Is Anything Good in Hell? (Luke 16:19-31)

Jesus warned about the reality of Hell three times more than He witnessed of the glories of Heaven. One time He told this story: A rich man dressed in purple and linen lived in luxury. At his gate sat a beggar named Lazarus who longed to eat the crumbs from the rich man's table. The dogs licked Lazarus' painful sores.

Lazarus died one day and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. Later the rich man died and was buried. From Hell where he suffered great torment, he saw Abraham with Lazarus by his side, and cried out to him. "Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip his fingers in water to cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire."

Abraham answered him, "Remember that in your lifetime you received good things while Lazarus received bad things. Today he is comforted and you are suffering. In addition, there is a chasm between you and us. No one passes from here to there or from there to here.

Then the rich man begged the Father to send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them about this terrible place of torment.

Abraham said, "They have Moses and the Prophets. Let your brothers listen to them."

The rich man said, "But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent."

Abraham said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, even if someone raised from death will not be able to convince them.

Think About It
Do you think God sends good people to Hell? The answer is He does not. People who choose to live by their standards instead of God's ways, consequently choose to go to Hell. Then if good people go to Hell, is there good in Hell? Consider the examples in this story:

• The rich man was good and merciful. He allowed Lazarus with his pitiful sores to beg at his gate. What if a beggar showed up at your mailbox. What would you do?
• The rich man had vision. He saw Lazarus and Abraham. Isn't being able to see a good thing?
• The rich man prayed for mercy. Prayer is good, right?
• The rich man had memories and intellect. He remembered the good times, and when he experienced the reality of Hell for his choices, he wanted to warn his brothers. His intentions were good, weren't they? 

The truth is, the road to Hell is paved with good people and good intentions, but Hell is real and filled with unquenchable and eternal torment. Understand this--there are no atheists in Hell. A day will come when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. We have a choice to accept God's amazing love or live without it. We can choose anxiety and fear or peace and hope. The rewards of God's love are far greater than anything this world has to offer. Choose today to follow God by:

1. Admitting you need a Savior to forgive you of the way you have lived.
2. Believing that Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
3. Confessing to others what God has done in your life and be baptized.

Pray About It
Father God, I pray that people reading this story from your word will want to accept your love and benefit from the abundant life you promise today and forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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