HEAR AND BE PERSUADED UNTO SALVATION (PART 4)
TEXT:
"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16 verse 31, King James Version).
There's the part of the Lord's narrative about the rich man and Lazarus that has scarcely been preached on. It concerns the need to be instructed that having been blessed with riches, it's of utmost importance to be careful about what we do with your wealth. For example, Jesus' admonition in Luke 16 verse 9 is very instructive:
"And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Here, earthly riches are called "mammon of unrighteousness". One of the profitable ways to use “mammon of unrighteousness" on earth, according to the Lord, is to make friends with them so that when you fail (for instance, when you die), you will reap the reward of having done so. It was obvious that the rich man failed to do that in his lifetime, especially in his relationship with poor Lazarus.
It's funny how men reason! Here was the rich man who while on earth lived and fed sumptuously. From the Lord's narrative, it was apparent that he showed practically no compassion for the poor and sickly Lazarus "which was laid at his gate, full of sores, ... desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores." (Luke 16 verses 20 to 21) But there in hell, he found himself in torment and without the sense of a guilty conscience, desired the help of Lazarus, the poor, sick fellow for whom he had utmost disregard and disdain while they both were on earth! His request to Abraham was "that he (Lazarus) may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." (Luke 16 verse 24, emphasis added). But where was his sense of shame? Perhaps, he sought Lazarus' help out of desperation, for he was in dire torment!
I reason that while the rich man lived on earth, he had no concern or consideration for the Gospel which would have instructed him on the best use of earthly riches. Had he done so, he would have known of the plethora of Scriptures on how to treat the poor. On this, the Book of Deuteronomy 15 verse 11 is particularly instructive. It says,
"For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land." See also Proverbs 19 verse 17. For us today, we have clear and vivid instructions on this matter in 1st Timothy 6 verses 17 to 19. Take time to read these Scriptures, please.
In spite of these and many more Bible verses that are instructive on how best to use our earthly resources, we continue to find "rich fools" in our midst; whose delusionary supposition is that they are blessed for themselves alone and wouldn't care a hoot about what happens to the poor and needy fellows that lives around them. Such was the case of the rich man with poor Lazarus.
As I close, let me say something briefly about the rich man's second request to Abraham "that thou wouldest send him (Lazarus) to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment." (Luke 16 verses 27 to 28, emphasis mine). What a request it was! Who told him that Lazarus would oblige him and agree to forsake the comfort of Abraham's Bosom (now translated to the third heaven) into which he had been graciously admitted, to return to this discomforting, distressing and sinful earth? To me, of the two requests, this was especially absurd and ridiculous!
Brethren, the truth is, no one who has escaped this earth's travails, and is admitted to the joy of heaven's comfort would for whatever reasons agree to return to earth. That's impossible! Hear this: it doesn't matter how painful somebody's death is to his/her loved ones on earth. The moment such a one is admitted into heaven's comfort, he/she will without reservations loathe the idea of returning to earth for any reason whatsoever.
For this reason alone dearly beloved, I plead with you to hear the Gospel and be persuaded unto salvation, that you may escape the torment of hell and enjoy the comfort of heaven eternally.
PRAYER:
Thank You Father because through Christ You have saved me from the torments of hell and reserved for me the joy of heaven for ever, in Jesus name.