“ALL OVER THE WORLD VAGRANCY TODAY IS INCREASING. THE POOR AND HOMELESS WHO DEPEND UPON OTHERS ARE THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE OF SOCIETY. WHEN A HOMELESS MAN DIES WHO CARES? WELL MY FRIEND THE TRUTH IS GOD CARES!”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about a forgotten and homeless man who died thousands of years ago…

  … Say friend, “What's your authority?”  Yes, I ask you, on what standard of absolutes do you base your life?  All too many today have made the source of their own authority say, popular opinion, or just personal desires ¾ yet, both of these are but the shifting “sands of time.”  Why?  Well a course of action today that might seem correct can turn by the winds of time to prove disastrous! Therefore, the authority you base your life upon is an important issue.  On today's broadcast I want to talk about two men who came from absolute opposite stations in life and had little in common. But, one man chose to make himself and popular opinion, his personal authority for life and living. The result? He found out in the end, it was the most deadly decision he ever made.  The other?  Well, he made a choice too. It didn't pay well for him for a while in earthly standards, but my friend, it paid its handsome dividend in the end!

  Today we're going to go to an interesting story found in the pages of Scripture. A story Jesus Christ told to all who would listen, and listen they did!  This account comes to us from the Gospel of Luke chapter 16, verses 19-31.  So after we pause again for another musical selection to brighten your day, why not get out your Bible. Sure you have one, somewhere, don't you?  Then come back and listen to what the Lord of life had to say...

  …The story in the Bible we shall examine today is a story most fearful and often forsaken by modern day preachers!  Now it’s fearful because of the subject involved and of the One who spoke it. It’s forsaken too because of what it taught, and the general refusal to believe it.  Yet my friend, today we shall not hold back the teachings of Christ, rather we shall hear what God has to say, and then apply it to our lives and living.

In talking about the homeless peoples of the world, we have a perfect illustration in a story called the PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN & LAZARUS. But I think that title is not quite correct. Some believe this is a parable, but frankly I do not.  Yes, I think it’s a true story taken from the annals of Heaven's record, and revealed to our world by God Himself, for our sober thought.  This is the story of the life of two men who lived in total contrast. One man, simply known as the “Rich man,” the Bible says, lived his life in absolute comfort and wealth, without a care in the world.  Jesus begins the story " Now there was a certain rich man."(v19)

Luke 16:19 (NIV)  “”There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.”

Notice the Lord doesn't tell us his name. I believe that is so his family, which may have been known to the hearers of that day, would not be embarrassed.  Yet, the Lord Jesus goes on to tell of another man, but here Christ gives us his exact name.

Luke 16:20 (NIV)  “At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores”

What a contrast! Here was a Jew of Jesus' day living opulently and wonderfully ¾ a picture of health, wealth, prestige and acclaim!  The Bible says," he lived in luxury every day!"  Yet, in contrast there was that homeless man, a beggar, born most likely into life with a frail sickly body.  As a result, no one would hire him for employment. In those days, there were no health programs, no welfare assistance that he could draw upon.  There he was, all alone and sick yet, some dear friend must have laid him at the rich man's door.  Perhaps the rich man would be benevolent and help this homeless man?  

The story continues and Jesus reminds his hearers that the “rich man” just ignored the need of this homeless man who was in effect his sickly Jewish brother. Well time passed and the homeless man died! What a statement. Nothing is said about his passing. There was apparently no funeral held for no funds were available. I suppose the street cleaners just took his body away and dumped it in the Valley of Hinnom outside of Jerusalem, where the dump fires smoldered day and night. This homeless beggar became one of the many forgotten in life and now forgotten in death. You know, there are many people, around the world today, in the same state of affairs. But, I would surmise few of us could identify with this poor wretched figure of humanity. Rather, we all would like to identity with the rich man and enjoy his luxuries. So, here is God’s picture of practically all Americans and the wealthy of the world today!

Yes, we are doing quite well aren’t we? Oh, there are many things more we want, sure, but if you compare our standard of living to the third world - we Americans are filthy rich!

