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REAL LIFE HORROR STORIES

Introduction 

Halloween is this Wednesday. This is the time of year when tales of horror are told by the campfires and when horror and the supernatural seem to be the theme of many movies, TV programs, and such.

I’m ashamed to admit that in my younger and more foolish days I watched quite a few horror flicks at the urging of the wrong kind of friends.

To this day I remember the very last one that I watched. It was on Halloween night, 1977, when I was an Accounting major at Valdosta State College in Valdosta, GA. After watching that movie that night, I was cured from ever wanting to watch another one. I lived by myself in off campus housing and I remember not being able to sleep all that night. (And “No!” I will not tell you the name of the flick!)

The vast majority of these horror stories are the ramblings of folks with some very wicked and depraved minds (e.g. people such as Stephen King.)

However, today (both in the A.M. and the P.M. services) and next week I want us to focus upon two real life horror stories.

Understand that these stories are not the ramblings of someone with a depraved mind, because their source is God. These stories are not fiction or make believe. These are real life stories and we can be assured that they are absolutely true because of their source–the Bible, the Word of God. God does not and cannot lie!

Would you do me, the person beside you, and yourself a favor today and listen on purpose.

THE FIRST STORY HAS TO DO WITH THE HORRORS OF HELL. TURN TO LUKE 16:19-31.

Understand that this is not a parable, it is a real life story!

              Jesus did not say that it was a parable.

              Jesus said that this was a certain rich man and a certain beggar.

Jesus named the certain beggar, Lazarus. Jesus did not use proper names in the parables he told.

I.           WE SEE THE HORROR OF HOW QUICKLY LIFE CAN CHANGE!

              A.        This Rich Man Had A Good Life! (Vs 19-21)

                          1.         He had the kind of life that many dream of.

                                                  He was rich.

                                                  He wore the finest clothing.

                                                  He “fared sumptuously” every day.

                                                  He had most everything his heart desired.

                          2.         His life stood in stark contrast to Lazarus.

                                                  Lazarus was poor – He was a beggar.

                                                  Lazarus was needy.

                                                  Lazarus wasn’t healthy.

                                                  All he really had was God in his life.  

              B.        But Then, Death Came! (Vs 22)

                          1.         Death interrupts life.

Death doesn’t ask what you’ve got going on in your life before it takes you. It doesn’t care.

                                      Death interrupts business.

                                      Death interrupts pleasure. 

                          2.         Death often comes when we are not expecting it.

Most people are not given a heads up that death is imminent. (Sometimes they are, but not always)

Notice how many times in the obituary columns that it says someone “died unexpectedly”.

                          3.         Death comes whether we are ready or not.

                                      This rich man was ready for life, not death.

                                      Lazarus was ready for death.

              C.        When Death Came, The Torment Immediately Began! (Vs 23)

Most horror stories have the element of terror that comes upon someone or some group suddenly.

Can you imagine the horror of living the good life one second and then being plunged into hell the next?

                          That is exactly what happened to this rich man!

We know that, for the believer, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

But, for the unbeliever, to be absent from the body is to be immediately present in the horrors of hell!

WE SEE THE HORROR OF HOW QUICKLY LIFE CAN CHANGE!

II.         WE SEE THE HORROR OF A TERRIBLE PLACE!

Just as much as Muncie is a real place or Parker City is a real place, we need to understand that hell is a real place.

In Luke 16, Jesus allows us to see into the pits of hell through the eyes of this certain rich man who died and went there.

              A.        Hell Is A Place Of Unbelievable Torments!

“...the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments...” (Vs. 22b-23a)

The word “torment(s)” is used twice and the word “tormented” is used twice in this passage of Scripture to remind us of how terrible a place that hell really is.

It is a place where people are tormented day and night in both body and soul without ever a moment of relief from the pain.

On earth, we have drugs and pain killers to ease physical, mental, and emotional pain. But, in hell there are no drugs and there are no pain killers.

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unbelievable Torments!

              B.        Hell Is A Place Of Unending Fire!

There is no pain any greater that I know of than that of

                          being burned.

                          (Exp:   Tell of the fiery crash near Claxton, Georgia.)

                          Can you imagine burning for ever and ever and ever?

                          Matthew 25:41–calls the fire of hell “everlasting fire.”

Mark 9:43 & 45 Jesus said the fire of hell “...never shall be quenched.”

                          Mark 9:44-48–Jesus said three times the fire of hell “is                           not quenched.”

Look at verse 24 of our text, the rich man cries, “I am tormented in this flame.”

You may be able to withstand a lot of things in this life, but are you brave enough to withstand eternal fire?

