Hell, Blood & Heaven

Luke 16:19-31 chronicles a famous parable of the rich man and Lazarus. It tells the story of a rich man who ultimately ends up in hell due to his negligence of his fellow brother, Lazarus. Hell is a topic many are often shy away from. Furthermore, there are those who are reluctant to believe the very notion of Hell, despite believing in Heaven. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus illustrates 3 principles regarding Hell.

1. Principle of Justice -v19-20 shows how during his time on earth, the rich man lived lavishly, while a fellow brother in need spent his respective days suffering at Lazarus' gate. The life you live now will determine how you will live your life thereafter.
2. Principle of Finality - While you live on this earth, God will give you many chances to come to Him, but once you're time is up, there will no more chances to repent. Our life is not a right, it's a privilege. Therefore it can be take away any given moment. We life as if we are guaranteed tomorrow despite everything around us testify our fragile our existence is. Furthermore, the existence of Hell serves as a ultimate proof of God's respect for us. It is the ultimate demonstration of our gift of freedom of choose.
3. Principle of Provisional Grace - In v27-30, Lazarus begs Abraham to sent Lazarus to his brothers to warn them about Hell, however "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.' “God has given us everything we need to obtain eternal life.

So then, what does the bible say about Heaven?

1. Newness - Nothing on this earth remains new. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon laments over and over that despite all the riches and pleasures he acquired, nothing remained new. Everything eventually faded away. Yet according the Revelation, John describes heaven as a sense of forever new. Everything will forever surprise you, forever leave you in awe.
2. Beauty - Not just any kind of beauty, but the type of beauty that comes from purity.
3. Light - In Rev 31:23 it talks about how we will forever bask in the glory of the Lords' light.

So what is the difference between Heaven and Hell? Blood. For ultimately it is your sin that drags you into Hell, but it will be His blood that will save you from it.

--from Nakwon EM February 10th 2007 Sunday Worship Service
*To listen to this sermon in its entirety, please contact James Kim

"hey what you know! "newness" is actually a real word?!"