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!
2. The Pleasure of a New Supply - it would never end. Abraham’s bosom gives the idea of a feast - Mat 8:11 "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. Those that are saved will have the supply of heaven!"
III. The Desires of the Tormented Man
A. He had a New Found Condition - He is found nameless for he died without God, and therefore his name was blotted out of the book of life!
1. There were no Possessions
2. There were no Positions
3. There were no Pleasures - he did not find a party in hell with his friends! He did not have a reunion, but was alone.
B. He had a New Found Conviction - vs. 27-31
The Rich man cared not for others, and especially no concern for their souls, not even his own, until he saw eternity - Now he wanted a preacher to go to his family! What changed his mind?
1. There was no Status - There were no rich men in hell.
2. There was no Solace - There was no comfort in hell (just drop of water!) He was in Torments - the state of anguish and intense pain.
3. There was no Saviour - The circumstances of his end was to be found on the wrong side of eternity. Separated from God forever. Too Late!
The great gulf, an abyss that separates the two states of eternity.
But now he was concerned about the souls of others! His was doomed, he had died without a relationship with God. But what about his family? If he had only listened! If he had only trusted! But NOW HE BELIEVED.
In hell there will be much repentance, but to no avail. TOO LATE.
Hell will be full of honesty, but TOO LATE.
All of us will have this realization in eternity. Right now, mere faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen, is our view from this side. But from the other side of eternity, new found convictions will be evident when our faith is made sight.
- The Lost will know their Demise, and not desire any to follow them.
- The Saved will know their Delight, and more than ever desire others to come. Will you wait to get to eternity before you care for the soul of someone else.
Concl. On which side of eternity will you be found? Do you realize that if you will reject Christ by logic, you would not even believe if a miracle occurred before your eyes, even if one came back from the dead! You may be scared, but if you will not believe the Word of God, you would not believe the miracle. Many saw the Miracles of Christ, yet rejected His Message. If someone will not believe the Word of God, then they will not believe in the event of a miracle!
On which side of eternity will you dwell? The decision will only be made on this side of eternity.
It is foolishness to play with your soul! It is foolish to play with the souls of others.
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
