In the Gospel of Luke, our Lord tells of the death of a certain rich man and a beggar, Lazarus. In doing so he pulls back death’s curtain to reveal a brief yet compelling insight to that which awaits each of us. Christ begins, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores” (Luke 16: 19-21). With these two statements our Lord summarizes the lives of these two individuals.
“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; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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” (Luke 16:22-24).
It is evident from the narrative that there is life after death. These two were conscious of their surroundings and of each other. We should never be deceived to think that we have this life only and there is nothing after this life. Frankly, this was the downfall of the rich man. It is evident that he lived for this life only. Abraham responded to his request to send Lazarus by reminding him “that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things” (Luke 16:25; emphasis added). The rich man’s fault was not that he was rich, but that he lived his life without regard for eternity. That is an important lesson for each one of us. Jesus taught plainly “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul” (Mark 8:36).
Not only were these two men conscious of their surroundings, but their surroundings were distinctly different. Again, Abraham in responding to the rich man’s request tells him “now he [Lazarus] is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Luke 16:25-26). One location is a place of conscious bliss, and the other is a place of conscious torment. Furthermore, there is no passage between the two – ever!
There is life after death and heaven and hell are real places. Those who live for this life only are not prepared for death and its consequences. Death is an appointment that none can escape as the author of Hebrews points out. “It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Our Lord tells us that hell, the everlasting fire, is “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). Though Satan, the devil, is inescapably assigned to suffer eternally there, man can avoid its torment. Each individual must choose. Jesus Christ offers life, the forgiveness of sins, and a home in heaven to those who will receive it. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). What will you do with Jesus?
From the Chaplain 