Accidents can happen anytime. None of us know when the end will come. It can come suddenly and unexpected. The collapse at Nicoll Highway and Ayer Rajah Ave site remind us that life is unpredictable. When we leave our house each morning, we do not know if we’re going to come back that same day. Life is not in our hands.
Jesus once told a story about a rich farmer (Luke 12:16-20), who thought of building bigger barns to store more of his grain, but God said, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" (12:20). He forgot that he is going to leave this world.
Accidents in life cause us to re-look at what is really important. We must treasure every living moment to do what is right and good. We do not know how much time we have left before we meet God. That is why HOW we live today is important.
Let us look at this parable about the rich man and Lazarus. I divide this story into 3 parts.
In the first part, we see the rich man completely engrossed by his wealth. He made the mistake of focusing only on the here-and-now, only for this world. He was preoccupied by things and he died leaving them all behind.
(1) YOU CANNOT SALVAGE THINGS ONCE LIFE IS OVER, SHARE THINGS NOW
Don’t treasure things, but people. Things will pass away. Everything we have will be left behind once life is over.
The rich man “...was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.” (16:19). Not sometimes, but everyday. He takes pride in his wealth. His god is his riches. His only concern was to live in the grandest house, eat the best food, and wear the finest clothing. It’s sad because he invested his whole life on things that are temporal.
No matter how much you’ve earned on earth, you’re going to leave everything behind. So don’t love things, use things. Use what you have to bless others. The Bible teaches to use what we have, what God has given us, for His purposes. To share our things with those in need. To USE things so that others are blessed.
The recent accidents tell us life is fragile but precious. We make every effort to save lives. Life matters, not things. Therefore relationship with people is important. Relationship with our children is important. Relationship with our parents is important. Don’t make the same mistake the rich man made.
God gave this rich man a chance to change - right in front of his house was an obvious need – “20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table….” He was given the chance to move away, from loving things to loving people, from loving this world, to loving the God Lazarus worshipped. But he did not. Not once or twice, but apparently everyday he was given this chance - to give Lazarus a decent meal and proper clothing - but he did not.
If he had, he would have known Lazarus as a friend. He would most likely have known about his God and the life after death. We read in the last part of this parable, that the rich man wished for Lazarus to go to his father’s house and warn his five brothers. Lazarus was at his gate every day and he ignored him. If he paid attention, he would have been saved.
We are blessed today. We may not be very rich, but we have enough to live on. And we’ve come to know the God whom we can trust. Let us share what we have with those in need. In 1 Tim 6:17 Paul tells Timothy to warn the people not to put their hope in wealth but in God, for He is the One “who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” And then he said (vv.18-19),
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
The Lord wants us to “store up treasures in heaven” by using what we have here on earth to bless others. When life is over, we will not be able to do so anymore.
John Wesley said, ‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.’
George W. Truett, a well-known Texas preacher, was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy oilman. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.
Pointing to the oil wells and punctuating the landscape, he boasted, "Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it’s all mine." Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, "That’s all mine." Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, "They’re all mine." Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, "That too is all mine."
He paused, expecting Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. Truett, however, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other, simply said, "How much do you have in that direction?"
(Farewell Ave. Christian Church)
In the second part, both the rich man and Lazarus died. They are separated by a great chasm. Lazarus is in comfort now because he trusted God. The rich man is in agony. Nothing can be changed now.
(2) YOU CANNOT SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES ONCE LIFE IS OVER, SEEK GOD NOW
Opportunities once passed will never return. We don’t always have the chance to do the right thing. The rich man was given the chance but he did not take it. He died. He left behind everything – his house, his things, his clothing, and his food… But the saddest thing is that he lost his salvation. He was too preoccupied with his life on earth, and did not seek God.
Let us treasure every living moments we have today, to seek God and live for Him. Once time is passed, it won’t return.
