Luke 16:19 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Jesus often used parables to teach, but this is not a parable. In this passage there was a “certain rich man” and a “certain beggar.” This is a true life event of two men. Jesus doesn’t give the name of the rich man, but he knew them both. This is a reminder that the Lord keeps track of us and knows all about us.
We find here what to expect when we die. I don’t like to address this subject, but we need to consider it. Often we think of ourselves as tough people who can handle and control our own lives. However, death is there for us all. It’s just as much a part of our life as living is. “It won’t happen to me!” Come on! Yes, it will! There is no “if” you die; it’s “when” you die. It will happen to all of us. It may be next month; it may be 20 years, but it will come. We need to face the fact. Here we’re told clearly and objectively what we will experience when we die.
Medical professionals can explain the physical process of death. Here Jesus explains the spiritual process. It’s the answer to the greatest questions of history. What will happen? What will it be like? What will we do? Is there really a hereafter? The physical process may last a few seconds; the spiritual lasts forever. It’s not in a medical or philosophical book. It’s in the Bible you hold in your hands. It’s the Word of God, the giver of life, and there is none greater than his son to explain it to us. Other religions have their ideas, but all who have written their details are dead. Our plan of salvation came from the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior. He is the teacher in this passage, and he has the keys to death, hell, and the grave.
Before we consider how death will be, we must think of life now. Both of these men lived different lives. They had the same chances. Both had the same conclusion of life. Both continued to exist. Both are alive today. What they did in this side of life determined their next life.
We can imagine death any way we like. Reincarnation and that’s it; purgatory; become a god; or be an atheist and not believe anything, but what is waiting at death is determined by what we do with the one and only plan of salvation. It will determine what to expect when we die.
The rich man didn’t go to hell because he was rich. His attitude to his riches made a difference. He allowed his material security to cloud the need of his soul. He had all the comforts of life. He was in need of nothing but comfort for his soul. He believed the lie that generation from generation has believed. Prosperity, being a good person will do it. “Life is okay. I don’t need God. I have all I want.” All these earthly things won’t matter in eternity, for we let go of them, and they let go of us.
The beggar had a life of hardship. He never had enough to eat. He was lame. He lived a life of obscurity. He is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible or in a history book. He didn’t have worldly goods. He couldn’t work. He was ill. The dogs came and licked his sores. He didn’t go to heaven because he was poor or suffering. God didn’t feel sorry for him and let him in. Lazarus knew the value of knowing God. Although considered a nobody, God knew him and he knew God.
Beware of what you have. You may have only a $100 in your pocket or a million. Either can cloud your mind to your soul’s need of salvation and take you to hell. All earthly things that buffer your life won’t buffer your soul. You’ll be stripped of it all when you die. Whatever or how much will not stay what happened to the rich man and Lazarus. They died. It will come to us too.
How you experience death is determined by what you do with salvation in this life. There is a noticeable absence of detail for the rich man’s death, but when Lazarus died the angels came. His transition was not alone. Both closed their eyes in death and in that pause for a fleeting moment they crossed over and opened their eyes. Lazarus saw angels and felt no suffering. His release was a fulfillment of heart. He was taken to Abraham. He knew him. The rich man knew Abraham too. Jesus said they had Moses and the prophets to tell them about their ancestors. The scripture they read and what they heard was the truth after all. Lazarus was in peace. The rich man was in torments. He had left his fine linen and darkness swallowed him.
Ready or not, we’ll die. Ready or not, we’ll leave this world. The rich man wasn’t ready, but he died. When he opened his eyes, he realized he was in hell and knew why. He neglected his soul. He pampered his body but didn’t take care of his eternal soul, the most important part of his being. But it was this part of him, his soul, that awoke in hell.
He looked up and saw Abraham. There was Lazarus in his bosom. He deduced that what he had read and been told was correct. What had been spoken about sin and the need for salvation was correct. It was too late. He begged for just a drop of water from Lazarus’ finger. Once he died Lazarus was in heaven forever; once he died he was in hell forever, and it is all because he denied the need of is soul.
You had better face the fact you will die. Are you ready? Are you really right with God? What if this is your last chance? You can’t blame others if you go to hell. Only Jesus can keep you out, and that will happen only if he lives in your heart. That is up to you. You may have a lot or nothing, but what you do with your soul decides what will happen when you die. Just as they had Moses and the prophets, you have all you need to know about this matter. If today is the day you die, and it might be, I’ve showed you what to expect. You’ve heard it. You can’t stand before God and say you didn’t know. What about it?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 