Luke 16:25–26 (NKJV)
25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
In studying for a sermon on “The Rich Man and Lazarus” a few things stuck out. One, Both men chose their eternal destination. Lazarus chose Heaven, the Rich man Hell.
When Lazarus died he was immediately carried by the angels and carried into Paradise. The rich man was in Hell. For the rich man, all the comforts and pleasures of earth were snatched away. Immediately he was in Hell.
This is what is striking. The rich man was able to see into Paradise, able to see both Abraham and Lazarus. He saw all the glory and comfort, the joy of Heaven. So many things he was able to witness from his place in Hell. None of them are good.
Jesus said in Luke 13:28, “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.”
This is the most striking part of Hell. The rich man was painfully alone. Alone for eternity. No hope, only solitary confinement in Hell. Eternally in the dark pits of Hell. Left only with regret for eternity. His evil life on earth paid its dividends. No one, for eternity, only the regrets of choices made in another life.
The rich man burning in Hell prayed for just a drop of water. All alone he had no one to even comfort him with just a drop of water.
It is only in this life we can choose our eternal destination. There is no partying in Hell.