The story is told of a Persian prince who was about to ascend the throne. Aware of his need to guide his people to live right, he summoned his wise men and commanded them to prepare a history of humanity. “Find out what’s the meaning and purpose of life.” Twenty years later the scholars brought him 6,000 books.
Too busy with the affairs of the state to wade through that many books, the (busy) king told his wise men to edit their work and to condense their findings in one book. Another twenty years passed, and the scholars presented the king with the one book he had asked for.
The king was dying and not able to read it. From his deathbed, the sad king looked up at the wise men and cried, “Then I shall die without knowing the history of humanity!” One of the wise men quickly said, “Beloved King, I can sum it up for you in one line - ‘They were born; they suffered; they died.’” (…Ralph Spencer).
People prepare for life on earth, but seldom for the life after. They neglected that which is most important. The contrast between the rich man and Lazarus is great (v.22). The rich man may have a good life and a decent burial, but he suffers in agony for eternity. Lazarus may have a difficult life and died without fanfare, but he was carried by angels into Paradise and now enjoys eternity in God’s presence.
Lazarus trusted God while he was still living. In fact, his name means "God is my helper." Dear friends, once life is over, opportunity to make the right choice will be over. Seek God now. While you still have the chance to do so, make efforts to know Jesus and what He has done for you. The Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Man is destined to die once and after that to face the judgement of God (Heb 9:27). So don’t doubt, procrastinate or hesitate. The life we have now will fade away but the abundant life God gives will not. It’s eternal. You need to put your trust in Jesus. He is our only Saviour.
Bro/sis, seek God while you can. Put God first in your lives. If you are healthy and can come to church, then come every Sunday for worship. If you can see and read today, seize the opportunity you have, read and study His Word. If you have a chance to pray for someone in need, then pray. Serve the Lord while you still can. When you have the chance to do something of eternal value, do it now. In many places, in many countries, even if they want to, many are not allowed to worship God, to read His Word or to serve Him freely.
Before you get up in the morning and rush into your day, pause and pray: “Lord, don’t let me waste this day. Whether or not I get anything else done, help me to spend today loving You and doing Your will.” King Solomon wrote in his old age (in Ecclesiastes 12:13), “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.”
We don’t always have the chance to do something for God - seek Him now and serve Him with all your heart.
Finally the third part of the story tells us:
(3) YOU CANNOT SAVE OTHERS ONCE LIFE IS OVER, SPEAK UP NOW
The rich man regretted but it was too late. The thoughts of those missed opportunities saddened him. He would have saved himself had he pay more attention to Lazarus. He wished he had not wasted his life away in luxury. Now he only wish is that his five brothers will be warned and be saved. He can no longer do anything now.
We do not want to live with such a regret. If you’re going to love someone, love them now. If we’re going to share Christ with someone, speak up now. God has left the preaching of the Gospel of salvation to the living. We must seize every living moment to share Christ. A simple word can go a long way. A single tract can change a life.
Paul said, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Cor 9:22-23)
Someone lost her friend and wrote this poem to remind herself to share Christ whenever she has the chance:
IS THIS YOU?
My friend I stand in judgment now
And feel that you’re to blame somehow.
On earth I walked with you each day
And never did you point the Way.
You know the Lord in truth and glory
But never did you tell the story
My knowledge then was very dim
You could have led me safe to Him.
Though we lived together on earth
You never told me of the Second Birth
You never spoke of my lost soul
And of the Christ who can make me whole
You taught me many things, that’s true
I called you friend and trusted you
But I learn now that it’s too late
You could have kept me from this fate.
We walked by day and talked by night
And yet you showed me not the Light
You let me live, work, and die.
You knew I’d never live on High.
Yes, I called you "friend in life"
And trusted you through joy and strife
And yet on coming to the end
I cannot now call you "my friend"
Let us do all we can now - while we still can - for the souls of men and plead with them earnestly.
The Lord said, "Night is coming, when no one can work." (John 9:4)
Treasure your life and do what matters most. Share things, Seek God, and Share Christ.
