Luke 16:19-31 – Hell

What a man has or doesn’t have on this earth is no indication of whether he has a saved heart or not. In this parable, the poor man has grace and the rich man has none. The poor man lives by faith, and the rich man is thoughtless, selfish, and dead in sins. We must never give in to the idea that men are to be valued by their income, and that the man with the most money should get the most respect. If we want to measure men as God measures them, we must value them according to their grace.

Death is the end to which everyone comes. Very few seem to realise this fact. They live their life as though they are going to live on earth forever. Christians should guard against this, always bearing in mind that there is an end to this life.

The souls of believers are especially cared for by God in death. We know very little about what happens after death. When it is time for us to die, it will be like travelling to an unknown country. But we do know that if our trust is in Christ, we are safe. We will be at rest, with no needs, and best of all, we will be with Christ.

Hell is real, it is eternal, and it is for those who have not put their faith and trust in Christ. This is a truth we must never let go of. Many want to deny it, ignore it, or water it down, but if we truly care for people we must warn them of the awful reality of God’s judgement. When that day comes, how terrible it would be for our friends and relatives and neighbours to say to us, “You never warned me it would be like this.”

The Bible contains everything we need to know in order to be saved. We don’t need more evidence to cause men to repent, we need more changed hearts. Only when the Holy Spirit is working in men’s hearts will their eyes be opened to the truth.

Questions
1. How should we value people?
2. Why is it a loving thing to tell others about Hell?

Prayer Points
1. Pray for the salvation of your family, friends, and neighbours.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.