Sermon Tone Analysis
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I hope for the last few weeks I have given you something to think about.
You have been created by God for something significant.
Today, I want to conclude this series by looking at the life to come.
The last parable in these 3 chapters of Luke that we have been looking at for the last few weeks is a parable that gives us a look into the afterlife.
Jesus gives us a story about two men that come from 2 different backgrounds.
One, Jesus calls Rich man.
Some ancient texts call him Dives which is Latin for “rich man”.
The other man Jesus gives the name Lazarus.
This is not the same Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead who was the brother of Mary and Martha.
Jesus may have given the man the name Lazarus because that name means “God has helped.”
Let’s read this story found in Luke chapter 16.
I want to begin reading at verse 19.
This story gives us a great view of our two point of views.
We get a look at what life looked like for these two while they were alive and we get a look into the life of these two after they died.
In each case there are two contrasting differences.
The rich man’s life was a life of luxury.
He dressed in purple and fine linen.
Purple was a very expensive color during Jesus’ time.
Other translations use the phrase ate sumptuously.
This refers to the incredible banquets and eating habits of the super-rich.
Lazarus the beggars life was a complete contrast to the rich man’s.
Each morning he would be carried and laid at the rich man’s gate so that he could beg.
He was also covered in sores, possibly leprosy, which would make him unclean to touch.
Lazarus just wanted the crumbs from the rich man’s table.
He didn’t even ask for a full meal, just the crumbs.
Now the tides had turned.
The rich man found himself in Hades, the Greek word for hell.
This is the place for departed spirits.
It is the destiny of those who have refused to believe.
We find out in verse 24 that the torment is flames.
Plus he could also see what he was missing by looking into paradise.
Isn’t it ironic that the same thing that the beggar faced on earth.
Seeing what he couldn’t have.
Now the rich man was in eternity looking at what he couldn’t have because of the choices he made on earth.
And in contrast to the rich man, Lazarus must be a God-fearing man, despite the fact that God had not allowed him an easy or pleasant lifetime on earth.
Verse 22 says the angels carried him to Abraham’s side and the rich man also died and was buried.
Lazarus had no family so there was no formal funeral for him.
But the rich man had all the fanfare that went with a funeral because he was wealthy and had family and friends.
But now in hell the rich man must beg for Abraham to send Lazarus to just dip his finger in water and touch the rich man’s tongue for relief.
Or to just send someone to his loved ones, but it is too late.
He enjoyed his life on earth and turned away from God and received his eternal reward.
Lazarus never received the finer things in life, but served the Lord and he received his eternal reward of Heaven.
When 22 tells us that the angels carried Lazarus to Abraham’s side, that is telling us that Lazarus is now an honored guest.
Abraham is the head of this table.
Lazarus is next to him and he is now the honored guest.
The rich man’s callused heart, self-sufficiency, and unresponsiveness to God got him delivered to the place of his own making and choosing.
All of his life, he’s lived as if he didn’t need God.
All of his life, he’s put God at arm-length.
In effect, he has said “I don’t want you in my life.
I want to be my own Lord, my own god.
So, in the afterlife, God grants his wish, just like he does with all those who choose to ignore, fend off, or push away from his invitation.
If you were ever wondering the truth, let me tell you, Hell does exist.
It exists so that people who choose to exclude God from their lives can have what they wish for, for all eternity.
God is everywhere and He knows everything.
You can look all around and see that God exists.
You can see it in His creation.
You can become fascinated with all the beauty.
A couple of weeks ago we went on vacation to San Antonio, TX.
If you have never been there, then I highly recommend you go.
One place we went to that all of the family enjoyed was a place called Natural Bridge Caverns.
They took us on a tour of these caverns.
We went 180 feet in the ground.
It was like it was a whole new world underground.
There was water there.
We went into rooms larger than this sanctuary.
Some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.
You can look at something like that.
Something natural and say there is a God.
You can’t tell me that God doesn’t exist when I walk somewhere like that.
It was absolutely amazing.
God our creator is an amazing, unique, wonderful person.
He is full of beauty and ability.
In Heaven, God is everywhere.
We will get to spend eternity with him, if we accept Jesus as our Savior.
And in Hell, God is deliberately absent and far off.
Why is that?
Because He wants to respect the choice of those who have chosen against Him.
And that is what the rich man has done.
But the rich man never really thought about the consequences of his choice.
He never consciously verbalized to himself that pushing God away throughout his life on earth would mean he would spend eternity without him.
He is surprised when he finds himself in this terrible place.
In verse 23, Jesus tells us that he was in torment.
It is at this point in the story that the rich man wakes up.
He decides that even though it is too late for him.
Maybe it’s not too late for his friends and family.
He begins by asking Abraham for a cold touch of water on his tongue.
He’s pleading with the father of the nation of Israel, Abraham.
He’s probably thinking, we’re family, surely he can do something for me.
He might have thought, “I’m a good guy.
I’m from an affluent family.
I have lots of friends.
I don’t cheat on my wife.
I don’t shortchange the waiter.
I don’t cheat on my taxes.
Basically, I’m a good guy.
Certainly, I’m a likable guy.
God’s got to let me into Heaven.”
And Abraham explains to him about the great chasm that has been set in place so that no one can cross back and forth.
The next thing he says is, “Luke 16:27-28
About how long do you think the rich man was in hell before asking this question?
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