Amazing Discoveries On The Other Side Of Eternity

Intro. A Few weeks ago, I preached on facing the Border, and how Enoch was translated, raptured, to live with God forever. We are facing the border. You may doubt the times, or you may be looking vigorously for the Lord to come, but nothing changes that we are all facing eternity sooner than we think. In our text, two men had their existence changed from the boundary of Time to the state of Eternity. This is a true story of a CERTAIN rich man, and a poor man named Lazarus.

There was no chance of change of their new abode. They had entered the other side of eternity. Let me say immediately that no one wants to go to hell, and all want to go to heaven! But many are not willing to give their life to Christ. But we all want heaven.

Let us look at our text, and see Amazing discoveries on the other side of eternity

I. The Description of Two Men - vs. 19-22

A. The Wealthy Man - It was not a condition of vocation or mere possession - Jesus named three things that had kept him from knowing God.

1. His Financial Goals - He was rich (Not that this was his sin, but Jesus had warned of the love of money).

- The allegiance to money - look back at vs. 13-14 (Luke 16)

- The affection for more - Luke 12:18 "And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"

- The attachment to things - (does not have to be money)

Mark 10:21 "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." (Luke 18:18) This was possessions, but this rich young ruler was bound to his things.

2. His Fine Garments - He was finely clothed.

- This was a Picture of Position - He had the ability to do right

- This was a Picture of Pride - Nothing wrong with dressing properly, but for some unexplained reason, Jesus said this was part of his downfall.

3. His Flaunted Greed - It is clearly not a sin that he was successful, but that he was “Sumptuously” living, disregarding any other.

- He had plenty, but was only rich in human life

- He had position (purple), but disregarded others

- He had pleasure, but ignored Lazarus - AND GOD.

He had no need for God. He had enough on his own. He may have even been religious, but clearly had no relationship with God.

He found his comfort and security in things of this life. It was not a problem of the things that he had, but the things he had possessed him!

B. The Weary Man - we find here a very graphic picture of helplessness.

1. His Place - laid at the gate - He could not get there on his own.

2. His Plight - full of sores - ulcers all over his body

3. His Poverty - He desired crumbs, of which he apparently did not get.

One was wealthy, one was weary.

II. The Delight of the Delivered Man - vs. 23-26 The weary was rescued! He was Rescued - Jesus gives assumed conditions of their hearts by their destinations in eternity. Lazarus was not delivered based upon his earthly poverty, but his implied position before God. No salvation outside of the true God.

A. A New Found Company

1. Angels protected him and accompanied him in death (Moses, voice of the archangel). Here is evidence of his relationship with God. Heb 1:14 "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

2. He was found in Abraham’s bosom - merely means into his presence.

Abraham’s bosom was the good side of eternity.

- This was a common phrase among the Jews of that day for Heaven

- He did not enter eternity alone! Eternity for the saved will be

** A relief ** A reunion

B. A New Found Comfort

1. The Peace of a New Seat - he was not laying at the gate any more!

- Heaven will be so sweet, no matter your earthly circumstances.

- He went from an earthly gate to heavenly glory!