The Rich man and Lazarus… (3 things)

• 1^st – Two very different lives… vs. 19-21
  • 1^st – There was a VERY rich man… vs. 19
    • You knew he was rich – because he was clothed in purple clothes…
      • Purple dye was the most expensive in ancient times – therefore a sign of wealth…
      • The dye was extracted from a snail – it took 8,000 to make 1g of dye!
      • Therefore purple cloth was roughly worth its weight in gold!
      • Think designer clothing – Calvin Klein / Tommy Hilfiger / Levis / Nike…
    • He wore fine linen – ‘Byssus’…
      • It was expensive linen flax that was imported from Egypt – used in underwear…
      • It was said to be as light as air – so not only fancy clothes – fancy underpants!
      • The point – the rich man had an easy in life full of every comfort…
      • This is a man who never knew hunger / had all the latest toys / lacked for nothing…
      • He obviously had A LOT of money – and he used it all for himself…
  • 2^nd – A beggar named Lazarus… vs. 20-21
    • Interesting that Jesus gives a name to this beggar…
      • This is the only time Jesus gives a proper name to anyone in a Parable…
      • It leaves one to wonder if this was more than a parable – perhaps a true story…
    • Lazarus was full of blistering sores all over his body…
      • He was a sick man – unclean according to the Law – Leviticus 13
      • It meant he was an outcast – rejected by the society – forgotten…
      • Where it is certain the rich man had many friends – no one cared about Lazarus…
      • * Proverbs 19:4, 7 – “Wealth makes many ‘friends’; poverty drives them all away. The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone.”
    • Lazarus was cast off and left on the doorstep of the rich man’s home…
      • He would wait just hoping to eat the garbage that was thrown out…
      • His ‘place’ was with the dogs – fighting for scraps – the dogs would lick his sores…
  • 3^rd – It is hard to imagine a more pitiful picture – or a starker contest…
    • It goes without saying if you had a choice between these two men…
      • Would you want wealth / comfort / prosperity / lots of friends – the easy life…
      • Or would you choose to be sick / poor / hungry / void of any friends…
      • Anyone with a lick of common sense would choose the rick man – easy decision…
      • IF – this life was all there was – IF we did not have to think about eternity…
    • Both men died…
      • We are not told if was because of disease / or old age / only that both passed on…
      • The same fate that all men share – the one guarantee in life – we will all die one day…
      • Life is not about how much stuff we can buy – or how many people like us…
      • Life is a gift – with only one purpose – it gives us the opportunity to make a choice…
      • Where will we go when our time here on earth is up – where will we spend eternity!

• 2^nd – Two very different eternities… vs. 22-26
  • 1^st – Angels carried Lazarus to ‘Abraham’s Bosom’…
    • Like a royal procession – Lazarus was personally escorted into Paradise…
      • Why does Jesus refer to the place as Abraham’s Bosom…
      • Abraham is the Father of all those who believe by faith in God – Romans 4:11…
      • There is no other way to get to heaven – other than faith in Jesus Christ…
      • Abraham was saved by looking forward to the sacrifice of the cross…
      • We are a saved by looking back to the work of Jesus on the cross…
      • There is only – and has only ever been – one-way to be saved – faith in Jesus Christ!
    • Abraham’s Bosom is not the same as Heaven…
      • Before Jesus died for the sins of all men – no one went to heaven – Hebrews 11:39
      • Everyone went to the ‘Grave’ (Sheol in Hebrew)…
      • There were two compartments – Abraham’s Bosom / Hades or Hell…
      • One a place of comfort for those who died in faith looking forward to Jesus (Bosom)…
• The other a place of torment for those who did not have faith (Hell)
• When Jesus died He set free all who were in Abraham’s Bosom – Isaiah 61:1
  • Jesus now has the Keys to Hell and Death – Revelation 1:18
  • Jesus opened up the door to Eternal Life – the resurrection of the dead…

• We are all one day going to die – these bodies wear out – (older people say Amen)
• But we do not sorrow or weep like those who have no hope – death is not the end…
• The moment our physical bodies die – we are immediately with Jesus…
• II Corinthians 5:8 – “To be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord…”

We only need to give people the Word of God – the power to save you from hell!

