CENTRAL THOUGHT
It is here on earth that man decides where his eternal abode will be after his eyes close in death.
HYMN: WHEN THE TRUMPET OF THE LORD SHALL SOUND
Text: Luke 16:19-36
INTRODUCTION:
The account of the rich man and Lazarus is an actual event that took place. In it, the Lord Jesus presents the facts of the reality of life after death. It reveals as well the inevitability of death which offers no respect or apologies to any mortal being whether poor or rich, commoner or king, whether of the low cadre in society or the top brass in society. Death is a subject which most persons prefer to keep silent about. It sends a chill feeling through the bones and marrows of many lives. Death seems to provide a grave restraint on the activities of many vile persons, yet it cannot save nor deliver them from their evil ways. Whatever is our attitude to death, its conquering prowess over the small and great continues unabated.
The story in our text conveys biblical truth about the suffering and misery that awaits the unbeliever at death, and the rest (bliss) that awaits the righteous. More importantly it reveals the futility of any prospect of repentance or change of one’s eternal abode after death. For the believer, the possibility to witness to unsaved loved ones, and opportunities to do good cease when such a believer departs this life.
The more unfortunate aspect of this story is that in our present circumstances, those who have a chance to repent and become converted seem neither to know nor make attempts to know the terrible torment that awaits them beyond the grave. They allow themselves to become blind to the warnings of God in His word, and even remain skeptical even in the face of the miraculous. The thousands that slip into eternity daily without Christ will only become aware of the reality of hell when it is too late. But here is another opportunity for the living to choose his desired eternal home.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To understand that man determines his eternal destiny while here on earth.
- To know that rejection of God’s gift of salvation incurs God’s anger.
- To know that acceptance of God’s gift of salvation attracts God’s favor.
- To emphasize that there is no repentance in the grave.
- To understand that death is not the end of man but the beginning of eternity.
Q1. COMMENT ON THE CHARACTER OF THE RICH MAN?
From the few remarks made of the rich man in verse 19 of our text, we may be in a position to infer certain things about his person. The Bible says in that verse that he was a rich man “clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously everyday”. He must have been a wealthy ruler or prominent individual who lived each day in mirth and luxury because of the abundance of his possessions. He can be said to have the best that could be attained in life – good clothing, comfortable home, and abundance in all spheres of life. He was a self-centered individual with no compassion whatsoever for his fellow man. He had an opportunity to do good to his fellow man, but he shut his bowel of love. His selfish life style made it difficult for him to take notice of a poor beggar that was right at his door step. He could be likened to those whom the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of in Matthew 25:41-46, who saw the Lord in need but failed to minister to Him. How the Lord arranges situations and persons about our lives is beyond the comprehension of any of us. Sometimes he sets the need of another person before our very eyes, expecting us to positively respond to that need because of the excesses of His abundant provisions upon us. Many times we fail to appreciate the test before us because we are totally engrossed in ourselves; we plunder God’s abundance and the excess that was meant for another person in need. We are insensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, thinking that all that we have must be consumed on ourselves alone. We need to be correctly instructed again about the material resources we have come to lay claim to as ours; they are only in our custody to be expended to the praise and glory of God.
The rich man did not go to hell because he was rich but rather because he neglected God’s command to care for the poor. All through his life he did not acknowledge the sovereignty of God over his life. In fact, he felt no need for God because He had everything. He was too comfortable to see the relevance of God in his life. He may have thought within himself that those who prayed did so because they had needs that surpassed their abilities. Sadly, there are still many like the rich man in our contemporary times. If they fail to repent of their ways, their end will be like that of the rich man.
Q2. COMMENT OF THE CHARACTER OF LAZARUS?
As the rich man, there is not much that is written about Lazarus. However, with the little written about him, we may be in a position to infer a few things.
The scriptures say that Lazarus was a beggar full of sores which dogs licked, and that he was laid at the entrance to the rich man’s residence to beg for the crumbs from his table. The situation in which Lazarus found himself was very pitiable, but there is no doubt that he had unflinching faith and confidence in the Lord. Like the injunction in Proverbs 23:17-18, He did not allow his heart to envy sinners nor seek their ways, but rather he feared God all the day long. We may be tempted to think that the state of poverty is synonymous with faith in God, and wonder how a poor individual would not see God as His only hope. The truth is that poverty has more potential to sway the heart of a man away from God than wealth and riches. It was not Lazarus’ pitiable state that took him to Abraham’s bosom, but rather his faith and implicit confidence in the Lord. Most poor individuals complain bitterly about how life has treated them; they accuse God for their condition; they even curse God in their hearts. Cynicism fills their heart, and they cannot reconcile how a loving God would so badly treat them and make them poor. Lazarus, like Job, had a sweet spirit before God; he had no answers to give for being poor but he would neither complain nor curse God. His hope and confidence stayed solidly on Him who knows our end from the very beginning.
Q3. HOW DOES SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHT THE FINALITY OF DEATH?
David understood the finality in death as seen in 2 Samuel 12:22-23. He fasted, prayed and wept when his child hovered between life and death, but when the child died, he accepted that that was the end of the child’s existence on earth, and thereafter resumed his normal duties.
