Hell is Hot

While driving along Highway 395, south of Spokane, I noticed a small sign. Someone had roughly painted on a little board the words “Hell is hot,” and nailed it on a tree. Being a Christian, preacher, and Bible reader, I knew Hell was hot. However, as I drove along I searched my soul. I don’t want to go there. Too often the attitude in church is, “Don’t mention it. It will scare people off.” That is a big fat lie of the devil. It will more often scare people in. We would rather say only positive things. Well, here goes—I am positive there is a Hell and it is hot.

Please find a Bible and turn to Luke 16:19-31. One day a neighbor friend of mine was in his yard and I stopped to talk to him. Christians in our area had been trying to witness to him and his family. Besides prayer, other efforts were made. Food was brought by to them, special cards were given, and he was invited to Bible study. This day I had an encouraging book to give him. He was tired of all of it. He firmly stated, “I don’t want to go to church, and I don’t want to pay tithe.” God helped me; “I’m not trying to get you to go to church or pay tithe, I just don’t want you to go to Hell.” With this he broke down, told me about his terrible past, and took the book. Within a week, a pastor was able to lead him to Christ. Soon, he and his whole family were saved and baptized.

So what if they get saved because they’re scared? They get saved! Jesus often spoke of Hell. In Luke 16:19, Jesus told of a certain rich man (not a parable). He did not mention his name. There were probably a lot of “certain rich men” that ended up in Hell like this man. He gave testimony that Hell was hot. He said, “I am tormented in this flame.” He was told he couldn’t get out. “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, [speaking to Abraham, who was far off with Lazarus] that thou wouldst send him [Lazarus] to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may ‘testify’ unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Imagine—the rich man was praying that even a beggar would testify about Hell to his family. Families need it. Eternity is long, and our time is short. It is time we play the “Hell is hot” card.

Jesus told this account to His disciples. The Pharisees were also there listening. Hell needs to be preached not only to a lost and dying world, but to the church. Just because we sing “When We All Get to Heaven” (many churches don’t sing it anymore), doesn’t mean we are all going to get to Heaven. Matthew 7:21-23 tells what Jesus says about that. We can sing “Lord, Lord” all day long (even standing up and swaying to the music) to no avail if we don’t do the will of the Father. Jesus said, “And then will I profess unto them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (vs. 23).

Hell was created for the devil and his angels. Not even the “Hell’s Angels” are tough enough to endure it. Imagine a rich man begging for just a little drop of water on his tongue, and being refused.

As a little boy I used to play a record by Rex Humbard that talked about Hell. I can only remember part of the song:

'Tis your life, you can abuse it, 
'tis your soul, and you can lose it. 
Heaven or Hell, just as you choose it…