the pulsing sound anymore. In my sleepy-thoughts I contemplated if my heart had stopped beating. I grabbed my heart and then put my fingers on my neck trying to find a pulse. In my mind I said, “Oh no, my medication worked too well on my main muscle and God’s going to have me have a life-after-death experience?” I quickly arose from the bed and headed to the bathroom to get a drink of water, all while I’m still figuring out if my heart was beating or not. I’m such a nut! My husband has learned to just shake his head at my night-time dreams/walks/talks or awaken me from my silliness.
Now, back to the real point…One of the scriptures we focused on in the lesson can from Luke 16:19-31. This is a parable told by Jesus that depicts what eternal judgment looks like. While reading, I jotted down some insights I gathered from the verses, and I wanted to share them with you.
Here’s the parable first:
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 Jesus said, “There was a rich man who always dressed in the finest clothes. He was so rich that he was able to enjoy all the best things every day. 20 There was also a very poor man named Lazarus. Lazarus’ body was covered with sores. He was often put by the rich man’s gate. 21 Lazarus wanted only to eat the scraps of food left on the floor under the rich man’s table. And the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “Later, Lazarus died. The angels took him and placed him in the arms of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 He was sent to the place of death and was in great pain. He saw Abraham far away with Lazarus in his arms. 24 He called, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to me so that he can dip his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am suffering in this fire!’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘My child, remember when you lived? You had all the good things in life. But Lazarus had nothing but problems. Now he is comforted here, and you are suffering. 26 Also, there is a big pit between you and us. No one can cross over to help you, and no one can come here from there.’
27 “The rich man said, ‘Then please, father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father’s house on earth. 28 I have five brothers. He could warn my brothers so that they will not come to this place of pain.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets to read; let them learn from that.’
30 “The rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham! But if someone came to them from the dead, then they would decide to change their lives.’
31 “But Abraham said to him, ‘If your brothers won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen to someone who comes back from the dead.’”
Here are some comparisons God showed me regarding The Rich Man vs. Lazarus. First the good news:
Lazarus:
- Sick and poor (An illustration of being humble. “But the kindness God shows is greater. As the Scripture says, “God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble.” James 4:6. “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” 1 Peter 5:6.)
- His name, Lazarus, was mentioned. (A personal touch. When you are with Christ, it’s a personal relationship. Sweetness!)
- Heaven bound! (Glory!)
- He was “comforted” in the arms of Abraham. (Imagine being held in the arms of The True Father. Feel His comfort.)
- Lazarus isn’t begging for food anymore. He is feasting with Jesus.
Now the bad news:
The Rich Man:
- Finest of earthly things (Proud) 1 John 2:26, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (I’m not saying that being wealthy and having the finest things in life are wrong. No way! It’s what you do with the wealth God has blessed you with that can be a sin. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
- Just “a rich man”, known only by his wealth. (Doesn’t sound very personal to me.)
- Hell bound! (Yikes!)
- Just “sent to the place of death” as if someone was pointing for him to “go”. (No compassion or connection felt here, just “head that way”. “Sorry for your choice.”)
He was in great pain and suffering. ( Isaiah 53:3-5, He was despised and rejected by mankind a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (We see in Isaiah 53:3-5 that Jesus already went through great pain and suffering FOR us. We need to trust in Him and not go through the pain and suffering in Hell that is there.) - He looked “up: a little too late”. (Please don’t wait to turn to Jesus! You must choose him and ask Him into your heart now. Once your passed from this earth, it’s too late.)
- No help for escaping, “not turning back”
- He wanted to warn others. (The Rich Man didn’t want others to experience “the Hell” he was in, and he could get out to warn them. I sure hope this is one field trip you don’t want to take. Get right now with God and be Heaven bound.)
- Sounds like his 5 brothers needed to “see to believe”. (no faith) VS. Reading the scripture and having faith.
- The brothers were turning a deaf ear to the Good News that was always right in front of them. (Proverbs 28:9, If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. Don’t just “know of God”, but truly “Know Him”)
I could have jotted down a plethora of more bible verses to coincide with each bullet point. I hope that when you read Gods word that you are encouraged to go even deeper and back up the scripture with more scripture. It’s all true!
So now that you see the difference between Heaven and Hell, have you made your own personal choice? I sure hope you are Heaven Bound like me.
I pray God’s blessings and abundant love to y’all.