"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
This is the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Jesus helps us understand that there is life beyond this earthly life.
In our gospel lesson today, Jesus pulls back the curtain to help us catch a glimpse of life on the other side of death. This story is unique to the Gospel of Luke. The target of Jesus’ story is the self-righteous Pharisees (Luke 16:14). The Pharisees were “lovers of money” and sought to justify their own behavior, but God knows their hearts (Luke 16:14-15).
One of the Bible studies I enjoy doing is to take the high school youth group to the cemetery. While there, they look at the names, dates, and epitaphs on the tombstones. We then talk about the “dash” and study the promises of God and the resurrection of Jesus.
Perhaps you have heard the story about the message one man left on his tombstone. It said, “Consider, young man, as you walk by, as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, you soon shall be, so prepare, young man to follow me.” That sounded very profound, but one fellow took a knife and scratched a response that read, “To follow you is not my intent; until I know which way you went!” There are only two directions you can go after death.
Act I
Jesus introduces us to a rich man, one who is extremely wealthy. He lives in a home with a gate to keep others away from him. His clothes were made of the finest purple. The process to get purple dye from shell fish was very expensive. The color was usually reserved for royalty. He had the very best.
His linen was produced from the flax that grew along the Nile River. It was white, very soft, and kept him cool in the warm weather. It was very expensive.
In contrast to the rich man, Lazarus was in need of everything. He had no home. His health was failing. He was an outcast. His only food is what was thrown out. His only companions were the stray dogs, who came and licked his oozing sores that covered his body. The rich man ignored his plight.
Rev. George Truett was a well known Texas preacher. He was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy oil man. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area. Pointing to the oil wells dotting the landscape, he boasted, “twenty-five years ago I had nothing; now as far as you can see, it’s all mine.” Looking in the opposite direction at the sprawling fields of grain, he said “That’s all mine.” Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, “They are all mine.” Then pointing to the west and beautiful forests, he exclaimed, “That’s all mine.”
The man paused and expected Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. Truett, however, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other simply said, “How much to you have in that direction?”
Notice that Jesus does not condemn the rich man for the money he had but for the compassion he did not have. He was guilty for a long time and failed to believe what his O.T. scriptures had said about the two choices beyond this earthly life. The rich man was condemned for his sin of omission, for what had not been doing. Blessed by God he failed to give God credit. He failed to care with acts of kindness and charity. His money bought lots of things but there are things that money can not buy.
Act II - A contrast in death.
While there was an obvious contrast in how the rich man and Lazarus lived, there was also a difference in their deaths. When Lazarus died, no one offered a proper burial or even a memorial service. He was simply carried by angels to heaven.
When the rich man died, the family provided a fantastic funeral. The family, as was the custom, hired professional mourners, purchased costly spices and used an elaborate tomb for burial. No doubt the whole town turned out for the funeral and listened to the countless eulogies offered. But he learned too late …… in hell, where he was in torment. He called to Abraham; he begged for just a drop of water to cool his tongue. Imagine the agony, the fire, an eternity without hope.
Jesus uses the words of Abraham to explain that it was absolutely impossible for Lazarus to come and help him now. There is a great chasm between heaven and hell that is fixed so that no one can cross over to the other side. The lost and redeemed are separated forever. There are no exit signs in hell. It is a place reserved for Satan, his demons and all who reject Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. It is a place of everlasting punishment.
I remember a long time ago, attending a seminar with the famous researcher and author, Dr. Elizabeth Kuebler-Ross. Her research and interview with terminally ill patients and families gave us the book “Death & Dying” During the question and answer period, someone asks, “You have told us about all the patients you interviewed over the years and you stated “They all saw or experienced good or light beyond death.” Did any of your research interview patients who saw evil or torment beyond death? Her answer was interesting, “Yes, but we discounted those because they were not real.”
In other words, Dr. Kuebler-Ross rejected the words of God in the Bible because she had no personal faith in Jesus, his death on the cross and his resurrection. Therefore she created her own illusion of life beyond death. She was an intellectual fool.
Act III
The rich man tries one more plea. He begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his family members. He did not want his brothers to join him in hell. He now knows the ultimate need for repentance and faith in God verses self. He wanted Lazarus to return – listen to his request --- “Father Abraham, if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.”
Jesus makes God’s message plain. Abraham said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!" In other words, they have everything they need. They have their Bibles. They can listen to believers explain the way to heaven.
A recent poll reveals that 89% of Americans believe in heaven while only 73% believe in hell. But when asked where they think they will spend eternity, 3 out of 4 think they will go to heaven. At cocktail party’s, you will often hear a dime store philosopher sagely say, “Heaven and Hell are shaped by what you make out of life.” OR, “I believe that heaven and hell are right here on earth.” Amazingly almost everybody I’ve ever seen, swallows this balderdash and baloney and nod their heads in agreement. I pray you are not one of those folks.
Both Lazarus and the rich man survived their earthly funerals. Eternity awaits.
Listen to the words of Paul to the Christian church in Galatia. “All who rely upon observing the law, (the commandments) are under a curse, for it is written “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. Clearly no one is justified before God by the Law.” Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by hanging on the cross. For “God forgave us all our sins, he canceled the written code with its regulations, that stood opposed to us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Col. 2:14)
In an interview with Fidel Castro, he was asked if he spends time pondering his own death. Here’s how he answered that question: “I have never thought much about that because I don’t attach much importance to what happens after I die.” That sounds like the rich man in our gospel lesson.
Paul wrote: “Brothers we do not want you to be ignorant about those who have fallen asleep in the Lord, or grieve like the rest of humanity who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave.” (1 Thes. 4:16) “By faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ” for there is no other name given under heaven by which we can be saved and experience eternal life in heaven. Yes, I know there is a hell because Jesus says so and God’s scriptures don’t lie. Yes, there is a heaven and God has provided us a way to arrive there safely.
God has done everything necessary to open the doors to heaven for you. His creation is his handiwork. He places believers near you to encourage you. He places believers near those who are spiritually lost and searching. God has placed an enormous stop sign on the road to hell and the sign is in the shape of a cross. God does not and has not offered a Plan B – which humans can invent. The road to heaven is prepared by the blood of Christ. Heaven is a free gift if … you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.
Sermon shared by Clarence Eisberg
September 2007
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