A Place of No Escape....

This is the most vivid story about Hell in the Bible. Hell is real. It wasn’t designed for man, but man chooses it when he denies God. Once there, there is no escape. Faith is the only thing that can rescue a man from this destination. Faith in Jesus. This warning about Hell is real. It’s supposed to warn you by painting a vivid picture of reality. If it doesn’t scare you, some thing is seriously wrong in your view of it. Yes, some won’t go there, because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. But many will. Jesus, Himself, said narrow is the way to life, but broad is the road to destruction (my paraphrase). Which path are you on, the rich man’s , or Lazarus’? The Bible is very clear on what one has to do to inherit eternal life. You will live forever. The question is, where will that be?

19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,23 and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home.28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31