If They Don't...........
One of the most profound parable/stories Jesus ever told is found in Luke 16. It is simply called, "The Rich Man and Lazarus." In it Jesus told the story of a wealthy man who apparently had everything he could possibly want, including a sumptuous diet. The Lord pointed out that this man ate the best available food and enjoyed plenty of it! While at the same time he was gorging himself each day inside his estate, a poor, sick individual by the name of Lazarus lay outside the gate desiring only what fell on the floor from this rich man's table which the text never confirmed he ever received. Instead, Jesus said of Lazarus that the dogs came and licked the sores all over his tormented body until the day came when he passed away at the gate. Soon thereafter, the rich man also passed away, perhaps suddenly.
Jesus then said the angels came and carried Lazarus into Paradise to enjoy the very presence of Abraham, the famous OT Patriarch. Then Jesus said the rich man's body was buried, and in Hades or Hell, being in torments, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. There is probably no greater contrast in Scripture than what we witness here in this story.
Before we go any further, let me offer a word of caution about presuming something here that is not true. The rich man's money was not the reason this man went to hell. Why do I know that? Because there were many rich people in both the OT and the NT that were fabulously wealthy yet still faithfully served God and lived enriching lives. In fact, Lazarus was sitting right beside Abraham in this parable who himself was one of the richest men of his day. No, wealth will not determine your relationship with God unless you fall in love with it. Then it becomes a serious problem for your eternal future. Remember Paul said,
"The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."
The truth I want to point out to our readers today is the request and subsequent response of Abraham to the rich man. He asked Abraham, the Father of the Jews, to allow Lazarus to dip his finger in water and come to him to
"cool his tongue."
In short, Abraham told him that would not be possible. When the wealthy man heard that he made a second request for Lazarus to be able to go to his father's house and warn his five brothers about hell, so they would not join their brother there. Abraham's response is this;
They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them. And the rich man said, "No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent."
He said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead."
The last statement is the one I want you to focus on for a brief moment. Here is the conclusion, if someone says they will turn to Jesus Christ if God does this or that for them, then that person will likely never turn to Christ. Why? Because faith does not result from supernatural events or angelic visits from heaven or something similar, but is produced in the human mind by something more authoritative and powerful. Rom 10:17 says,
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Your willingness to allow God to speak to your life through His Word is your only hope of knowing the truth so you can respond to the truth. God's truth in Scripture produces true faith.
Jesus then said the angels came and carried Lazarus into Paradise to enjoy the very presence of Abraham, the famous OT Patriarch. Then Jesus said the rich man's body was buried, and in Hades or Hell, being in torments, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. There is probably no greater contrast in Scripture than what we witness here in this story.
Before we go any further, let me offer a word of caution about presuming something here that is not true. The rich man's money was not the reason this man went to hell. Why do I know that? Because there were many rich people in both the OT and the NT that were fabulously wealthy yet still faithfully served God and lived enriching lives. In fact, Lazarus was sitting right beside Abraham in this parable who himself was one of the richest men of his day. No, wealth will not determine your relationship with God unless you fall in love with it. Then it becomes a serious problem for your eternal future. Remember Paul said,
"The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."
The truth I want to point out to our readers today is the request and subsequent response of Abraham to the rich man. He asked Abraham, the Father of the Jews, to allow Lazarus to dip his finger in water and come to him to
"cool his tongue."
In short, Abraham told him that would not be possible. When the wealthy man heard that he made a second request for Lazarus to be able to go to his father's house and warn his five brothers about hell, so they would not join their brother there. Abraham's response is this;
They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them. And the rich man said, "No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent."
He said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead."
The last statement is the one I want you to focus on for a brief moment. Here is the conclusion, if someone says they will turn to Jesus Christ if God does this or that for them, then that person will likely never turn to Christ. Why? Because faith does not result from supernatural events or angelic visits from heaven or something similar, but is produced in the human mind by something more authoritative and powerful. Rom 10:17 says,
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Your willingness to allow God to speak to your life through His Word is your only hope of knowing the truth so you can respond to the truth. God's truth in Scripture produces true faith.
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