We’re havin’ a heat wave. At tropical heat wave. At least here in Pennsylvania, USA. For those in the Southern Hemisphere experiencing something quite a bit different, sorry! It’s hot, hot, hot up here.
I’m reminded of the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in the Gospel of Luke verses 19-31.
Laid outside the gate of a rich man’s house was an extremely poor man named Lazarus who simply hoped “to eat what fell from the rich man’s table” (v. 21). The rich man was completely indifferent to the plight of Lazarus, showing him no love, sympathy, or compassion whatsoever. Eventually, they both died. Lazarus went to heaven, and the rich man went to hell. Appealing to “Father Abraham” in heaven, the rich man requested that Lazarus be sent to cool his tongue with a drop of water to lessen his “agony in this fire.” The last place anyone would hope to end this life tormented in Hades.
The rich man also asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn his brothers to repent so that they would never join him in hell. Both requests were denied. Abraham told the rich man that if his brothers did not believe in Scripture, neither would they believe a messenger, even if he came straight from heaven.
Yikes.
The Bible says our earthly lives are a “mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Our earthly sojourn is exceedingly brief.
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36). Eternal life is only found in Christ. “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12). The truth is, if we wish to live apart from God during our time on earth, He will grant us our wish for eternity as well.
Stay cool everyone. Stay connected to the vine. It’s the only way.
And that’s the mid-week memo.
Steve & Got Questions?
