All the Hell That You Shall Ever Have!
Thomas Brooks reminds us that all our trials and troubles in this life are temporary, and that heaven is yet to come, making it possible to endure suffering with hope and patience.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that the trials and tribulations faced by Christians in this life are merely a foretaste of hell, while the true joy and peace of heaven await them after death. He contrasts the experiences of Lazarus and Dives, illustrating that earthly suffering leads to eternal reward, while earthly pleasure can lead to eternal suffering. Brooks encourages believers to endure their current hardships with the hope that their future is filled with joy and comfort, as death will ultimately end their struggles and usher them into everlasting happiness.
Text
Consider Christian, that all your . . .
trials and troubles,
calamities and miseries,
crosses and losses,
which you meet with in this world--is all
the hell that you shall ever have!
Here and now you have your hell.
Hereafter you shall have your heaven!
This is the worst of your condition;
the best is yet to come!
Lazarus had his hell first, his heaven last; but
Dives had his heaven first, and his hell at last.
You have all your pangs, and pains, and throes
here--that you shall ever have! Your ease, and
rest, and pleasure--is yet to come!
Here you have all your bitters;
your sweets are yet to come!
Here you have your sorrows;
your joys are yet to come!
Here you have all your winter nights;
your summer days are yet to come!
Here you have your evil things;
your good things are yet to come!
Death will put an end to all your sins--
and to all your sufferings!
Death will be an inlet to those joys, delights,
and comforts--which shall never have an end!
Who can seriously meditate upon this, and not
be silent under God's most smarting rod?
Sermon Outline
- The Present Moment is Hell
- The Contrast Between Lazarus and Dives
- The Present Moment is Not the End
- Death Brings an End to Suffering
- Death ends all sins and sufferings
- Death leads to eternal joys and comforts
Key Quotes
“Here and now you have your hell. Hereafter you shall have your heaven!” — Thomas Brooks
“Death will put an end to all your sins--and to all your sufferings!” — Thomas Brooks
“Death will be an inlet to those joys, delights, and comforts--which shall never have an end!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We can endure suffering in this life because heaven is yet to come.
- Our trials and troubles are temporary, and will soon come to an end.
- Death brings an end to all our sins and sufferings, and leads to eternal joys and comforts.