Read today's Scripture: Luke 16.19-31 - what does it mean??

Good Morning.

I heard it said the other day 'that while seek to understand the Bible, the Bible is a book that understands us.' Good. Today's passage took some serious study time to understand! Here's what we have: Token rich man with a down-and-outer brought to lay at his gate, (so he couldn't leave his house without seeing the man). This guy "Lazarus" is poor, sickly, alone. . . with only dogs for friends. Lazarus dies and he goes to Abraham's side. Soon after, the rich man dies and he goes to hell, but he is able to see that Lazarus is at the side of Abraham. 'Abraham, please have Lazarus bring water to cool me, refresh my parched tongue.' Abraham informs him there is an uncrossable chasm between them. 'Then, could you at least send Lazarus to warn my brothers, so they have a chance--before they die--to repent and come to God? I don't want them to experience the tortuous torment of Hell.' Abraham tells them that all have had the same chance to accept God through the teaching of the Law and the Prophets.

So what are we to take from this? The "rich man" represents someone who has spurned God. How do we know? The test of a heart that loves God is that it heeds His words. Jesus had said the greatest commandments were to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. . . and to love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12.30-31. The rich man walked past Lazarus daily, leaving his 'neighbor' in poverty and pain. Compassion? Not so much. If we truly love God, we will love others well, and offer compassion freely. A compassionate heart sees the need and moves toward it, not away from it.

Secondly, it becomes clear that death is the great equalizer. In case you've ever wondered, there are no "park hopper passes"--Hell is a real place; and if you establish residency there, it will be permanent.

Finally, it is a fact that some people choose not to believe in God. . . period. For me, this is a bitter pill. The story Jesus told this day reminds us of that. The brothers chose not to believe the writings of Moses and the prophets; they were not going to believe in God, even if someone came back from the dead. 'Not a coincidence that the only individual named in all of Jesus' stories was this Lazarus. (Even when Jesus raised Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Martha and Mary, from the dead, the Pharisees did not believe in Him; instead, they hardened their hearts and plotted to kill Jesus. John 11) A bitter pill? Yes. Doesn't it seem logical that if you present someone with the whole picture of a loving God who pursues His creation, loves them so much that He gives them Jesus----then, you shore up the life and works of Jesus with corroborative current day writings by His contemporaries, including His miracles, death and resurrection--that he would choose to believe in this God? Not necessarily. Some will choose never to believe. A bitter pill. But how about when they see how much Jesus means to me, how much I've changed--won't they believe then? Some will never choose to believe. How about when they are sick unto death, and breathing their last? Well, maybe--but some will never choose to believe. Choice--God gave it to us from the beginning, and called it 'free will.' He wanted us to come to Him and love Him freely--not interested in robot love.

Hmmm. . . some thinking is in order to absorb the lessons of the rich man and the poor man; but as always, with Scripture, it is worth it.

So that you may know,

Christine