Hades is For Real

The meditation this morning is from Luke 16:19-31 NIV:

[19] “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. [20] At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores [21] and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

[22] “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. [23] In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. [24] So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

[25] “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. [26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

[27] “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, [28] for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

[29] “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

[30] “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

[31] “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

The first thing I thought of this morning as I read these verses was that Hell/Hades is for real - a play on the title of the recently released movie, "Heaven is for Real". One could possibly try to ignore hell, just not believe in hell, or believe that no one is going to hell, it Jesus makes it quite clear in these verses that there is a place where torment exists after death. He describes Hades as a place of fire and a place of separation from God and that which is good and satisfies.

The Hades He is speaking about is commonly believed to be the holding place of the dead, prior to Jesus' death and resurrection. This is not the final Hell, or lake fire, as described in Revelation 20:13-15 NIV: "The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. [14] Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. [15] Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." For a fuller treatment of this, see David Guzick's discussion at http://classic.studylight.org/com/guz/view.cgi?book=lu&chapter=16&verse=23#Lu16_24">

Regardless of how Hades is defined, Jesus is speaking about eternal destinies affected by our lives here on the earth. This is something we need to pay attention to, for we only get one life. I think the final verse is interesting, considering we just celebrated Jesus' resurrection. There are those who will not believe "even if someone rises from the dead."

It s important to note that those who wouldn't believe had heard the prophets and Moses proclaimed. The Lord, is not one to hand out random punishment, to unknowing individuals. We, thus, know more about the rich man as well. He had heard the Prophets and Moses teachings proclaimed, yet his life was unchanged, and he ignored the commandments and scriptures, choosing instead to live a life of selfishness, self-focus, and greed, for he wouldn't share anything with the poor man who he passed at his gate. That he knew Lazarus is clear, so we see that his choice to ignore his need was part of the issue. Jesus speaks of the lost and hungry and poor in Matt 25:41-46, and how one's ignoring their need will affect one's eternal destiny, as described in this parable.

So let us examine our lives. Let us notice and care for those around us in need. Let us set our hearts on something other than our own selfish desires, and let us consider our eternal destinies.