BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT LAST: ETERNALLY
LUKE 16: 19-31
JANUARY 9, 2005
INTRODUCTION: I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven’s door
Not by the beauty of it all
Not by the lights or decor
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp
The thieves, the liars, the sinners
The alcoholics, the trash!!
There stood the kid from the seventh grade
He’d stole my lunch money twice!!
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice!!
Uncle Bob, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell
Was sitting pretty, on cloud nine
Looking incredibly well!!
I nudged Jesus, "What’s the deal,
I’d love to hear your take.
How’d all these sinners get up here
God must have made a mistake!!
And why’s everyone so quiet.
So somber. Give me a clue."
"Hush child," said he "they’re all in shock.
No one thought they’d see you!!"
TRANSITION THOUGHT: This funny little poem deals with the truth of how we relate to others and how relationships seem to indicate our place in eternity. Building relationships that last is a current sales slogan one of the local car companies is now using. I have heard it over and over and have thought it just didn’t fit with a car company and surely didn’t seem like a powerful sales pitch. Then I rethought what they might be saying. They might be saying that they won’t take advantage of the buyer, because that want that person to buy from them again. They also, in a bigger picture kind of way, might be saying they care for the buyer. The buyer is their livelihood and they are not taking that for granted.
So here we are with our text, a familiar text to some. The obvious direct for this text is the issue and reality of Hell! IT is real! BUT for us today, I want us to look at this issue of relationships and how they influence our eternal destination and just how important it is to get relationships right!
THESIS SENTENCE: RELATIONSHIPS MARK OUR PLACE IN ETERNITY
I. ETERNAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE ABOUT OPPORTUNITY VV. 19-21
A. OPPORTUNITY IS REALITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHO WE ARE
1. THE RICH MAN: PURPLE RAIN/REIGN
2. LAZARUS: HUNGRY/ SICK/ DOG LOVER
B. OPPORTUNITY IS NEED: AT YOUR DOORSTEP
1. AT THE GATE
2. OBVIOUS NEED/ NO QUESTION HERE!
C. OPPORTUNITY IS RESPONSIBILITY
1. LUXURY=MEANS
2. MEANS=ABILITY
3. ABILITY=RESPONSIBILTY
4. RESPONSIBILTIY IS A RELATIONSHIP
ILLUSTURATION:
TRUTH: GOD HAS PLACED OPPORTUNITIES ALL AROUND US FOR ETERNAL RELATIONSHIPS!
QUESTION: ARE OUR EYES OPEN TO THE OPPORTUNITIES ALL AROUND US FOR ETERNAL RELATIONSHIPS?
II. ETERNAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE ABOUT JUDGEMENT 22-31
A. JUDGEMENT IS DEATH
B. JUDGEMENT IS LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
C. JUDGEMENT IS A CLEAR VIEW TO THE TOP
D. JUDGEMENT IS A HOPE OF SOMETHING DIFFERENT
1. DIFFERENT FOR SELF: WATER
2. DIFFERENT FOR OTHERS: BROTHERS: RELATIONSHIPS
3. DIFFERENT IS LONGING FOR A RELATIONSHIP: SEND LAZARUS (VERSE 24)
E. JUDGEMENT IS REALITY
1. REALITY FOR SELF: WE CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE: SEPARATION! REALLY!
2. REALITY FOR OTHERS: THEY HAVE THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS: IF YOU DON’T GET IT NOW, YOU CAN’T GET IT LATER (VV. 30-31)!! RELATIONSHIPS=MISSED OPPORTUNITY!
3. REALITY IS LONGING FOR A RELATIONSHIP: SEND LAZARUS (VERSE 27)
ILLUSTRATION:
TRUTH: JUDGEMENT COMES TO US ALL!
QUESTIONS: ARE WE READY FOR THE JUDGEMENT? WHAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR RELATIONSHIPS HAVE WE MISSED AND WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME FOR THOSE WHOM WE HAVE NOT CARED FOR?
III. ETERNAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE ABOUT REWARD VV. 22, 25
A. REWARD IS MORE THAN THIS LIFE
B. REWARD IS AN ANGELIC ESCORT
C. REWARD IS COMFORT FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY
D. REWARD IS A RELATIONSHIP: LAZARUS WAS WITH ABRAHAM
ILLUSTRATION: Artist: Buddy Jewell Album: Buddy Jewell
Song: Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey’s Song)
The moment was custom-made to order:
I was ridin’ with my daughter on our way back from Monroe.
An’ like children do, she started playin’ twenty questions,
But I never could’ve guessed one would touch me to my soul.
She said: "Daddy, when we get to Heaven, can I taste the Milky Way?
"Are we goin’ there to visit, or are we goin’ there to stay?
"Am I gonna see my Grandpa? Can I have a pair of wings?
"An’ do you think that God could use another Angel,
"To help pour out the rain?"
Well, I won’t lie: I pulled that car right over,
An’ I sat there on the shoulder tryin’ to dry my misty eyes.
An’ I whispered: "Lord, I wanna thank you for my children.
"’Cause your innocence that fills them often takes me by surprise."
Like: "Daddy, when we get to Heaven, can I taste the Milky Way?
"Are we goin’ there to visit, or are we goin’ there to stay?
"Am I gonna see my Grandpa? Can I have a pair of wings?
"An’ do you think that God could use another Angel,
"To help pour out the rain?"
Well, I thought about it later on,
An’ a smile came to my face.
An’ when I tucked her in to bed,
I got down on my knees an’ prayed.
Lord, when I get to Heaven, can I taste the Milky Way?
"I don’t wanna come to visit ’cause I’m comin’ home to stay?
"An’ I can’t wait to see my family and meet Jesus face to face.
"An’ do you think, Lord, you could use just one more Angel,
"To help pour out the rain?"
Mmmm, can I help pour out the rain?
TRUTH: THE ETERNAL REWARD IS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP!
QUESTION: DON’T WE ALL WANT RELATIONSHIPS THAT LAST FOR ETERNITY?
CONCLUSION: Relationships matter to the Lord! His greatest desire is to be in a relationship with us that will last for eternity. If we are not in a relationship with the Lord, we will be separated from HIM for eternity! The Lord also wants us to develop relationships with one another that will last for eternity. Jesus teaches us in this text that GOD will not forgive the missed opportunities of Relationships! YOU HAVE HOME WORK! WHO IS YOUR LAZARUS? WHO HAVE YOU IGNORED THAT THE LORD IS LAYING ON YOUR HEART! I BELIEVE THIS MAY VERY WELL HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH CHARITY, BUT MORE ABOUT CARING FOR OTHERS HERE AND NOW! WILL YOUR LAZARUS CAUSE YOU TO MISS HEAVEN?
BENEDICTION: JUDE 24-25
