Two Men Two Directions
Notes
Transcript
Read: Luke 16:19-31
The Bus Ride:
Two men stood at the same bus station late one afternoon. Rain had started to fall, people were hurrying home, and buses were pulling in and out every few minutes.
The first man looked down the line and pointed to a new, nearly empty bus. It had soft seats, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and even charging ports beside every seat. “That looks like the best ride,” he said. “I’m taking that one.”
The second man checked the route number on his phone and then looked at an older bus that was already crowded. Its seats were worn, the air conditioner barely worked, and he would probably have to stand most of the way. But the sign above the windshield showed that it was headed to his destination.
The first man laughed and said, “Why would you choose that uncomfortable bus when this one is so much nicer?”
The second man replied, “Because I don’t just want a comfortable ride. I want to end up where I’m supposed to go.”
Hours later, the first man stepped off his comfortable bus in a town he never intended to visit. The second man arrived tired, cramped, and ready to be home—but he had reached his destination.
We have two men but going two different directions.
This story that Jesus related to the Pharisees is to get their attention. He just spoke to them in the beginning of the chapter about:
Being a good steward
No servant can serve two masters
He told them that God knows your heart
He addresses adultery with them
Then goes to the passage we are now at.
Two Men
The rich man had plenty:
His name is not even mentioned even though everyone probably knew his name
He was popular
He had great designer clothes
The softest linens
Lived it up every day - great food
The biggest TV
A Rolls Royce
But he lived only for himself.
His wealth had made his heart uncaring and gave him a false sense of security.
Lazarus was poor
His name is mentioned, but no one probably addressed him by name
He was sick, covered with sores
The dogs even licked his sores
Not a great person to look at
He was hungry outside the rich man’s gate
Hoping for just some crumbs
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
As some point in life we are all going to die, no matter if you are rich or poor, some day it will happen
This is what happened to both the rich man and Lazarus
Two Places
When both men died, everything changed.
Lazarus, who trusted God, was comforted in paradise.
The rich man, who did not believe, was in punishment and regret.
Their situations could not be changed after death.
This warns us that death is real, and eternity is real, and we should not put off trusting God.
Hades
Hades is something of a waiting place until the day of final judgment
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Paradise
Lazarus died and was taken to be with Abraham in a place of comfort and paradise.
Today because of the finished work of Jesus on the Cross when we die we go to be with Jesus.
Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Notice that when the thief on the cross said to Jesus remember me and referring to Your kingdom, Jesus replied you will be with Me in paradise.
The Separation
The rich man could see Lazarus with Abraham far away and begged for relief
A great gap separates them; no one can cross from one side to the other.
The rich man wanted someone to go back and warn his brothers.
But Abraham said they already had God’s Word.
If they would not listen to Scripture, even a miracle would not force them to believe.
For us today we need to realize that there is a separation
Between heaven and hell
The separation is really being separated from a Holy God who judges sin
We can know about God, about Jesus but it comes down to
The relationship
The repentance of sin
The responding the invitation
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Application: The whole point of why Jesus was telling this to the Pharisees
Wealth is not proof that someone is right with God.
Ignoring people in need is serious in God’s eyes.
God’s Word is enough; we must respond to it now.
Our choices now in this life have eternal consequences.
Eternity – remember that life after death is real, and how we respond to God matters forever.