The miracles of raising the dead back to life has been and is still being witnessed in human history. Christ performed this miracle many times in the course of His earthly ministry. The power of God still raises people from the dead even today, but this is not commonly expected for even the godliest people. The prerogative on who is raised rests on God. Even if restoration to life occurs, it is a matter of time before death re-occurs. The Bible says that “it is appointed unto man once to die”, Hebrews 9:27. Physical death is an appointment to which every mortal person must at some point honor. We cannot run away from it. We must someday bow to its call. Physical death has no respect to any person’s status. It must be humbling to our ego to know that though we may have no regard for God, we cannot ignore the appointed call of death. When death comes, it means that the flesh is left behind to rot away, and the final end of our earthly sojourning.
Q4. WHAT LESSONS CAN BE DRAWN FROM THE STORY OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS?
There are a number of lessons that can be drawn out of the story in our text.
A. Although physical death terminates our sojourn here on earth, it ushers us into a new realm of existence thereafter. The finality of physical death is strictly with respect to our earthly existence. The new realm of existence shall be determined to our Lord Jesus Christ. Many live their lives without any thought of eternity. To such persons, life begins and ends here on earth. They give the impression that when someone is living in luxury and abundance, he is living in heaven, but when he is living in penury and misery, then he is in hell. There is nothing that can be further from the truth. Those who hold such a view expend their energies on the material, and have little or no time for the spiritual.
There are also those who argue that God is too loving and merciful to cast an individual into hell. But these individuals fail to realize that our God is also a God of truth and justice. It is only a balanced understanding of the Lord that will cause us to live in a way that pleases Him.
B. Our state in eternity is determined by what we do with and to Jesus. We fail to realize that whatever we do to our fellow brethren, we do Jesus Christ, Matthew 25:31-46. Our attitudes to our relationships with our brethren will take a new turn when we see our brethren as Christ’s ambassadors. The rich man failed to see Christ in Lazarus, so he treated him with disdain and completely neglected him. May we not be like this rich man.
C. The story of the rich man and Lazarus clearly shows that there is no transitory period after death in which a sinner is offered an opportunity to repent of his sins, to become a child of God, and a candidate for heaven. After death, we render an account of our stewardship here on earth. Those that have done well are commended, but those who have done evil face the wrath of God, John 5:28-29.
D. This story also reveals that there Is marked contrast between a life of eternity spent in Heaven and that spent in Hell. The life in heaven is filled with comfort, while that in Hell is that of indescribable torment. To both the saved and unsaved, there is a life of consciousness after death. Lazarus was comforted, while the rich man felt the torture and agony. The rich man wished that Lazarus could dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue, but it was turned down. Between heaven and hell there is a “great gulf” through which no person can cross.
E. This story makes us to realize that prayers are not answered in Hell. There is no amount of pleading and praying that can be honored by God from those in hell. The rich man wished that Lazarus be sent to his father’s house on earth to warn them of the consequences of rejecting God. His wish has not honored, neither is any honored in hell.
Q5. HOW CAN WE AVOID AN END SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE RICH MAN IN OUR TEXT?
The rich man’s errors were that he failed to acknowledge God in his life, and to treat a fellow man with love and dignity. If we avoid errors, we are bound to escape the eternal wrath of God.
To acknowledge God in our lives, we must acknowledge that we are sinners from birth and enemies to His course on earth. That acknowledgement leads one to repentance from sin. Repentance is turning away from sin, and a conscious effort that says “NO” to sin but “YES” to righteousness. Ture repentance produces a transformed life. Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10. Repentance must be accompanied with an acceptance of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary. The Gift of salvation cannot be ours until it is accepted. John 1:12 tells us that “as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name”.
The new birth experience which has been described by the foregoing must be complimented by a life a good works. We are saved to do good works, Ephesians 2:10. Our good works entails being hospitable, kind, loving, caring for others, and demonstrating always godly conduct that honors the Lord.
Daily Living Application
Heaven is real, and Hell is real. They are not the figment of man’s imagination. At physical death when the body is separated from the spirit, existence on earth comes to an end. Thereafter, we enter into the realm of eternity. It is a fact of like that every man must partake of physical death, but we may either spend eternity in Heaven or in Hell, depending on our attitude to the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel continues to be preached in churches, on the air wave, on television, and by satellite, and how do we respond to it? A positive response will be seen in good works to our brethren, in our offices, market places, and our churches. A positive response will be seen in an outward demonstration of love and show of kindness. When the needs of those who work hard but earn little in our congregations are met quietly, it is a clear indication that we are beginning to respond positively to the gospel. Those who are actively honoring God by their lives can look forward to death with joy because at death they are crowned and rewarded for their good deeds.
Memory Verse:
Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement”.
Daily Devotional Guide:
Monday: Righteous and ungodly contrasted.
Psalm 1:1-6
Tuesday: Example of judgment.
2 Peter 2:4-10
Wednesday: God’s patience.
2 Peter 3:1-9
Thursday: Fate of the wicked.
Job 18:5-18
Friday: Christian hope.
1 John 3:1-3
Saturday: Eternal home.
John 14:1-7