By: Gladys Raquel Hernández
This passage about Lazarus and the Rich Man in the Bible, warns us what is going to happen to us after our physical death if we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our unique Savior and if we have not repented of our faults and sins while we lived on earth.
This chapter states that there was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man´s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man´s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. (Luke 16:19-22)
“He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, “have pity on me!. Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I´m suffering terribly in this fire”. Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over”. But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father´s home. Let him warn my five brothers, so they won´t come to this horrible place”. Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that”. Then the rich man said, “No, that´s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God”. So Abraham said, “If they won´t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won´t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead”. (Luke 16:23-31)
This interesting and alarming passage clearly teaches us in detail the terrible consequences that disobedience to the Lord bring about, as He is our unique and wise God, Sovereign over history.
Abraham talks plainly to the rich man as he points to the deep ditch that separates the Hades or Sheol from heaven. That means that even though we would yearn to help someone to get out of the Hades or Sheol, we just cannot do so.
It is important to notice that the Hades (in Greek “Kingdom of death”) or Sheol (in Hebrew) is a place full of torment, of darkness, of complete separation from God, where the rebels, cowards, immoral, unfaithful or dirty-minded people go (those who have rebelled against God and whose names are not written in the book of life) before being thrown into the lake of fire and burning sulfur after the judgment at the Great White Throne (final judgment) and will be in pain day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10-15 and 21:8)
We can view the following biblical verses:
“I also saw all the dead people standing in front of that throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several books were opened, and then the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what those books said they had done. The sea gave up the dead people who were in it, and death and its kingdom also gave up their dead. Then everyone was judged by what they had done. Afterwards, death and its kingdom were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Anyone whose name wasn´t written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire”. (Revelation 20:12-15)
In said passage, Abraham warns the rich man to listen to What Moses and the prophets wrote. At present, this story is repeated, as God´s plan is extended to all the human race of all times. God also warns us to listen to His different servants, (Apostles, Prophets, Missionaries, Pastors and Teachers), that is, people who have matured in their faith, who have had personal encounters with Jesus Christ throughout their lives, who have accepted Him as Savior and who have understood God´s plan for them.
We can appreciate clearly through this present passage that it is only during this earthly life that we can have the possibility to encounter Jesus and accept Him as our savior. Therefore, no one and nothing can intervene in our favor after our physical death. “The opportunity to get redemption of our souls is only during our lives”.
How is it possible not to take care of our eternal life, to divert our attention from it?. We must guard our thoughts and our own salvation, by persevering to the end of our lives. If we do not do it for ourselves, who will do so? It is important to reflect seriously on this. God is even patient and is waiting for you with His arms extended so that you go back to Him and so that He can live forever in your life!!!!
“Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life”. (Proverbs 4:23)
“The Lord isn´t slow about keeping His promises, as some people think He is. In fact, God is patient because He wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost”. (2º Peter 3:9)
AMEN!!!
