Scripture Reading: Luke 16:22–24 (KJV)
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
Revelation 21:3–4
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them…
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain…”
Devotional
In Luke 16, Jesus pulls back the curtain on eternity. The rich man dies and immediately finds himself in hell, in conscious torment, begging for a drop of water. No parole. No second chance. No relief. He is fully aware of his suffering and his past life.
Hell is not a myth or a scare tactic. Jesus spoke about it plainly because He doesn’t want you to go there. It is a place of unending, conscious punishment, of regret without relief.
In contrast, Revelation 21 paints heaven: no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. God Himself dwelling with His people. Walls of jasper, the river of life, the tree of life — but best of all, the presence of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
When you put these two destinies side by side, it almost seems there is no real choice. Yet many still choose sin, self, and the broad road. The issue is not that heaven isn’t attractive enough; it is that sin blinds people to the reality of hell and the beauty of Christ.
Reflection
- Do I really believe that hell is real and eternal, and that heaven is real and eternal?
- If I do believe this, how should it change the way I live, pray, and speak to others?
Prayer
Lord, help me to take eternity seriously. Let the reality of hell give me a holy urgency, and the hope of heaven give me holy comfort. Keep me from treating these truths lightly. Give me compassion for those still on the broad way and courage to point them to Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Action
Identify at least one person you know who does not appear to know Christ. Today, pray specifically for their salvation by name. If possible in the next few days, look for a natural opportunity to share a verse, your testimony, or an invitation to church with them.
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Location