The message this morning is certainly not a popular message for today. My topic is "Hell". Some might even consider this to be a negative message, but let me remind you that Jesus had twice as much to say about hell as He did about heaven.
You might say, "I am not going to hell…I don't need to hear a sermon on hell; I am saved." But a message on hell is for Christians as well as the lost. A message on hell should stir and motivate a saved person to be more concerned about the lost. We have neighbors that are lost and on their way to hell. You have friends and even family members on their way to hell. We need a greater concern for those who are on their way to an eternity in hell.
I. Death Is Final…But Then Come Eternity
A. Everyone that leaves this earth in death continues in another life.
1. No one dies and that is the end.
2. There is not an end…Life continues after death.
3. There are two phases.
a. a temporal life - lasts usually less than 100 yrs.
b. an eternal life that lasts forever.
4. No one ceases to live.
5. There was a time we never was, but there will never be a time when we never will be.
6. We are a soul and the soul exists forever.
B. A saved person goes to the heaven when they die.
(2 Cor 5:8) "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
1. Thank God that we do not have to go to a cold grave.
2. Thank God that we go to be with the Lord.
3. We will not take time to discuss all the details of Heaven at this time.
4. No one knows all the exact details.
(1 Cor 2:9-10) "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. {10} But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
C. A Lost Man Goes To An Eternal Hell.
1. I have heard it said, "Well, they are better off since they died…no more pain or suffering."
2. If he were a saved man - YES
3. If he died without Jesus - NO.
4. It doesn't make any difference what the physical condition was at time of death.
5. If they died without Christ they are in a much worse condition.
a. The pain is worse.
b. The loneliness is worse.
c. The suffering is worse.
II. The person in hell will still have their senses.
Read: Luke 16:19-25
A. Their feeling will still be there.
1. Man will still feel like he does here.
2. The burning flames will still be felt the same as they would be in this life, except they will be more intensified.
3. The pain will be the same as they had here.
a. There will be no aspirin for headaches.
b. There will be no soothing salve to put on the parched skin.
c. There will be no healing process for the flesh.
d. The life of the body in hell will live forever and never die. Cf Mk. 9:43-48
B. They will be able to see.
1. Not a beautiful sunrise.
2. Not birds, and trees, and blue skies.
3. See the suffering and the burning and pain of others.
4. There will be darkness, but it will not keep them from seeing the horrible scenes of hell.
C. They Will Be Able To Hear.
1. They will not hear a gospel song that will bless their souls.
2. They will not hear the organ and piano music.
3. They will not hear a message of hope and salvation.
4. They will not hear about Christ who died on the cross for their sins.
5. They won't hear a comforting word from someone who loves them.
6. All they will hear are their own cries of pain.
7. They will hear the agonizing, the misery, and the suffering of others in hell.
D. They Will Be Able To Smell.
1. They will not smell the lovely smells that we so much enjoy.
2. Hot bread just out of the oven, cookies cooling on counter, or the smell of a fresh cut lawn.
3. They will smell the charred burning flesh of others in hell.
E. They Will Be Able To Taste.
1. They will taste the sulfur put off by the flames.
2. They will taste the smoke from the pits of hell.
3. They will not be able to imagine the taste of cool water that would comfort their tongue.
F. The person in hell will also remember.
Luke 16:25 "But Abraham said, 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."
III. Why Go To Hell?
A. There is no reason for anyone to go to hell.
B. God wants us to go to Heaven…He is not willing that any should perish, but that all might come to repentance.
C. If you go to hell you will be an intruder.
1. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. Cf Mt. 25:41
2. Hell is not for man, and yet some will go there in spite of all what God has done.
3. Have you made your reservations for Heaven?
4. Are you sure that you are not going to Hell?
5. If not, make your decision this day.
6. Right now, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Christian, do you have loved ones who are headed for hell? What will we do? Stand by and watch them go or will we step in to stop them…to point them to Calvary…to the One who died that they might be set free.