“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41)
How can it be that Jesus Christ, who taught so strongly the importance of love and forgiveness, could speak such words as these? Actually, Jesus had more to say about hell and eternal punishment than any other speaker or writer in the Bible. Since He is the Creator (Colossians 1:16), the coming Judge (John 5:22), and the only man who has died and risen permanently from the dead (2 Corinthians 5:14-15), we would do well to believe and heed His warnings. He knows whereof He speaks!
Read more: http://www.icr.org/article/9602/
In the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, the rich man’s heart was so hard that he let Lazarus starve at his gate. He had a heart of stone . . . until he found himself in Hell. It took Hell to soften him to a point where he was at least concerned for his loved ones. We know that Hell exists. Are we therefore concerned about the fate of our unsaved loved ones? How about our friends and neighbors? Is our love deep enough to even be concerned for the eternal welfare of strangers? It should be. If we are born again, the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and that love will warn them of a real Hell and of the mercy of God in Christ.
-See: "Heaven and Hell: Rich man and Lazarus" - Justin Peters (SermonAudio)