Word@Work Luke256 - Luke 16:27-31
Published: Wed, 12/15/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
LATE AND FUTILE PLEADING
Luke 16:27-31 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "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.'" (NIV)
Jesus' parable about the reality of hell now reaches its climax. The once-rich man had lost everything. Nothing comforted him and he realised that there was no hope of any goodness. At least he had some conscience about the fate of his brothers and pleaded that the beggar be sent from heaven to warn those still living on earth. But that was not possible either. In fact, sufficient warning had already been given in God's Word. The final plea was that somebody could rise from the dead and return as evidence of the afterlife along with warnings as to how to avoid hell.
There is an English saying, "There's none so blind as those who refuse to see". There is no problem with the evidence of eternity. The problem lies with those who do not wish to consider it, who remain focused on the trivial games of this life. Jesus was also making clear that His own resurrection would not automatically win the world, because however clear the evidence, some people would still refuse to believe.
This remains true. The principal sin which marks the road to hell is a refusal to believe in Jesus (John 16:8-9). But those who hear the call of the living Jesus, repent of their unbelief, and place their trust in His salvation alone will certainly receive His everlasting life. So it is most important that believers share the good news while they are still alive, and those who listen have the personal responsibility to respond in faith. However, for those who refuse it is as though they never heard
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for supplying ample evidence of Your eternal nature including Your justice so that we might repent and receive Your grace. My heart goes out to those of my friends who refuse to believe: please help me to place the evidence about Jesus in front of them, and help them to soften their hearts so that they can receive forgiveness and peace in You. May I never be complacent about the destiny of those who rebel: help me to pray for them and tell them how warmly You will receive every repentant soul. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Jesus' parable about the reality of hell now reaches its climax. The once-rich man had lost everything. Nothing comforted him and he realised that there was no hope of any goodness. At least he had some conscience about the fate of his brothers and pleaded that the beggar be sent from heaven to warn those still living on earth. But that was not possible either. In fact, sufficient warning had already been given in God's Word. The final plea was that somebody could rise from the dead and return as evidence of the afterlife along with warnings as to how to avoid hell.
There is an English saying, "There's none so blind as those who refuse to see". There is no problem with the evidence of eternity. The problem lies with those who do not wish to consider it, who remain focused on the trivial games of this life. Jesus was also making clear that His own resurrection would not automatically win the world, because however clear the evidence, some people would still refuse to believe.
This remains true. The principal sin which marks the road to hell is a refusal to believe in Jesus (John 16:8-9). But those who hear the call of the living Jesus, repent of their unbelief, and place their trust in His salvation alone will certainly receive His everlasting life. So it is most important that believers share the good news while they are still alive, and those who listen have the personal responsibility to respond in faith. However, for those who refuse it is as though they never heard
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for supplying ample evidence of Your eternal nature including Your justice so that we might repent and receive Your grace. My heart goes out to those of my friends who refuse to believe: please help me to place the evidence about Jesus in front of them, and help them to soften their hearts so that they can receive forgiveness and peace in You. May I never be complacent about the destiny of those who rebel: help me to pray for them and tell them how warmly You will receive every repentant soul. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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