The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
\nSeptember 25, 2016
\nLuke 16:19-31<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.\u00a0 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.\u00a0 Even the dogs came and licked his sores.\u00a0 The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.\u00a0 The rich man also died and was buried.\u00a0 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.\u00a0 So he called to him, \u2018Father 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.\u2019\u00a0 But Abraham replied, \u2018Son, 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.\u00a0 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.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0 He answered, \u2018Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers.\u00a0 Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.\u2019\u00a0 Abraham replied, \u2018They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0 \u2018No, father Abraham,\u2019 he said, \u2018but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.\u2019\u00a0 He said to him, \u2018If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>(NIV1984)<\/p>\n Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n Some of you have heard me say this before.\u00a0 I have said it on a number of occasions \u2014 both publicly as well as privately.\u00a0 I always have to preface it by saying, \u201cDon\u2019t take this personally.\u201d\u00a0 It goes like this:\u00a0 Don\u2019t take this personally but I don\u2019t care what kind of house you live in.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care what kind of car you drive.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care how much money you have.\u00a0 Now don\u2019t get me wrong.\u00a0 Over the course of the years I have been very impressed by some of the homes I have been in.\u00a0 I have truly admired some of the cars I have seen either in the parking lot at church or parked in members\u2019 garages.\u00a0 In my weaker moments I have even thought about how nice it would be to be able to afford going certain places, doing certain things and having certain possessions that the good Lord has given to some of my members.\u00a0 No, my friends, more than anything else, what I truly care about the most is where you will spend eternity.<\/p>\n The sermon text that we have before us this morning dovetails perfectly with that question\u2014 a question that we would not only do well to ask ourselves, a question that we would do well to ask others.\u00a0 That question is:\u00a0 Where will you spend eternity?\u00a0 With that question in mind let\u2019s study our text for today under the theme:\u00a0 As Disciples of Jesus\u2014 We Consider the Consequences.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>As we work our way through this portion of Scripture we\u2019ll see how this portion of Scripture works its way through a progression of four steps.\u00a0 Step #1:\u00a0 As you believe, so you will live.\u00a0 Step #2:\u00a0 As you live, so you will die.\u00a0 Step #3:\u00a0 As you die, so you will be judged.\u00a0 Step #4:\u00a0 As you are judged, so you will remain.<\/p>\n Step #1:\u00a0 As you believe, so will you live.\u00a0 That truth is brought out very clearly in the opening portion of our text.\u00a0 Jesus says, \u201cThere was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.\u00a0 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man\u2019s table.\u00a0 Even the dogs came and licked his sores.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n If you were here in God\u2019s house last Sunday you will remember that in and of itself money is morally neutral.\u00a0 How we view money and how we use money\u2014 now that\u2019s a different story.\u00a0 The rich man in our text for today is a very good example of that.\u00a0 Since we know the rest of this story, since we know that this man ends up in hell for all of eternity we know that there was no saving faith in his heart.\u00a0 He did not believe in the Lord as his God.\u00a0 He did not trust in the Messiah that the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, had promised to send into this world.\u00a0 What did this man believe in?\u00a0 That\u2019s easy!\u00a0 All we have to do is look at his life!\u00a0 He believed in dressing in purple and fine linen.\u00a0 He had the money to buy the best designer duds of his day and so that\u2019s exactly what he did.\u00a0 He believed in living in luxury every day.\u00a0 A far more literal translation of the Greek here reveals to us that this rich man \u201cwas celebrating splendidly\u2014 daily.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This rich man had the resources to live it up every single day and so that\u2019s exactly what he did.<\/p>\n Now, does this portion of Scripture teach us that even if God has blessed us with more money than we need it is \u201cwrong\u201d for us as disciples of Jesus to wear really nice clothes or enjoy a comfortable lifestyle?\u00a0 Absolutely not\u2014 unless we allow that to become our \u201cgod.\u201d\u00a0 We need to consider the consequences of what living a carefree comfortable lifestyle can<\/strong> do to our faith.\u00a0 If <\/strong>that lifestyle lures us away from the cross on Calvary\u2019s hill, if <\/strong>that lifestyle has a negative impact on how often we gather together here in God\u2019s house to hear His holy Word and receive His holy Supper then at the very least we need to examine how well we are letting our faith guide and direct our life.<\/p>\n As you believe, so you will live.\u00a0 The same axiom holds true for the beggar here in our text, the poor man known as Lazarus.\u00a0 Once again, since we know the rest of this story, since we know that Lazarus ends up in heaven enjoying the glorious banquet his God has graciously prepared for him, we know that Lazarus had saving faith in his heart.