2^nd – The rich man was buried (went to Hell)…

The rich man was in torment – literally being tortured – suffering extreme pain…

He looked up and saw Abraham and Lazarus far off in a place of comfort…

This was probably the worst part – suffering and seeing others being comforted

The rich man asked Abraham – ‘have mercy and dip your finger in water’…

To put a drop of water on his tongue – because he was burning in the flames…

Revelation 20:10 – “The lake of fire and brimstone… tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Eternal fire – burning brimstone (200 degrees Celsius – no visible flame)

Tormented in absolute Darkness – day and night forever and ever

We have all touched a hot flame before and been burned – we pull away in pain…

Imagine that sensation – but all over – and you cannot pull away to escape the pain!

Hell was just the beginning – the Lake of Fire – Revelation 20:10

Hell is not permanent – one day all those in hell will stand before God…

Revelation 20:13 – hell gives up its dead to stand before the White Throne…

There will be two sets of books opened – ‘The books’ and the ‘Book of Life’…

If your name isn’t found written in the Book of Life – The Books are opened….

You are then judged according to your works – written in The Books…

Not to see if you will go to heaven or hell – but to show you why you go to hell

Matthew 25:41 – depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…

The Lake Fire – the place that men were never meant to go…

It was created for the devil and his angels for rebelling against God…

Satan and ¹/₃  of the angels who rebelled against God – Revelation 12…

God cast them out of heaven – down to earth – and their time is short…

God has prepared ‘everlasting fire’ for them – the Lake of Fire – Matthew 25:41

The Second Death – the worst part of all – eternal separation from God…

The last thing people ever see – God on His throne – then eternal darkness…

Left to weep and gnash for eternity with no hope – no salvation

The only reason men end up there – they choose not to go to heaven!

God does not send anyone to hell – men choose to go there…

They choose by rejecting the Gospel of salvation – the Good News

3^rd – This life or eternal life…

Abraham reminded the rich man – in life he had the ‘good things’…

A reversal of roles – in life the rich man had it all – but Lazarus suffered…

Yet now in eternity – it was the rich man who suffered – Lazarus had it all!

This is ultimately the choice everyone makes – to live for this life / or eternal life…

Sadly many choose to ‘enjoy’ the couple years of riches this life offers to us…

Rather than invest in the eternity of riches God has prepared for us in heaven…

Mark 8:36-37 – “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

But nothing this world can offer is worth an eternity separated from God!

There is a gap between us…

Although apparently the rich man could see Paradise – and even call over…

There was no way to pass between the two places – a permanent separation…

The decision on where we spend our eternity is limited to our time here on earth…

The moment we die our fate is sealed – there are no second chances…

There is no purgatory – the prayers of saints/priests/family cannot help you…

Hebrews 9:27 – “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”

Either we have received Jesus and have the hope of eternity with God…

Or we have rejected the Gospel – and have sentenced ourselves to eternity in hell…

3^rd – Listen to the Word of God… vs. 27-31

Send back Lazarus… vs. 28-29

The rich man begged Abraham to send back Lazarus to warn his five brothers…

I find it interesting that the rich man did not ask to be sent back…

He understood that he deserved his fate – he had chosen not to live for God…

God is absolutely just in His judgment – no one will argue because they end up in hell

Apparently the rich man’s brothers were just like him – living only for themselves…

Their fate would be the same as the rich man if someone did not intervene…

The rich man assumed the resurrection of Lazarus would convince them…

Wonder how many would be in church – if someone from hell came to warn them…

You might think the church would be full – but you would be wrong…

Let them hear the Word… vs. 30-31

Abraham answered – let them listen to Moses and the prophets…

The only way to be saved – was for them to hear God’s Word – Romans 10:17…

Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”

That is why we take so much time studying God’s Word – simply teaching the Bible

That is why we put the Word of God out on the Radio – so everyone can hear…

Faith in Jesus – faith to believe – to grow – comes only from hearing God’s word…

The rich man argued – if one comes from the dead – they will repent…

But Abraham corrected him – even if one came from the dead they would not listen…

If someone does not believe the Word of God – nothing will enable them to believe…

There was a man names Lazarus who came back from the dead – John 11:43…

Rather than cause men to believe in Jesus – they wanted to kill Lazarus again!

* John 12:9-11 – “So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus…”

If someone doesn’t believe the Word – no matter what they see they won’t believe…

You cannot but your way out of hell…

Jesus point is simple – don not live for the momentary benefits of money…

It will do you no good in eternity – you cannot purchase a ticket to heaven…

Instead invest in the Word of God – it has the power to save you from sin!

Not just for us – it is the message the whole world needs to hear….

We do not need to come back from the grave – to be able to share the Good news…