A Glimpse into Heaven and Hell

Christians naturally wonder what heaven will be like. Many ascribe secular characteristics to heaven (i.e. we’ll be playing golf, food won’t have any calories, etc). We also wonder what hell will be like. Does it even exist? Some wonder if this life on earth is hell for everyone and then we all get into heaven. The Bible has many references to heaven and hell and judgment (what happens after we die), but perhaps the best teaching on heaven and hell comes from this morning’s Gospel lesson.

First, we meet two men in the Gospel lesson, a rich man, and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man is well dressed and feasts sumptuously every day. Lazarus is both poor and sick. He sits at the gate of the rich man’s house, hoping to eat the crumbs that the rich man is not going to eat anyway. Lazarus never becomes bitter towards the rich man. He never steals from him. He never complains about his lot in life. He lives a life of patience and suffering.

The rich man, on the other hand, has ample opportunities to help Lazarus. He doesn’t even have to give Lazarus of his abundance. Even the left over scraps will suffice. He lives a life of indifference towards Lazarus.

In time both men die. The rich man ends up in hell, not because of his riches, but because of his indifference, and his failure to love his neighbor Lazarus. Lazarus ends up in the bosom of Abraham, not because he was poor but because he was humble and patient with the life he had.

And here is where our pictures of heaven and hell begin to take shape.

We are told in the Gospel that the Lazarus was carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. That image portrays glory (the angels) and comfort (the bosom of Abraham)—imagine a little child being embraced by his mother, comforted in time of sickness or when he is scared.

The rich man is in hell. He is described as being in torment. It’s hot where he is. He begs Abraham to send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and put it to the tongue of the rich man. So we know that hell is a place of torment.

Abraham said that this is impossible because there is a chasm between heaven and hell. Those in heaven cannot fall out of heaven and go to hell. Those who are in hell cannot come out of hell and rise to heaven. Being in heaven or hell is permanent.

All of a sudden, the rich man who spent his life indifferent his neighbor, all of a sudden becomes concerned with the welfare of his five brothers. He doesn’t want them to end up in hell. He all of a sudden finds the virtue of love and compassion which he didn’t have in life. But it is too late. In hell, it will be too late for Christian virtue and faith to save the one consigned there.

And finally, those in hell will be aware of those who are in heaven. They will see heaven, and know that they cannot be there. Imagine a hot summer day at your church community. You are sitting outside on hot asphalt. There is nothing to drink, no sunscreen and no relief. There are a hundred people sitting out there with you. You are all suffering. But at least you are comforted by the fact that you are suffering together. However, imagine that in the church hall, a hundred people are inside, in cool air conditioning, eating, drinking, dancing. You can see them. But you can’t be with them. You have the knowledge not only of your suffering but of the joy that others are experience that you can never share in. This is hell. An awareness of God, with the inability to be with God.

Where heaven is, and what exactly the “bosom of Abraham” will look and feel like are unknown. What is known that is that heaven will be a place of joy, hell will be a place of torment, both places will be permanent for those assigned to them, and our assignment to one or the other will be based on love, or indifference. And once we are assigned, that assignment will be permanent. So what to do today? Look for the “Lazaruses” of the world and help them. And if you are “Lazarus,” be patient in suffering and don’t lose faith.