Its all True


It’s all true –

Luke 16:19-31 tells a rather scary story…

There was a rich man, who was dressed in purple and fine linen, and lived in luxury every day.  At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.  Even the dogs came and licked his sores.  The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.  The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in the water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”  But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross from there to us.”  He answered, “Then I beg you father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers.  Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”  Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets, let them listen to them.”  “No, father Abraham,” he said, “But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.”  Abraham said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” 

When I read this – it reminds me of Marley, trying to caution Ebenezer Scrooge….

Look guys – this story is a warning.  The Bible is true.  There is a heaven.  There is a hell.  I fear for those who have been offered the chance of salvation, but who have rejected it.  For in rejecting God, they have elected to spend their eternity without Him.  And since God is love – that means no matter what pleasures they enjoy here in their short span of time on earth – their eternity will be spent in a loveless void, tormented by the knowledge that their choices are what brought them there. 

I have often heard it said that some have elected to begin their life as a Christian because if they believe, and it’s all false – they’ve lost nothing, but if they don’t believe and it is all true – they’ve lost everything.  I think if that’s where you start – that’s fine, God can do the rest.  The point is to START THE JOURNEY.

 

Say this:  God I am a sinner, and I recognize that because the penalty for sin is death – my fate should already be sealed.  However, in sending your son, Jesus to live in this world – you gave us sinners a way out.  For Jesus bore the penalty of our sins when he was nailed to the cross.  And now, by His blood I am washed clean; my sins no longer counted against me.  Thank you for the gift of your mercy.  Amen.

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