The Rich Man and Lazarus
In Luke 16 we read of a rich man, and of Lazarus, a beggar who ate the scraps from his table; but the passage from time to eternity brought a dramatic change. Lazarus had comfort; the rich man, misery, so that he cried, “Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Lk 16:24).
What made the difference? Faith in Christ! Faith takes men to heaven; lack of faith, to hell, “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed” (Jn 3:18).
Many, like the rich man, are spiritually bankrupt though they have money; others, like Lazarus, are spiritually rich though they haven’t a cent, for if a man has everything, but not Christ, he has nothing, while he who has nothing but Christ has everything he needs for time and eternity.
Are you reading this with cynical amusement? Please don’t. Your own eternal state is portrayed in that of one of these men. You too must go from time into eternity, to heaven or hell, to blessing or torment. Which? You don’t know? Your very uncertainty is its own answer - you too will be pleading for a drop of water to alleviate your torment; you too will be begging God to send warning to loved ones left on earth. How do I know? The believer knows where he is going. Only the unbeliever is uncertain, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 Jn 5:13).
Faith in Christ as the One Who died on Calvary’s cross in your place, for your sins, is all you need to be sure of heaven. Lack of that faith is all you need to be sure of hell and eternal torment.
