“There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores. “Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’ “ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’ “The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them, so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’ “Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’ “‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’ “Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’”(Luke 19:19-3119-31 The Message Bible)
As a believer, you perhaps read passage above and responded, expressing your blessed assurance by saying, “I’m good.” That’s great! Praise God! So, consider this as something specific and biblical to add to your Christian education. For the word above equips you with another tool to put in your evangelistic, soul-winning toolbox for use when you engage in a dialogue with an obstinate prospect who needs edification. Specifically, I am referring to those who say, “I’m not feeling religion right now” or, “I’m not feeling church right now,” “I’m not feeling this persuasion to believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.”
Now you do not have to just store this in your toolbox, but please feel free to share this with a family member, a friend, or a person who is far from the peaceful shore of salvation. You see if they are not “feeling it” now, they will be “feeling it” when they face the eternal consequences that will be realized by all who have no faith in Christ. Really! There is a heaven and there is a hell. In heaven there is consolation and more. In hell there is torment, torment like that which was experienced by Lazarus in the passage above. (Note: This is not the same Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead) in the passage above.) I implore you to share this with someone who has been responding to your appeal to come to Jesus or to come back to the Lord and they keep telling you, “I ain’t feeling it.” Technology make is easy to do!
We have some soul winning to do, so let’s do it! Forward this meditation to “someone.” We all know someone who is comfortable, content, and concentrating on this life and not giving any thought to the life where they will spend an eternity. Let’s stop just praying for them and hoping they will see the truth that sets people free. Let’s get busy! Forward this meditation! Have a wonderful Wednesday! Be blessed!
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 King James Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King