I mentioned to you that the topic of “Hell” is not preached much, anymore. Today, we’re looking at the story in Luke 16:19-31. I encourage you to read it. It’s the story about a rich man who goes to Hell and a poor beggar, Lazarus, who goes to Heaven.

 

Man is challenged with the understanding that the wages of sin is death. How can a sinful man appease a Holy God? It only can happen when the individual understands he must surrender to that truth and realizes that, “In myself lies no good thing.” But, with God all things are possible, even salvation to my weary soul that is in search of rest.

 

My goal is to renew in you a passion for souls and a passion for people. I want to apply to you the Holy Ghost “paddles” to revive your heart with a desire to see people come to Christ. Why? Because, in truth, I want you to have this pleasure in your life. To win souls for Christ is the greatest pleasure of living. 

 

We talked about some letters from prison, but today we’re talking about a letter from a rich man. There’s no greater prison than Hell. Some people aren’t physically in Hell, but they’re in Hell right here. Not living but existing. Not thriving but dying. Not moving forward but regressing. And, we have to, as a church, categorize the conditions of the hearts of the people that are around us so that they can understand that they are living beneath their rights and privileges. The potential to be a child of God is the greatest gift that a man could ever receive.

 

A letter from a rich man, in Luke 16, is a letter from a man that is in the worst possible state. A condition that he cannot change. A condition that will not end. A condition that is eternal for him. But, in this portion of scripture, light has been shed for us to see his condition and to understand it. It serves as a warning for us, not only to make a correction and make self-inspection, but also to warn all of us of the reality of Hell.