“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” Luke 16:23

Why must we go soul winning? Why should we have big days? Why do we put so much emphasis on taking the Gospel to lost people? Why do we invest so much effort, time, and money in the soul winning program? Why do we give up our Saturdays to knock on doors, pass out Gospel tracts, and sign people up to ride the bus on Sunday? I will tell you why my dear friend: because there is a place where people who die without Christ go. “And in hell…” Luke 16:23.

Death is a sure thing. Rich and poor people go through the experience of dying. “And it came to pass, that the beggar died… the rich man also died” – vs. 22.

We don’t just live, die, and get it over with. There is something after this life. “…the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell…” vs. 22-23.

I want to remind you that we should never stop winning souls for Christ, because of this horrendous place.

HELL IS A PLACE OF TORMENT

“…I am tormented in this flame.” vs. 24

The pain in hell is intense and continuous. It is a physical and emotional pain, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”- vs. 25.In other words, father Abraham told him, “You lived they way you pleased, you enjoyed the pleasures of sin, but now, it is time for you to suffer.” The pain in hell is worse than cancer, worse than misery, worse than abandonment, worse than abuse, and worse than betrayal.

HELL IS A PLACE OF FIRE FLAMES

“…I am tormented in this flame.” vs. 24

This is a literal fire, just like the stove fire, the oven fire, a house on fire, or a California forest fire. Can you imagine yourself burning without any hope that someday the fire will extinguish? During the 9/11 terrorist attack, many people jumped out of the burning Twin Towers. They preferred to die by jumping off a building 100-stories high than to die burning. “Their worm dieth not, and the fires is not quenched.” Mark. 9:44.

HELL IS A PLACE OF ABSOLUTE LONESOMENESS

And he cried and said…” vs. 24

Notice the man is all by himself. (“He”, not “They”) Although there are millions of people who go to hell, it is completely lonely there, without friends, without family members, without acquaintances, without neighbors, no one to talk to or communicate with. There is no internet, no cellphones to make phone calls with, or FaceTime to make videocalls. Some may ask, “Would I be able to call my wife and kids to say hello?” No! “Would I be able to call my parents?” No! “Would I be able to call my friends?” Nobody! Where were the five brothers and all his friends that were with him during his feasts? He was lonely!

HELL IS AN ETERNAL PLACE

“…between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” vs. 26

Dr. Jack Hyles said: “Is there a hell? If there is no hell, I’d close my Bible. If there is no hell, I will not preach another sermon as long as I live. If there is no hell, I will take life easy; I will not go day and night. But I am convinced from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet that there is a hell. Our Lord Jesus spoke about it when he said in Matthew 25:41, ‘Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.’ Again, He spoke about the place in Mark chapter nine, ‘…where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.’ Hell is a place of eternal fire. Hell is a place of eternal falling. Hell is a place of eternal conscience. Hell is a place of eternal lust. Hell is a place of only one answered prayer. One day people should cry from hell and say: ‘Let us out! Let us out!’ They’ll come out to stand before the Great White Throne Judgement of God and be cast once away into the place prepared for those who are unprepared.”

Write the number one on a paper, and then write nine zeros–that is a million years. Write three more zeros and that is a billion years. Write three more zeros and that is a trillion years. Keep writing zeros. Fill the paper with zeros and more zeros. That is only a millisecond in the eternity of hell!

Dear friend, if you are reading this and do not know for sure that you are going to heaven when you die, let me remind you that God loves you. He wants to save you from the most horrendous place that exists. He wants to save you from going to hell. He wants you to avoid going to it. The decision is yours now. God gave you a will for you to decide. The Lord invites you to come. Decide to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Will you pray, “Lord Jesus, I come to You, at this very moment, to ask You to forgive me of all my sins. I believe with all my heart, that you died on the cross to save me because You love me. Right now, I open the door of my heart, and I ask You to come in. I accept You as my Lord and Savior. And I ask You to please save me from hell and take me to Heaven when I die. Thank You Lord Jesus for saving me today. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

The call from this man has resonated for more than two thousand years, “Someone testify to my five brothers, lest they also come into this place of torment.”

Let’s keep winning souls to Christ. Let’s keep bringing lost souls to The Savior, so He can save them from the most horrendous place that exists.

ministrysharing.com

Dr. Hebert Rodriguez

Pastor Hebert Rodríguez is the pastor of Iglesia Bíblica Bautista (Bible Baptist Church). He serves along his wife and two children.

He was saved at the age of 7. Surrendered to full-time ministry at 16 years old and started preaching two months later. He became his father’s assistant, serving with the teens, with the music, and with church maintenance, at the age of 20. Being raised in a Preacher’s home, Pastor Rodríguez had the privilege to see four churches planted, both in Mexico and the USA.

His life’s and ministry’s motto is, “IT CAN BE DONE!”