THE PERIL OF PROCRASTINATION
Luke 16:19-31
19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ’Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 "But Abraham replied, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 "He answered, ’Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 "Abraham replied, ’They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’30 "’No, father Abraham,’ he said, ’but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 "He said to him, ’If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’"
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As we look at this story in the Bible, we must realize that it is an aweful yet true story. It is aweful because one man had so much suffering in this life and the other man had so much suffering in the next life. It is aweful because one man ended up in hell.
As you may have noticed, I also believe that one’s senses are going to be very keen in hell.
v23 Sight
v24 Taste
v24 Touch-feeling
v25 Hear
v24 Emotions- remorseful
And though smelling is not mentioned, I believe the stench is going to be horendus.
We know this story is true because Jesus told it.
This aweful story is summarized in two words: TOO LATE! About the only real difference between these two men is two words: TOO LATE!
The rich man in hell did everything that the poor man did on earth; however he did them simply TOO LATE!
He awoke to the fact of eternity too late (vs.22-23)
Luke 16:22-24
22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
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He had to die
Death is a sure appointment
Heb 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Death is real.
Death is a peeping tom; he gazes into your window just waiting for the opportunity to snatch your soul.
Experts say that 3 people die every second. If this fact is true, then 180 people die every minute, 10,800 people die every hour, 259,200 people die every day, and 94,608,000 people die every year. Of the six billion people on earth today, experts also sayt that 2/3 of them have never heard the Gospel one time. If these percentages hold true, then 63, 103,536 people die every year without ever hearing the Gospel one time!
Not everyone that has heard the Gospel one time, accepts the Gospel. Therefore, many more people die every year without hearing the Gospel!
But I want you to know that death does not end it all.
This should encourage those who are saved.
This should sound a warning to those who are lost.
He lifted up his eyes too late (vs. 23)
Luke 16:23
23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
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Evidently he was too busy in life to stop and look up.
He was too involved with earth to look up to heaven.
He was too absorbed with the Now to think of the Here-after.
The average man breathes God’s free air, eats God’s food, drinks God’s water, and never turns a face to God in appreciation.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THE SECOND STEP TO BECOMING A REPROBATE IS TO BE UNGRATEFUL. (Romans 1:21)
Rom 1:21
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
We should make it a habit to lift our eyes to heaven. (Psalm 121:1-2)
Ps 121:1-2
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He shed tears too late. (vs. 24)
Luke 16:24
24 So he called to him, ’Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
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Nothing moved him in life.
Lazarus was full of sores lying at his gate; yet he never helped him.
The needy were all around him; yet he own tables, clothes, and had an abundant life.
He never thought about the spiritual welfare of other including his family.
He was not concerned until it was too late.
Always remember that sin deceives us and hardens us. (Hebrews 3:13)
Heb 3:13
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
He prayed too late (vs. 27)
Luke 16:27
27 "He answered, ’Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,
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This is the only prayer in the Bible that is prayed to a saint, and it went unanswered!
The Bible commands us to “Pray without ceasing.”
Prayer makes a difference.
James 5:16
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
When George Muller got saved, He had five lost friends. He began to pray for these 5 friends. Five years went by, and one got saved. Fifteen years went by and 2 others got saved. Twenty-five years went by and the 4th got saved! Fifty-two years after he began praying for these friends, he died. Six months after George Muller’s funeral, the last 5th friend got saved! Prayer works!
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF YOU WILL BOW A KNEE; IT IS A MATTER OF WHEN YOU WILL BOW A KNEE! (pHIL 2:10-11)
Phil 2:10-11
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
He remembered too late (vs. 25)
Luke 16:25
25 "But Abraham replied, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
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He remembered God’s goodness too late.
Man is warned not to forget the goodness of God.
Rom 2:4
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
The ability to remember is one of the torments of hell.(vs.25)
Luke 16:25
25 "But Abraham replied, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
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He was concered about the lost too late. (vs. 28)
Luke 16:28
28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
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While he was living, he was never concerned about his family or friends salvation.
Many of us are just like this man:
1. We never witness to the lost
2. We never give a tract to the lost
3. We never invite the lost to church
4. We never request prayer for the lost
“How shall they hear without a preacher!”
Conclusion:
The rich man simply waited too late to:
1. awake to the fact of eternity
2. to lift up his eyes
3. to shed tears
4. to pray
5. to remember
6. to be concerned for the lost.
If you are here today and don’t know Christ as your personal Saviour, DO NOT WAIT TOO LATE!
If you are here and do not have a burden for souls that you should, DO NOT WAIT TOO LATE!
If you are here and are holding back your life from serving God, DO NOT WAIT TOO LATE!
WHEN YOU WAIT TOO LATE, THERE IS NO SECOND CHANCES!!!
Parts of this sermon may have been borrowed from sermons contributed to Sermon Central and adapted to fit the ministry to my congregation, thanks to you great pastors and preachers.
