ICS Daily Devotions
A Glimpse of Heaven and Hell
Luke 16:19-28 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
We are given a glimpse of heaven and hell here. When the rich man died (he was nameless), he went Hades, while Lazarus (his name must be in the Book of Life to qualify for heaven) went to Paradise known as Abraham’s bosom. These two compartments are referred to as Sheol, a place for departed spirits to wait until the completion of Jesus’ redemptive work. Abraham’s bosom was emptied after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who are saved will be with Jesus in heaven now.
While on earth, Lazarus would have been considered unclean with his body full of sores. Although he was poor on the outside, he was rich on the inside because he believed in God just as Abraham did. His name means one whom God helps. When Lazarus died, he was carried by angels to Paradise. He no longer had sores on his body and was able to walk. That was why the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus over to him. Lazarus was healed and able to walk in Paradise instead of being carried around, full of agonising sores while on earth. Heaven is a place where there is no more sickness, pain and sorrow!
The Jewish rich man went to Hades/hell because he did not listen to Moses and the prophets about God sending forth a Messiah, whereas Lazarus did. He lives in torments (plural) which refer to every conceivable torment. It is such a profound suffering that even a temporary relief from a drop of water would help.
He didn’t want his five brothers on earth to go to hell. There is constant loud crying and wailing from departed spirits in hell asking people whom they know, “Don’t come here!”. It is a place of regrets and torments FOREVER in ETERNITY. Those constant cries can never be helped. There is no way heaven can hear what is happening in hell for there is a great gulf between the two. Neither will we be able to hear their voices on earth.
There is an urgency to share the Gospel to help others so that they will never be eternally separated from God like the nameless rich man is.
Sermon Series: Will you tell somebody the Good News
