Luke 16:19-31.
THERE is so much said about hell, and what it is, that it is well to turn to Scripture and hear what God says. In this passage we have the veil drawn aside that hides the other world from our eyes, by Him who is the truth itself, ―One who never exaggerated, and who never kept back part of the truth.
In verse 28, we learn hell is a place of torment.
But there are three words that describe hell as no other words could: ―
1. Remember― (vs. 25). Reader, think what it must be to remember in hell where it would be untold luxury to forget the past, with all its privileges and good things, ―ay, and Gospel meetings and Bible lessons. People say hell is remorse, but it is only part of it.
2. Tormented―(vs. 25). This one word tells of the awful present in the flames of hell.
3. Fixed―(vs. 26), —completes the picture, and tells us that no ray of hope ever enters that dark abode of misery, ―that place of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Pain, torment of any kind, can be borne, if there is any hope of relief but what must it be when the doom is fixed forever?
Reader, is there any chance of your coming into that place of torment? Have you heard Moses and the prophets? Listen to them now: ― “To him (Jesus) give all the prophets witness, that, through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). And “Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:22-23).
The rich man in hell wanted one sent to his brethren from the dead, but was refused. God has sent One to us from the dead, and He says, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven” (Heb. 12:25). Yes, Jesus is raised from the dead, and now speaks to us from heaven.
Reader, if you refuse to listen to Him, if you neglect this great salvation, you will come into that place of torment which is called hell. Oh! think of those three words: ―Remember, ― Tormented, ―Fixed. No words of mine can add to the vividness of the picture; and remember, no matter what men say, this is what God says is hell, M.