The Encourager
“Question the Man in Hell Never Asked by Mike Richardson”
It is interesting to notice the conversation in Luke 16:22-31 between the rich man and
Abraham. It is of great interest we observe what he had to say, but also to note what he asked
for. He asked for Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool his tongue for he was in torments
in the flame. He asked that Lazarus be sent to his home to teach his five brothers. However, I
stand amazed at the things this man did NOT ask. Let us notice several.
(i)He does not ask, “Why am I here?” It seems to me that this would be the first question on his lips. He noticed Lazarus, who was a beggar at his gate. He sees him in the place of comfort, but he is in a place of torments. It seems he would ask, “Why am I here?” You often hear people interviewed in prison and many times they say, “I don’t belong here, I was framed, I don’t know what occurred, etc.” However, the rich man did not ask this question. He doesn’t protest and say, “I don’t belong here. It is somebody else’s fault I failed. the preacher didn’t visit men when I was sick one time…or they didn’t have enough children for the Bible classes, etc.” You don’t read where he says he was framed or makes any excuse whatsoever. The question never comes, and I surmise the reason it never comes is, he knew exactly why he was there. Notice Lk.16:30 “If one went from the dead they would repent.” He knew he had not repented. He knew he was not right with God.
(ii)He never asks, “Why is Lazarus in heaven?” He sees and knows Lazarus is in paradise. He is a man who received few things here on earth, but now he is receiving his rewards. He is not in heaven because he was poor, but because he was righteous. He was faithful to God. I wonder if Lazarus ever talked to the rich man and warned him he needed to repent. This may have annoyed the rich man so he ignored the request for table crumbs. Regardless, this man did not question God’s righteous judgment. The man in hell never asked for it to be explained for he knew.
(iii)He never asked, “When is this torment going to end?” When I visit the hospital and there is someone in great pain, they want to get the pain over. They ask the doctor and sometimes even ask me questions. “When will this stop, will this ever end?” It’s interesting to note the rich man in hell never asked, “When is this torment going to end?” He did ask for some relief in vs.24 “Have mercy on me”, but he never asks when torment will end. The man did not ask, “how long do I have to stay here?” Hell is forever. In hell there is no getting out.
(iv)The man in hell never asked for justice. In Lk.16:24 he cried out for mercy, but not for justice. He was getting justice, but never said, “I want to receive exactly what I deserve.” He knew he was receiving what he deserved.
(v)He never asked for company. In fact, notice vs.28 he doesn’t want his five brothers to go to that place of torments. Isn’t that interesting? People in jail like visitors, but this man does not want anyone else to go to that place of eternal torments.
Consider the following:
If you go to hell you will know why. You never came to Christ. Hell is exclusion from God. If you live your earthly life with God excluded, then you will spend eternity excluded from God. We need grace and mercy. Lk.23:41 we read the conversation between the two thieves on the cross. One says we are here justly. In others words, “We are getting what we deserve.” Salvation is according to God’s mercy and grace (Eph.2:4-5). May we receive God’s amazing gift and not the wages of sin (Rom.6:23). The question is, are you right with God?
