Heaven Or Hell

Is there a heaven and is there a hell? Now there is a question that probably all of us have considered to one degree or another. It is a question that most in the world have wrestled with and have even perhaps been haunted by. The Bible is pretty clear on the existence of heaven and hell and also is clear on the fact that they are in great contrast to each other.
Many people in our nation believe in heaven, but do not believe in hell. I guess they don’t want to deal with the reality of an actual hell as being a place of eternal torment. You would have to be a little off-your-rocker to want to go to a place that is described as an eternal furnace. It is a lot easier to think that you can live a self-involved life of depravity and that there is no hell and everyone is going to heaven. It’s a sweet little cuddly happy ending that would justify a life lived outside the grace and service of God.
In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Jesus has us understand that there is a heaven and there is a hell. Heaven is preserved for his saints and is for those who have lived a life in his grace committed to serving him. Hell is alive and kicking (sadly) and is ready for those who reject Christ and would live to serve self rather than God.
The parable Jesus presents to us in Luke 16:19-31 should really encourage us to strive for heaven and leave hell far behind us. It gives us practical advice on how to live in the grace of God as we serve God and help meet the needs of those less fortunate than us. The parable helps us understand and live out in this life the message of the Word of God. It teaches that even though in this life we have pain, hurt, and anguish that heaven will be a place of joy, happiness, fulfillment, and great blessing. It reminds me of a song I used to sing as a kid—Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace, I wanna see my savior’s face, heaven is a wonderful place. I wanna go there!