Jesus tells a tale of two men. One was a rich man clothed in purple and fine linen, and he feasted extravagantly every day. He would daily walk by people and ignore them because he was snobby, arrogant, full of himself, and loved only his things. He was full of love for money, wealth, property, and whatever pleased him now. He would never notice this certain man at his gate.
There was a poor man named Lazarus who lay at his gate. He was covered with sores
and only desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. What is worse is the dogs came and licked his sores. The man was ill and needed help, but the rich man ignored him and turned his nose up at him.
The rich man had his treasure and value here. He did not care for anything else but what he had. He was only looking at the world. A love for God was nowhere near him. He only loved himself and the valuable things he had accumulated.
Lazarus trusted only in God. He knew that God was his only hope for relief and peace. He knew God was the only one who could give him what he needed. He knew this world was wicked and against people. He trusted in the Lord to save Him and nothing else.
Then one day, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. He was ushered into the most glorious place he had ever seen. It far surpassed anything the rich man had on earth. Lazarus was in shock and awe over this amazing place he was. Not only was he in shock over the place, but with the clean and extravagant robe he now wore. He was shocked by the cleanliness he had. He was shocked that his sores were gone. He was rich beyond measure because of his faith in the Lord.
At the same time, the rich man also died and was buried. Except he awoke in Hades. He was in torment. He looked around, and his jewels were gone. His gold was not with him. He did not have a comfortable bed. He did not have his delicacies anymore. All he had was a dreadful darkness with glowing fires around him. He was confused, but he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. He was shocked and wanted to know what was happening. So, he called out to Abraham. Wait, I think I hear him now. Listen closely you can hear him too. Listen, he is saying….
BILLY ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
Listen to that. He is wanting Lazarus to get him water. The rich man still has not learned that he is to blame for his misery. He is still trying to use people for his gain. Listen now. I hear Abraham answering him.
CHRIS ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
Abraham cleared that up. He made it clear that once you are in torment, there is no chance for you or anyone to cross over. That is it. What a terrible fate for the rich man. Now the rich man has realized his failings. But he is still trying to use Lazarus. Listen to what he says now.
BILLY ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
Wow. He is realizing that his brothers need help. He could have realized this before he was in torment, but he did not because he was too caught up in his own desires and love for the world. What a miserable thought knowing that you could have said something while alive that could help others never enter this horrible place, but you did not. Abraham is telling him something else; let us hear.
CHRIS ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
The word of God will tell you what you need to know about this place and how to avoid it. So true and so simple. Let us see if the man gets it or not.
BILLY ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
What an idea. Maybe if a man was to raise from the dead, they will believe. Let us hear what Abraham says in response.
CHRIS ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
What a powerful and scary statement. They have the word, but they reject the word. If they will not believe that, then they will not believe when a man raises from the dead. The man is now in misery and even deeper torment because he knows he could have said more to his brothers, and maybe they would not be in the same place as he is. He did not, and now he knows they will face the same fate as he.
What a terrible fate and eternity. He is facing this, but you do not need to. You can avoid torment and misery if you will have but the simple faith of Lazarus and know the Lord Jesus Christ died and rose again for the forgiveness of your sins. He died, so you do not have to. He offers that life to you now, do you take that free gift, or do you want to end up like the rich man?