Some people have laughed at the idea of how a body can burn without being consumed, but let me remind you that God caused a bush to burn before Moses and yet it was not consumed. It got Moses’ attention!

If God can cause a bush to burn without being burned up, then God can cause a body to burn without it being burned up also! Does God have your attention?

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unbelievable Torments!

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unending Fire!

              C.        Hell Is A Place Of Unquenchable Thirst! (Vs. 24)

The first thing the rich man in hell asked for was a drop of water.

The torment of his thirst was so great that a single drop of water would have brought immeasurable relief to him.

                          But, that one drop of water he requested was denied!

I remember the summer of 1980 when I was attending Tennessee Temple University as being one of the hottest summers on record. I worked that summer with a man who was out of the same Church I grew up in.

He was in the grass cutting business. That was not exactly the job that I wanted during a heat wave, but I needed the work.

Sometimes I would get so thirsty that it hurt. Have you ever been that thirsty? There was nothing that could quench that kind of thirst like a cool drink of water. It took more than a drop to do any good.

Can you imagine being so thirsty that one drop of water would make a difference?

Imagine never being able to quench your thirst. Imagine always being in the state of constant thirst.

                          Can you picture that in your mind?

                          Your lips, your tongue, your throat dry and parched.

                          Oh for just a drop of water!

One drop of water is all that the rich man asked. But He was not allowed even one drop of water.

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unbelievable Torments!

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unending Fire!

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unquenchable Thirst!

              D.        Hell Is A Place Of Undying Memory! (Vs 25)

                          This rich man was fully conscious in hell.

When people go through physical trauma in this life, they often go into a state of shock where they are not even aware of the damage that has been done to their body. That is not the way it is in hell. The inhabitants there are awake and conscious for all eternity.

This rich man was able to remember the good life he had lived while he was on earth–what torment that must have been.

He could remember people, places, and past pleasures. No doubt he could also remember past opportunities that he had allowed to slip by.

People don’t lose their memories in hell. In fact, their memories will be there to haunt them for all eternity.

If you die without Christ you will remember that you were born in a land where you had the freedom of religion and where Bibles were plenteous.

No doubt you will remember every opportunity you had to trust Christ but didn’t. Every sermon you rejected will be there in your memory taunting you like a schoolyard bully for all eternity.

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unbelievable Torments!

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unending Fire!

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unquenchable Thirst!

Hell Is A Place Of Undying Memory!E.Hell Is A Place Of Unspeakable Sorrow!

No matter how bad a picture of hell that I paint for you today, hell in its reality is worse than our hearts and minds can imagine!

                          The Bible portrays hell as a place of physical torments.

                          The Bible portrays hell as a place mental anguish.

The Bible portrays hell as a place where men will weep and wail and gnash their teeth.

The Bible portrays hell as a place of torment for day and night for ever and ever.

The Bible portrays hell as a place where sorrow is added to the suffering.

Proverbs 11:7–“When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.”

                          Just what are you expecting to happen when you die?

Reincarnation? For God to weigh your good works vs your bad? For God to get sentimental and just let you into heaven? Nothing–life is just over? Annihilation –you just burn up and that’s it? Expecting hell to not be as bad as the preacher says it is?

Whatever you are expecting, if you are not saved, the Bible says–“your expectation shall perish!”

As long as you are alive and breathing, there is hope– that is, there is hope that you will come to Christ!

                          But, when you die without Christ–All hope is gone!

Hell is a place where there is no hope: “the hope of the unjust men perisheth.”

                          1.         There Is No Hope Of Reincarnation!

                          2.         There Is No Hope Of Mercy!

                          3.         There Is No Hope Of Annihilation!

You never burn up, you just burn.

                          4.         There Is No Hope Of Escape!

There is no way out once you are there.

                                      The only hope for escape is now!

                          5.         There Is No Hope Of Release!

                          6.         There Is No Hope Of Relief!

                          Hell Is A Place Of Unspeakable Sorrow!

              F.        Hell Is A Place Of Unending Separation!

People joke about being in hell with their friends.

There are no friendships for people who are suffering and in agony. If you wind up there, the good times are over!

Some joke about having a party with the devil. However, the moment anyone arrives in hell, they will realize that party time is over!

                          1.         Those In Hell Are Separated From All That Is Good. (Vs. 25)

There are none who are truly “good” who go there.

                                      According to Revelation 21:8,

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

I want you to note the top two in the category are the “fearful” and the “unbelieving.”

                                      a.         Fearful. Who are these “fearful?” We are not told, but consider.

