The scrap-iron dealer came with his lorry... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luke 16:22-24

The scrap-iron dealer came with his lorry and bargained with my grandfather over the price of the metal articles he was to take away. When they reached agreement, and it was loaded on the lorry, my grandfather asked him, "Are your sins forgiven?" The dealer just laughed.
"Well, if you refuse to believe in the Son of God, you will be lost for all eternity." Now the reply was derisive: "Then with my lorry I'll deliver coal for the devil in hell."
I followed that conversation, first with interest, then I was shocked at the course it took. Did that man really believe that hell was a place where he could simply go on sinning undisturbed by God and those who spread the gospel?
Hell is still uninhabited. The last judgment to be held by Jesus Christ is yet to come. The rich man Jesus spoke of in our text above was at an interim stage of the realm of the dead. Yet even there he was in torment. What he refused to accept during his life, that God is holy and righteous, he now knew for sure and was suffering untold agony for it.
These are the sad prospects for those who refuse to believe in the Son of God. The "wrath of God abides" on them (John 3:36).
Whoever believes in Him, however, and accepts Him as Saviour and Lord can know that, on our behalf, Jesus Christ endured the wrath of God that we deserved.
Today's reading: Acts 18