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Hell Does Have Fury

Surely, there isn’t a hell, and if there is, it can’t be worse than this, right? There is, and it is. This daily devotional, the first in the Hell Does Have Fury series, looks at how hell is a place of torment.

Nuggets

  • Everyone will pass from a physical life to an eternal life.
  • The Rich Guy woke up “… in torment …” (Lk. 16: 23 ESV) knowing exactly who he was and what he had been.
  • Death had not provided Rich Guy with a different moral character.
  • We not only will have our memories in the afterlife, but also things we can’t remember now will be remembered then.
Flowers with title Hell Does Have Fury

I used to have a co-worker who didn’t believe there was a hell. She could not see how there was anything worse than this life.

There is a saying that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. While that is talking more about the woman’s anger, it minimizes to some extent the consequences of hell.

The Bible clearly tells us that there will be a hell, and it won’t be a pretty place. Someone put it together as a meme to witness to others just how bad it will be. Using that meme as a foundation, we are going to look at hell as a place of torment that lasts forever. There is no escape — but we can miss it forever.

This devotion is going to look at hell as a place of torment. Let’s look at what it will be like.

Let's Put It into Context

We get a description of hell in a parable Jesus told. A parable is a story that Jesus told using everyday examples to illustrate spiritual concepts. Remember, I’ve said a couple of times that we learn by hooking new information with what we already know?

Resource

Holman Bible Dictionary’s definition of parable

Jesus was a master at this. He used everyday occurrences to explain the kingdom of God.

Now, since it is a “story,” some may want to write it off thinking it is fiction. Not so. Stories can be fact, too.

Look at Jesus’ character. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (Jn. 14: 6 NIV). For that reason, we can believe Him when He says, “…If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (Jn.14: 2 ESV). Jesus is going to give us valid information.

Here is an overview of the story. It is about these two guys: Rich Guy and Lazarus. You can fill in the blanks there. Both die. Lazarus goes to heaven; Rich Guy goes to hell. Let’s pick up the story here.

It’s a Place of Torment

“ and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side” (Lk. 16: 23 ESV)

We may think we are just going to be worm food after we die, but we are not. Everyone will pass from a physical life to an eternal life.

Yes, I talk a lot about being spiritually dead and spiritually alive. Some might think the spiritually dead are going to be worm food while the spiritually get to go to heaven.

Spiritual death is the spiritual separation from God that occurred as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s original sin. The spiritually alive are those who have ABCDed, so they are no longer separated from God.

Not the case. Look at the parable. Both men died. Both men “woke up” to a new life.

Glossary

Spiritually Dead

Torment of Misguided Expectation

The problem is Rich Guy woke up “… in torment …” (Lk. 16: 23 NKJV) knowing exactly who he was and what he had been. That would have been a kick to Rich Guy. He could see what he probably thought was going to be his eternal inheritance — and wasn’t.

We know the Jews in Jesus’ day put a lot of stock in being children of Abraham. Even Rich Guy did. “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame’” (Lk. 16: 24 ESV).

Paul put us straight on that. “The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God” (Gal. 3: 7 NLT).

Faith makes us children of God. Faith is a gift from God that enhances the conviction that the doctrines revealed in God’s Word are true, even if we do not understand all aspects of them, a belief which impacts our lives and distinguishes us from others.

Glossary

Faith

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone is a child of God. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (Jn. 1: 12 ESV).

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (Jn. 1: 12 ESV).

Not convinced? “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom. 8: 14 ESV).

Father Abraham knew that relying on heritage or even being charitable to others isn’t going to cut it. “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember…’” (Lk. 16: 25 ESV).

Torment of Same Bat Time, Different Bat Channel

Rich Guy had a change of address — and it was not the mansion to which he was accustomed. The problem was he hadn’t changed.

Death had not provided Rich Guy with a different moral character. It hadn’t automatically fixed everything that was wrong with his spiritual self.

But did you notice what Rich Guy didn’t say? Where was the “I am wrong,” “I should have chosen differently,” — even “there is a God.”

No remorse.

Tormented by Memories

We all know memory is where our mind file our past history so we can recall it. Part of Rich Guy’s torment was he knew how great he had it in this life — and that was all gone.

Not only that, Coe thought we are going to have memory on steroids in the eternal life. Things we can’t remember now will be remembered then. Ooo, baby. That is a thought.

Resource

Coe’s The Memory of the Lost

Rich Guy had it all in this life. “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day” (Lk. 16: 19 ESV). Oh, he knew exactly what he had lost.

Memory is forever.

Obviously, Rich Guy regretted his choice — and he knew it was his choice. Rich Guy was remembering all the times he was convicted and quenched the Spirit.

Isn’t that so sad? He realized how wrong he had been.

There are going to be a lot of people in that boat.

But look at what Rich Guy said. “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me [1], and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my [2] tongue, for I [3] am in anguish in this flame’” (Lk. 16: 24 ESV)

Three times, he made “I” statements. Still hasn’t figured it out, had he?

Physical Torment

Hell will be a place of physical torment. “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons” (Mt. 25: 41 NLT).

All Rich Guy wanted was one drop of water. Would that have magically stopped the physical torment for the rest of eternity? No.

How long would that relief have lasted? Probably not very long. Rich Guy was in so much torment, he would settle for that second, minute — however long the relief would have been.

Rich Guy not only knew he was in torment, but he also saw Lazarus was not — he saw what he missed. As a Jew, he would have avoided Lazarus like the plague.

Pastor Chad preached on this a while back. He said, “The rich man is suffering to a point that he is begging to have a man who he would have never been around before, he wants him to dip his hand in the water.” It is that bad.

Think of it this way. The story reads that Rich Guy lived in excess during his life. Now he was more than willing for just one drop of water.

Torment for Others

Remember, Rich Guy is regretting his choice. He wanted Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers (Lk. 16: 27-28). It was bad enough he did not want his loved ones joining him.

Note: It doesn’t say Rich Guy could see his family. All it says is he remembered them and their state of having made the same choice he did.

hell-does-have-furyFB

Making the Connections

Let’s just do bullet points:

  • Rich Guy’s money didn’t save him.
  • We are going to be cognizant of where we are and who isn’t there.
  • Don’t think “whatever you sow, you’ll reap” is just a story.
  • The good things in this life don’t guarantee good things in the next life.
  • Hardships here do not equate to hardships there.
  • The future life is based on this life — specifically, the decision we make about Christ.
  • Whether we receive punishment or reward, we are going to remember why we deserve it.
  • Think again if you think what you do in this life doesn’t matter. It does. In fact, it has eternal consequences.

How Do We Apply This?

Only one thing would keep Rich Guy — and us — out of the torment of hell. No one will go to heaven without admitting we are sinners, believing that Jesus is our Redeemer, and confessing God as our Sovereign Lord.

Once we commit to Jesus as our Savior and God as our Sovereign Lord, we have to demonstrate that commitment by changing our lives to follow His laws and commandments.

The ABCDs of Salvation

If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.

A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord

Plan of Salvation

D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us

The Disciple’s Job Description

The Disciple's Job Description

Hell is a real place. It is a place of torment. In the next devotion, we will look at how at, even though it lasts forever, we can escape it.

Father. Sins have consequences — eternal consequences. But before the foundation of the world, You designed a plan to save us from the punishment of those consequences. Instead of sending us to eternal torment in hell — when we ask Jesus to be our Savor — You will bring us to live with You in heaven. Lord, we are humbled that You love us so much. Amen.

What do you think?

Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.

If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.

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