\u00a0 Lazarus believed in the Lord his God.\u00a0 Lazarus trusted in the Messiah whom the Lord his God had promised to send into this world.\u00a0 Lazarus let his faith guide and direct how he lived his life.\u00a0 How do we know this?\u00a0 That\u2019s easy!\u00a0 First, there is the fact that Jesus Himself gives this poor man the name, \u201cLazarus.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cLazarus\u201d<\/em> means \u201cthe one whom God helps.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Every single day his family and\/or his friends would carry Lazarus to this rich man\u2019s home and place him by the gate.\u00a0 Every single day Lazarus trusted that his God would help him get through the day\u2014 even though that meant \u201clonging to eat what fell from the rich man\u2019s table,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 even though that meant finding relief in \u201cthe dogs <\/em>(who) came and licked his sores.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Second, we don\u2019t see even a hint of complaining on the part of Lazarus.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t blame God for his poverty or his sickness.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t angry at God for the situation he was in.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t have a pity party and say, \u201cWhy me?\u201d\u00a0 He simply trusted that his God was in control.<\/p>\n There is a very powerful lesson here for us to follow, my friends.\u00a0 Because of the faith that lived in Lazarus\u2019 heart, Lazarus not only knew that the Lord his God would help him through each and every day by literally providing for his daily bread, but Lazarus also knew that one day all of his difficulties and all of his pain would come to an end and then the Lord his God would \u201chelp\u201d<\/em> him in the most wonderful way of all!\u00a0 He would take Lazarus home to heaven!\u00a0 That brings us to Step #2.<\/p>\n Step #2:\u00a0 As you live, so you will die.\u00a0 Jesus says, \u201cThe time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham\u2019s side.\u00a0 The rich man also died and was buried.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n There are two ways in which we need to look at these words.\u00a0\u00a0 One way is to look at these words from a very superficial earthly perspective.\u00a0 The other way is to look at these words from a far deeper spiritual perspective.\u00a0 From a superficial earthly perspective these words remind us that death is an inevitable\u2014 not a natural, but an inevitable\u2014 part of life.\u00a0 No matter how rich someone might be and no matter how poor someone might be in the end the playing field is leveled.\u00a0 In the end everyone dies.\u00a0 Death is an inevitable part of life.<\/p>\n Far more important, however, is to look at these words from a deeper spiritual perspective.\u00a0 The rich man lived his daily life in a way that openly revealed what he believed in.\u00a0 He believed in enjoying this life to the fullest.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t have room for God in his heart.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t have time for God in his life.\u00a0 On the other hand, poor Lazarus believed that the Lord his God would \u201chelp\u201d<\/em> him\u2014 each and every day.\u00a0\u00a0 His daily life revealed that his heart was filled with faith and with trust.\u00a0 Both men died as they lived.\u00a0 One man died an unbeliever.\u00a0 The other man died humbly trusting in his God.<\/p>\n The application here is simple and straightforward.\u00a0\u00a0 We need to live our life in a way that prepares us for our death.\u00a0 We need to live our life in a way that openly reveals that Jesus is the King of our hearts.\u00a0 We need to live our life in a way that openly proclaims that our Savior God is the top priority in our lives.\u00a0 While we thank the good Lord for \u201cdeath bed conversions\u201d (here we think of the thief on the cross) in reality \u201cdeath bed conversions\u201d are rather rare.\u00a0 We need to daily consider the consequences of the way that we live our life.\u00a0 We need to encourage others to daily consider the consequences of the way they live their life.\u00a0 Those consequences are brought into clear focus in Step #3.<\/p>\n Step #3:\u00a0 As you die, so you will be judged.\u00a0 Jesus continues, \u201cIn hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.\u00a0 So he called to him, \u2018Father 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.\u2019\u00a0 But Abraham replied, \u2018Son, 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.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Many people today naively try to deny the existence of hell.\u00a0 \u201cGod is a God of love,\u201d they say, \u201cHe would never send anyone to hell.\u201d\u00a0 Many people today nervously try to diminish the severity of hell.\u00a0 \u201cWell, if I do end up in hell,\u201d they say, \u201cat least I\u2019ll have lots of company.\u201d\u00a0 How foolish!\u00a0 The Lord our God is not only a God of love\u2014 pure agape <\/em>love\u2014 but the Lord our God is also a God of justice\u2014 pure perfect justice.\u00a0 (See Exodus 34:6, 7)\u00a0 Think about it, my friends.\u00a0 Even as imperfect human beings with an imperfect sense of justice we would never tell the terrorists who are killing innocent people all over the world or the criminals who assassinate police officers or that man up in Washington State who walked into a mall and killed five people, we would never tell them, \u201cWe\u2019ll let you go this time, but please don\u2019t do that again.