But now Jesus tells us the “rich man” died also, and was buried (v.22), what a surprise! Yet we all know none of us rich or poor can buy “life” can we. I suppose because of his prestige and wealth a great funeral was held in his honor. Hired mourners trailed the procession to the elaborate gravesite; yes, much money was paid for the floral settings and pomp, and a great and glowing obituary was written and read. Perhaps an even greater tombstone was carved, to tower over all in the cemetery!  Why I would suspect they even hired some popular preacher, who glowingly preached this departed soul into glory! Yet, the truth is as the writer to Hebrews says:

Heb 9:27 (NIV)  “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,”

Now it is precisely at this point, Jesus takes us beyond the veil of death and eternity for a glimpse into the unseen world of the “afterlife.” It is here you and I can learn truths that strip away the false and deadly teachings of modern religion.  Let's look at the truths taught here by Jesus Christ and ponder them, OK?  Now, the first startling truth God wants all men to know is,

#1 THERE IS CONTINUOUS CONSCIOUS LIFE AFTER THE MOMENT OF DEATH!  ¾ Yes my friend, although cultists and false religionists teach that there is nothing after the grave, or worse that we sleep there until a resurrection, well Jesus denies such foolish talk. God says clearly, the rich man awoke in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye after his death and found he was still alive! Even more, he was fully conscious and he had all his senses too. Now some will say, how is this possible? He left his dead body on earth didn’t he?  Yes friend that he did, but what Jesus tells us here is, that the senses you and I enjoy are not exclusively owned by the body.  Our bodies only use the senses. The senses such as seeing, hearing, remembering, feeling and touch are really a part of the soul & spirit being God made us.
Here God teaches us, these things go with us into a conscious death!  Now the frightening part is the rich man awoke in of all places, HELL!  More correctly “HADES,” the place of the departed unsaved dead, the refuge place of eternity

Is this place really Hell? The answer is yes and no. Yes, in the fact that all unsaved humanity will go to such a place of real torment and everlasting fire.  Not that God is enjoyably torturing the unsaved soul that dies, but they are themselves in torment. Why? Well friend for the Hell to come, called the LAKE OF FIRE, is the place where all that God is and does for us, is no longer there.  Now you may not be a Christian, in fact you may be like this “rich man,” simply religious, but whether you have repented of your sins or not, realize this you have the blessings of God's care upon you, right now in this life. The air you breathe, the universe you live in, the comforts of cool breezes, running water, a safe environment ¾ all are the constant sustaining power of God.  But in Hell, it will all be gone! The truth is all who want to live their lives without God, are given their wish in Hell.  All that God sustains and provides, which you take for granted will be taken away! Thus, Hell is a literal place of torment and loss! So God emphasizes the rich man, lifted up his eyes and cried!  

Luke 16:24 (NIV)  “… I am in agony in this fire.’”

Make note, regardless of what false prophets teach - God reminds us there is a HELL to come. It is a conscious eternal place of suffering for all who in this life neglect to hear and respond to God's call to them.

Now let's examine the contrasts taught in Jesus' story. The main contrast is that when the homeless man died, he was carried by the angels to the place of ABRAHAM'S abode. That's an Old Testament expression for “Paradise,” which now is more precisely known as Heaven! Yes, the angels ministered to whom?  Why the homeless man?  Why, because he was poor?  No! Because in his poverty, this man had nothing to think of or look forward to, except his relationship to God. In a sense his poverty forced him to look for God in his life. Apparently, the homeless man found God in life. Therefore, here is a second teaching Jesus gives us.

#2 OUR RICHES OR LACK OF IT, HAS NO BEARING ON OUR ETERNAL DESTINY - Yes, it is not wrong to be rich. Abraham was, and he went to God's heavenly Paradise. Job was rich too, and he is in Paradise with God! Also, another truth for you to believe is, it is not spiritual to be poor!  Some teach today, that if you are to be a good Christian you must live a life of poverty! The point Jesus makes is the selfish living that the rich man exhibited was simply a result of an unsaved heart! All through his life, he never surrendered his heart and life to God who gave him all things to enjoy.

You see friend, religion is not enough to secure the afterlife of choice. Taking your babies to a priest or religion man, to sprinkle water on them will never do!  Sending them to religious classes or seeing them partake of a sacramental rite, will never save their souls! Only believing in Jesus Christ by repenting of one's sins, can save the soul regardless of what station life finds you!  Here's a third teaching. . .

#3 HUMANITY WILL ONLY BE SAVED BY THE HEARING OF GOD'S WORD! - The rich man cried in hell, he realized he passed by the greatest opportunity eternity would ever bring him, and worse, his error and neglect was unchangeable!  Yes, contrary to false teaching today of a place called Purgatory or Limbo, or some such nonsense, there is no chance of changing what state you die in. No prayers of pious religious people, no payments or good works can save a soul that departs this life unsaved!  If you want to go to Heaven, and have eternal life, it must be decided in this life alone!  Now in the afterlife we are told the rich man cried to Abraham who was afar off and prayed to him. Again what a picture!  You see, we know this lost sinner was a religious man, for he simply carried on what he did in life. Like many today, he prayed to the saints, hoping for his prayers to be answered, rather than to God notice he prayed to Abraham. But, Abraham could do nothing for him. But, he prayed anyway asking that Lazarus, the homeless man, who was now comforted that he would go back to life, and to his five brothers and WARN them.

