WHERE TO, SIR?
Rich man and Lazarus
[19] Lived In luxury everyday. He had to notice Lazarus lying there [20] “At his gate.” He was too ill to work. It wasn’t laziness
James 4:17 NIV
[17] If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
THE RICH MAN IGNORED GODS WORD
Luke 16:29-31 NOTES :
The rich man thought that his five brothers would surely believe a messenger who had been raised from the dead. But Jesus said that if they did not believe Moses and the prophets, who spoke constantly of caring for the poor, not even a resurrection would convince them. Notice the irony in Jesus’ statement; on his way to Jerusalem to die, he was fully aware that even when he had risen from the dead, most of the religious leaders would not accept him. They were set in their ways, and neither Scripture nor God’s Son himself would shake them loose.
[35] “ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. [36] Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you.
The Pharisees considered wealth to be a proof of a person’s righteousness. Jesus startled them with this story in which a diseased beggar is rewarded and a rich man is punished. The rich man did not go to hell because of his wealth but because he was selfish, refusing to feed Lazarus, take him in, or care for him. The rich man was hard-hearted in spite of his great blessings. The amount of money we have is not as important as the way we use it. What is your attitude toward your money and possessions? Do you hoard them selfishly, or do you use them to help others?
Jesus quotes a verse from Habakkuk.
Luke 19:40 NIV
[40] “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Habakkuk 2:11 NLT
[11] The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint. “Nothing can or will conceal the Kingdom of God or the secrets of mankind”.
Habakkuk 2:12-15 NLT
[12] “What sorrow awaits you who build cities with money gained through murder and corruption! [13] Has not the LORD of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain! [14] For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the LORD. [15] “What sorrow awaits you who make your neighbors drunk! You force your cup on them so you can gloat over their shameful nakedness.
Revelation 10:1-11. “Future glimpse of final judgment”
10:1-6 The purpose of this mighty angel is clear—to announce the final judgments on the earth. His right foot on the sea and left foot on the land (10:2) indicate that his words deal with all creation, not just a limited part as did the seal and trumpet judgments. The seventh trumpet (11:15) will usher in the seven bowl judgments, which will bring an end to the present world. When this universal judgment comes, God’s truth will prevail.
10:2 This powerful angel conveyed his high rank and his authority from God by straddling the land and the sea. His huge size contrasts with the smallness of God’s enemies. When things are going badly in your life, remember that this angel represents the kind of power that is on your side. God’s angelic forces are with you (Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 1:14). Keep your problems in their proper perspective by remembering that God’s power is available to you to deal with your problems.
10:4 Throughout history people have wanted to know what would happen in the future, and God reveals some of it in this book. But John was stopped from revealing certain parts of his vision. An angel also told the prophet, Daniel, that some visions he saw were not to be revealed yet to everyone (Daniel 12:9), and Jesus told his disciples that the time of the end is known by no one but God (Mark 13:32, 33). God has revealed all we need to know to live for him now. In our desire to be ready for the end, we must not place more emphasis on speculation about the last days than on living for God while we wait.
Mark 13:32-33 NIV
[32] “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [33] Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
SITUATION:
A mighty angel appeared with an open book and announced that time would end. The angel announced the final universal judgment.
OBSERVATION:
The reality of judgment and hell is foreign to our culture, but it is often talked about in the Bible.
INSPIRATION:
One phrase summarizes the horror of hell. “God isn’t there.” Think for a moment about this question: What if God weren’t here on earth? You think people can be cruel now, imagine us without the presence of God. You think we are brutal to each other now, imagine the world without the Holy Spirit. You think there is loneliness and despair and guilt now, imagine life without the touch of Jesus. No forgiveness. No hope. No acts of kindness. No words of love. No more food is given in His name. No more songs are sung to His praise. No more deeds are done in His honor. If God took away His angels, His grace, His promise of eternity, and His servants, what would the world be like? In a word, hell. No one to comfort you and no music to soothe you. A world where poets don’t write of love and minstrels don’t sing of hope, for love and hope were passengers on the last ship. The final vessel has departed, and the anthem of hell has only two words: “if only.”
According to Jesus hell knows only one sound, the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13). From hell comes a woeful, unending moan as its inhabitants realize the opportunity they have missed. What they would give for one more chance. But that chance is gone (Hebrews 9:27). Can you see now why the angels rejoice when one sinner repents?
Luke 15:10 NIV
[10] In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Jesus knows what awaits the saved. He also knows what awaits the condemned. Can you see why we should rejoice as well? How can we? How can our hearts be changed so we rejoice like Jesus rejoices? Ask God to help you have his eternal view of the world. His view of humanity is starkly simple. From His perspective every person is either:
• Entering through the small gate or the wide gate (Matthew 7:13, 14)
• Traveling the narrow road or the wide road (Matthew 7:13, 14)
• Building on rock or sand (Matthew 7:24-27)
• Wise or foolish (Matthew 25:2)
• Prepared or unprepared (Matthew 24:45-51)
• Fruitful or fruitless (Matthew 25:14-27)
• Heaven called or hell bound (Mark 16:15, 16)
Conclusion:
Are you prepared to die? If you are not a disciple of Jesus Christ, you will be separated from God for all eternity. Don’t allow that to happen.