Don t Be Caught In Hell Luke 16:19-31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Rich Man and Lazarus 19 There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. [a] The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. [b] 24 He called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames. 25 But Abraham said, Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us. 27 He said, Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father s house 28 for I have five brothers that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham replied, They have Moses and the 1
prophets; they should listen to them. 30 He said, No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. 31 He said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. **************************************************** I was thinking about this passage and wondering why I knew so much about it and why it seemed so familiar. Then I realized Pastor George had stretched the Gospel of a few weeks ago and preached a super sermon on this passage. That led me to some concern about trying to talk about the same parable. But since my middle name is "George" I'll give it a shot and try to be different from what you heard several weeks ago by concentrating on God's warning or rule for us. Life is about Heaven and Hell. We have all got to go somewhere when it s over. Some live denying there is anywhere to go after you die, HOW DO THEY KNOW? When 2
they find out it will be too late. As the Story of Lazarus points out you cannot go back and tell anyone. The point of the parable is don't get caught. We all know the many rules of life - like don't buy your wife a new frying pan for her birthday. And never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. 3
Or my mother's favorite, "No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes." Or my father's favorite, "Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do I." When it comes to the rules of life most people simply don't want to get caught - by the cops when speeding, by the boss 4
when late to work, by the pastor when telling a lie. There's even a book titled To Lie Is Human: Not Getting Caught Is Divine Well I have some good news for you - God does not want you to get caught. God s Grace wants us to know that He will judge, but He Will Forgive, He will save us from Hell. So, now you know you don t need to be caught. However there is a caveat - God has never wanted men to be caught, not in the flood of all floods, not when Achen is stoned and burned, not when children are mauled by bears. Always there has been warnings, always rules to follow. 5
In Genesis 6:14-7:6 God instructed Noah to build an ark. This didn't take just a week or two. Experts say it took Noah anywhere from 55 to 120 years. The wicked people of the time were warned and had plenty of time to join Noah, but Noah and his family entered the ark alone as there was no one else who joined them. They even waited in the ark seven days before the flood began and still no one joined them. Those people did not have to die. They did not need to get caught by the waters. The warnings were all in place. In Joshua 7 the Israelites have once again broken faith. One of their own people Achan in outright disobedience to God's warning has taken cursed things like a beautiful Babylonian garment and silver and gold which he coveted out of Jericho. God highlights to Joshua the problem and the solution. Israel s problem is that there is sin in the camp. His covenant with Israel has been dishonored and there has been stealing and lying in the matter of taking the cursed things. God tells Joshua 6
to deal vigorously and harshly with that sin. The culprit must die and his body must be burned. And so Achan is caught and stoned to death, but he did not need to steal. The warnings were all in place. In 2 Kings 2:23-24 Elisha is travelling to Bethel and some bad boys jeered him calling the prophet a bald head. They knew better, had been taught to respect the prophets but did not heed the warnings. They were cursed and two bears came out of the woods and mauled them to death. They did not need to be disrespectful. The warnings were all in place. The Bible is full of stories of warnings and consequences. Rules and the punishment for breaking them. What we have in this parable today is a warning to heed God's word now in faith. God s written Word is the most compelling information to prepare us for life after death. You can write a will or increase your life insurance, but only God s Word can show us how to repent and live for Christ so that we are ready to enter His presence with joy. Finally, the 7
person who ignores the Word of God in life will not be ignored by the God of the Word in eternity. Does God choose to send anyone to hell? No. Heaven and hell have differing purposes for God. God created man in His own image to enjoy His presence forever. Hell was not created for man. It was prepared for the devil and his angels/demons. It is not his will that anyone should perish. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Hell is a destiny chosen by the free will of man. James Packer writes, All receive what they actually choose, either to be with God forever, worshipping him, or without God forever, worshipping themselves. God s redemptive love for the world was infinitely expressed in His gift of His Son as a sacrifice for sin. Hell is not God's choice for us. His grace has demonstrated that. The choice is ours. Luke related this parable to warn us that punishment is ahead 8
for those without faith and that we should heed God's word now in faith. This story that Jesus told about a rich man (name withheld) and a poor man who is called "Lazarus." Both die, and both have an afterlife. Well, sort of...the rich man faces a tough time--dare we say hell? And the poor man Lazarus--hits the jackpot with Heaven. The question for us today is simple: Which character do you identify with? Are you a Lazarus and going to heaven? If not I pray you review the word of God and maybe reconsider your life choices. You do not need to be caught in Hell. The rules are all out there. You just have to choose to follow them. Please pray with me. Lord we know you have given us the word as a lamp to light our way. We ask your truth be a signpost that leads us to do right. May your love give us an understanding of your rules and may your grace give us strength to follow them so that we may be close to you for all eternity. Amen 9