Two Lives, Two Fates Lk 16:19-31

Two Lives Two Fates – Luke 16:19-31

Introduction:

Life is full of choices. Every day we choose

· What time to get up

· What to wear

· What to eat

· Work has its own set of choices.

· Home has its own set of choices.

· Each of us made a choice to be here today to honor the memory of Connor.

We can never face a day where we do not make choices.

Today we have another choice to face… where are we going to spend eternity.

In this story we had Two Men

The first man we read about is a rich man: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (v.19)

We learn a few things about this man:

· He was rich

· He wore fine clothing

· He lives a life of luxury

· He had everything money could by

· He had no worries

· He was looked up to

This is the life that the world tells us is the way to live. This is the life that we would love to have.

· Doing our own thing

· Buying and going anywhere we want with no though of cost

· The fines doctors that money can by

· Independent wealth

The second man we read about is Lazarus: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (vv.20,21)

Scripture tells us that this man:

· Was poor

· He had to beg for anything he needed

· He lived on the streets

· He was happy to eat the leftovers and garbage discarded by the rich

· He was sick with sores

· His only medical treatment came from the dogs who licked his sores

No one wants this kind of life:

· To be looked down upon

· To be lonely and despirate

· To be constantly hungry and thirsting

· To be humbled into begging to survive

This is a hard life to live

But these men did not only live two different lifestyles, they made different choices on whom they trusted

The rich man trusted in his riches, his influence, his prestige

The poor man Lazarus did not have any of those things to trust in, he could only trust that God would send him the things he needed.

One lived for this world and the other lived in spite of this world.

Then Lazarus died…

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: (v22a)

In his death Lazarus:

· Received no funeral

· Had no mourners

· He was not missed

· But he was carried into the bosom of Abraham. Jesus called this Paradise, we may call it heaven. Scripture tell us “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

Then also the rich man died : the rich man also died, and was buried; (v22b)

· He received a proper funeral.

· His family and friends probably came to mourn.

· He was missed

· But he went to hell

The difference in choices of what these men trusted in brough them to two different places in eternity. Verse 23 tell us, And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Then the rich man was in need. He became the beggar. He cried, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me”…. Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; … for I am tormented in this flame.”

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.(v.25)

The rich man found out that as he had lived without showing mercy in his time here on earth. And as he had no need to listen to God, or to the scriptures. Now, he had passed the time of mercy.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (v.26)

The rich man also found out that there is no way to reverse the consequences of his chosen lifestyle once he had passed into eternity. There is no path to heaven once you are dead, if you rejected the only means of salvation God has given in this life.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

This is the most striking part of this story to me. Because one did come back from the dead and many still refuse to believe him.

Jesus came back from the dead. He was resurrected and he showed himself to his disciples.

· They could touch his wounds from the Cross.

· He walked with them.

· He cooked for them.

· He ate with them.

· He taught them.

· He commissioned them to tell others.

The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”

Conclusion:

The bottom line is that everyone here is here by divine appointment. Each one is called to make a choice. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

You have a choice to make. You can seek salvation in Jesus Christ, the one who came back from the grave, and the one that Moses and the prophets speak of and live in paradise. Or you can choose to trust in some other way of life and seal your fate. I beg you to chose life.