Getting What We Deserve

Teach me how to live, O Lord.….Lead me along the right path… Psalm 27:11a

The desire of my heart!

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Luke 16:19-31 (<<click here to read the passage)
As Jesus continues to speak of what is truly of value in our lives, He shares the story of the rich man and Lazarus.
A couple of observations.
The rich man who was all that and had everything the world had to offer isn’t even given a name. With all of his wealth and power and influence, he was just one more nameless figure lost in the annuls of time, because when all was said and done his investments equaled nothing.
Lazarus’ life, on the other hand, was full of want and pain and suffering. But…he was not nameless. Like many with little to their name, he clung to the only thing that could not be taken from him…His God.
Lazarus died and was carried by angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. “No-name” died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead. vs22-23_NLT
Did you notice that “no-name” was aware of where he was and where Lazarus was, too? Also, even in the midst of his torment, he had not changed his ways. He was still looking out for himself. ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ v24_NLT
But no pity could be given him.

“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ vs25-26_NLT

As things sunk in, he thought of someone beyond himself and asked that Lazarus be allowed to return and warn his five brothers of their pending doom.

“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” vs29-31_NLT

One final observation from my study Bible,
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. (Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation)
Lord Jesus, may we realize sooner rather than later that we will be getting what we deserve. Shake us loose!

Sept 29^th, 2020, Tues, 7:12 pm