Can you see what atheists, agnostics, cultists, and all lost sinners are doing in Hell?  They are praying ¾ what a change of ways! But note, they are praying or better “begging” that someone would go and warn their children, their families, their brethren of the reality of Hell, the reality of eternal conscious unalterable suffering for neglecting to repent of one’s sins. But Jesus teaches again, even if a man would come back from the dead, even if God would resurrect a dead saint, to tell us of life beyond ¾  lost sinners still would reject and refuse to hear and believe.  Well we are told Abraham had these words to the rich man in Hell.

Luke 16:31 (NIV)  “…If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’””

Here we have a startling revelation. Why did the rich man go to Hell?  Some foolishly believe because he was rich, or because he was selfish, or because he didn't do good works!  No man ever goes to Hell for sins, whether it be smoking, drinking, adultery, robbery, immorality, none of these things ever sends men and women to Hell. Friend, the only sin that sends a man or woman, a boy or girl to Hell, is to commit the greatest sin in the Universe! What is it?  Jesus tells us in another passage…

John 8:24 (NIV)  “… if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.””

Yes, it is the sin of neglecting to hear God's Word on your relationship to Jesus Christ, and then failure to act upon it!  So Abraham said to the Rich man," they have the Word of God".  Today, my dear friend, we still have God's Word. What does it say?  To remind you, it says (1) there is a Heaven and a Hell. (2) It says there is a sovereign omnipotent God of absolute holiness and that no one can stand in his presence unless they are like Him.  The Bible says, all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory! (Rom. 3:23) Yet the GOOD NEWS of the Bible is all, regardless of what station in life you may be found, you can be saved today!

How? If, you will repent of your sins and believe and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation!  You may rightly ask, what does it mean to repent?  The rich man in Hell learned! He prayed for Lazarus to go and call his family to repentance, for he knew he had not repented in the days of his life. Well, repentance simply means “to change your mind about God, His Word and His authority over your life.”  

Say, we’re back to that again aren’t we? Who or what is your authority? Is it God's exclusive Word? Or, is it the word and wisdom of the world or simply yourself? That is a major point in deciding your fate for all eternity.  If Hell could open its doors, there would be an overwhelming cry to turn to Christ, before its too late! Lastly, here's a final truth from this lesson of Jesus.

#4  WHILE WE HAVE LIFE WE HAVE A PROMISE THAT OUR PRAYER TO BE SAVED, WILL BE HEARD!  ¾ Yes my friend, while you and I have breath, God is ready to hear our cry. He is ready to receive our hearts dedication and love for Him, through His Son Jesus Christ. Yet once death claims us, it’s all over forever and ever!  Now, I want to end this on a bright note.  The opportunity for all who hear this parabolic story in life, shows you still have God's grace to be saved from your sins and the awful fate that awaits all lost sinners.  Listen carefully now. No matter where you are, or what you may or may not have done, you are not yet in the awful position of this, unsaved rich man who died without trusting in His Messiah. One day he finally prayed, but his prayer in Hell was too late, now think! If you pray right now the Bible promises it will be heard.

Yes, you can pray and find God right now and be assured Hell will never be your final abode.  But, you must act today by being willing to turn from your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your God and Savior.  Indeed, you can come to Christ in many ways, but you can only come to God and be saved through faith alone in the Person and finished work of Jesus Christ.  Today, right now, will you pause wherever you are and pray this prayer?

" Father in heaven, I am moved in my heart to confess I am a lost sinner. I want my sins to be forgiven and for you to save me. I will right now with all the knowledge I have, believe that Jesus Christ is my God and that He died for me. I believe right now, that His death has paid for my sins and that is sufficient for ME, to be counted among the saved ones! This moment, by faith, I take Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior, and by His grace, I will live for Him henceforth forever. I pray this prayer, in Jesus’ most precious name, Amen.”

Well the world cares not for the homeless beggars who die in often obscurity, but God does. He made us all and there is no soul unworthy of being a recipient of Christ’s death on the cross. May that teaching help us to appreciate the love of God and the value of all human life…

… Yes it was only a BEGGAR'S DEATH! But, his death has the power to change the course of human life and history. How will the world respond?  I'll tell you. The majority, even some of you, will go on ignoring God's Word and its authority in your life. The urgent and important message of life eternal will be generally neglected, ignored, spurned, and cast aside.  Popular religionists, with their false words will be accepted in its place, and millions of souls will pass the portal of death and awake in a place called HELL! The greatest remorse they will suffer, is they missed so great salvation, so full and free.  It is my earnest prayer that no one listening today will pass by his or her greatest opportunity of being saved today. The Bible warns and encourages all.  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!”( Acts 16:31 ). That’s good advice thousands of years ago and this Christmas Season, still applies to all today!