\u201d\u00a0 If our imperfect sense of justice calls for consequences to be meted out when someone violates the law, imagine how the perfect justice of a holy God requires that when someone rebels against Him\u2014 and that is exactly what each and every sin is, a rebellion against the Almighty\u2014 when someone breaks God\u2019s Law God says that they deserve to endure the consequences of their rebellion.<\/p>\n This portion of Scripture reveals to us exactly what consequences people can expect to receive when they die and stand before the judgment throne of God.\u00a0 For those who lived their lives believing that the \u201cgood things\u201d<\/em> that they had here on this earth\u2014 dressing in nice clothes and enjoying a comfortable lifestyle \u2014 was all that was truly important, for those who die without saving faith in their heart, for those who die not believing and trusting in Jesus as their Savior the consequences they can expect to receive are described here in our text with words such as:\u00a0 \u201chell\u2026torment\u2026agony\u2026fire.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 On the other hand, for those who lived believing that whatever \u201cbad things\u201d<\/em> they endured here on this earth were only temporary, for those who lived knowing that whatever situation they found themselves in the Lord their God would \u201chelp\u201d<\/em> them, for those who died believing and trusting in Jesus as the Lord\u2019s Christ, this world only <\/strong>Savor from sin, the consequences they can expect to receive when they die are describe here in our text with words such as:\u00a0 \u201cthe angels carried him to Abraham\u2019s side\u201d<\/em> and \u201che is comforted here.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The fact that these are the only <\/strong>two consequences possible, the fact that there is either <\/strong>heaven or <\/strong>hell waiting for everyone when they die is emphasized in Step #4.<\/p>\n Step #4.\u00a0 As you are judged, so you will remain.\u00a0 Jesus has father Abraham bring this truth out when he says to the once rich man now suffering in hell, \u201cAnd 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n These words paint a very clear picture of a very powerful truth:\u00a0 the judgment we receive from God at the moment of our physical death is the judgment that will either enjoy or endure for the rest of eternity.\u00a0 Even if, even if, we get home to heaven and \u201csee\u201d that someone we love is \u201cmissing\u201d we cannot go and rescue them from the suffering of hell.\u00a0 Even if, even if, someone finds themself in the fires of hell agonizing for just a drop of water and desperate for a \u201csecond chance\u201d it will not be allowed.\u00a0 As Scripture says, \u201cMan is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment\u201d<\/em> (Hebrews 9:27).<\/p>\n Whew!\u00a0 This is pretty heavy stuff, isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Just thinking about the fact that we need to consider the consequences of what we believe in our hearts, just thinking about the fact that we need to consider the consequences of the way we live our life because the way we live our life here will determine where we live for eternity, well, that could cause our heads to spin and our hearts to ache. Thankfully, the good Lord freely gives us everything we will ever possibly need as we consider the consequences of what we believe and as we consider the consequences of how we live.\u00a0 Look at verses 27-31 of our text.\u00a0 Knowing that his brothers were blindly following the same path which led this rich man directly to hell, he \u201cbegs\u201d<\/em> Abraham to send Lazarus back to \u201cwarn them so that they will not also come to this place of torment.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How did father Abraham respond?\u00a0 He responded with words that we would all do well to take to heart, \u201cThey have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 If father Abraham were to speak those words today he would say something like, \u201cThey have God\u2019s holy inspired inerrant Word; let them listen to it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Yes, my friends, God has graciously given to us everything we need<\/strong>\u2014 right here on the pages of His holy Word.\u00a0 From what we need to believe in our heart to the way in which we need to live our life, from what happens to us when we die to where we will spend eternity\u2014 it\u2019s all right here in the sacred Scriptures.\u00a0 If someone humbly listens as God speaks to them through His holy Word, then all will be well with their soul.\u00a0 If someone is not willing to listen to God as He speaks to them through His Word, then as father Abraham brings out here in our text, \u201cIf they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Don\u2019t take this personally, but I don\u2019t care.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care what kind of house you live in or what kind of car you drive or how much money you have.\u00a0 I care about where you will spend eternity.\u00a0 Therefore, my prayer this morning is that we will use this very familiar portion of Scripture to both remind ourselves and to remind others that we all need to consider the consequences.\u00a0 As we believe, so we will live.\u00a0 As we live, so we will die.\u00a0 As we die, so we will be judged.\u00a0 As we are judged, so we will remain.\u00a0 Stay focused on the cross and consider the consequences.<\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 25, 2016 Luke 16:19-31 \u201cThere was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.\u00a0 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.\u00a0 Even the dogs came and licked his sores.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=726"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":727,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/726\/revisions\/727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}