                                                  1)        Some fear what people might say or think if they follow Christ. (Family, friends, Co-workers)

                                                  2)        Some fear what it might cost them to follow Jesus.

Salvation is free, but making the decision to follow Christ might cost you some friends or family or even cost you financially.

                                                  3)        Some fear that they might not be able to live it.

The truth is that none of us can live it apart from the power of God in our lives. We still fall short of God’s glory even after we are saved.

                                      b.        Unbelieving. Who are these “unbelieving?” Again, we are not told specifically who these people are but consider:

                                                  1)        The “Moral Unbeliever.”

A person can appear outwardly to us to be moral, but God looks on the heart of a man.

Romans 3:10–“There is none righteous, no, not one.”

                                                  2)        The “Proud Unbeliever.”

Too proud to admit they’re wrong!

                                                  3)        The “Baptized Unbeliever.”

Water baptism has never saved anyone. You can be baptized until you shrivel up like a prune and you can still split hell wide open!

                                                  4)        The “Unbelieving Church Member.”

Having your name on a church roll will never get your name into the Lamb’s book of life!

                                                  5)        The “Sincere Unbeliever.”

Some people have been deceived and believe very strongly in a way other than what the Bible says is “The Way.”

                                                  6)        The “Foolish Unbeliever.”

Psalm 14:1–“The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.”

                                                  7)        The “Wicked Unbeliever.”

Those who think a wicked life on earth will never catch up with them. They live the way they want to live. Anything goes. No wickedness is too vile for them.

It is their life. They will live it the way they want to. The only problem is that “The wages of sin is death!” (Romans 3:23)

                                                  8)        The “Procrastinating Unbeliever.”

Those In Hell are Separated From All That Is Good.

2.Those In Hell Are Separated From All That Is Godly. (Vs. 26)

Can you imagine living in an environment with no Godly influence?

Some people who are wicked think that would be great. They dream of a world without God and without Christians to ruin their good time.

The only problem is that their dream will turn into one eternal nightmare.

              Hell Is A Place Of Unending Separation!

G.         Hell Is A Place Of Unanswered Supplication!

              (Luke 16:24-25; 27-28)

              1.         The Rich Man Cried Out For Mercy, He Didn’t Get It! (Vs. 24)

              2.         The Rich Man Cried Out For Water, He Didn’t Get It! (Vs. 25)

              3.         The Rich Man Prayed For An Extraordinary Witness To His Family, He Did Not Get It.

The rich man prayed for Lazarus to be sent to witness to his brothers! (Vs. 27)

The answer he received was that his brothers had already been given a witness–The Word of God!

                          (vs. 29)

              4.         Some May Be Waiting For Something Out Of The Ordinary Before They Believe–Don’t Count On It!

              5.         We Have Been Given The Word Of God–That Is Sufficient!

In fact we have more than the rich man’s brothers had–we have both the Old and New Testaments.

We will be judged according to the light that we have been given!

Conclusion

Life can change quickly for you or for someone you love!

Imagine the horror of you or someone you know dropping into hell!

It is a horrible place to wind up in! We’ve seen today that Hell Is A Place Of:

                                      Unbelievable Torments!

                                      Unending Fire!

Unquenchable Thirst!

Undying Memory!

                                      Unspeakable Sorrow!

                                      Unending Separation!

                                      Unanswered Supplication!

Hell is a horrible place that people should be persuaded to avoid.

(Vs 31)

The whole purpose of this message has been twofold:

A.          If you’re headed for hell, I have tried to persuade you that you don’t want to go there. The only way not to go there is to repent of your sin and trust in the finished work of Jesus who paid the price for your sin on the cross!

B.          For those of us who are saved and headed for heaven, I have tried to open our eyes to the need to persuade others not to go to hell.

Persuade somebody–persuade anybody–persuade everybody you can!

If people could be persuaded of the reality of a literal hell:

1)          What effect would it have on the lost?

People would really be seeking out the truth and quit putting off making a decision for Christ. They would give up their sin and unbelief and trust God!

2)          What effect would it have on the saved?

They would pray more, witness more, and shed more tears for the lost. (especially family and friends)

              Maybe the reason hell doesn’t seem real to the lost is because of the way we who claim to be saved live.

              Many professing Christians live their lives so flippantly it just flies in the face of those who are lost!

              Many are involved in activities that even some lost people wouldn’t be involved in.

              Many who call themselves Christians are not faithful to Church.

              There are way too many who hardly ever give a gospel witness!

              Many are not faithful to pray! Some have never shed a tear for lost love ones!

If hell isn’t real to us, how can we expect a lost world to believe its real!

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!