Misconception?

It often surprises me when someone in a accident was killed, and the people that knew him or her that died say, “Yes, I believe that he would have wanted us to go on with the project that killed him. They put everything into this...” Then again, there are older people that were interested in charities, and when they die, their wife or family go, “I think that he would have wanted a special tribute payed to him...” How foolish is the wisdom of this world!

It’s all very nice to respect those that no longer dwell on this earth, but to assume that they are OK after they entered eternity without Jesus as their Saviour is just a misconception, and will be their own death too. To assume that they know all about death after one of their loved ones have experienced it is foolishness. The person in hell knows the foolishness of his or her life, and knows that everything that they did did not help with their eternal situation. No, they wouldn’t want their family to continue on the way they are going, but that they could come to repentance and not end up in eternity without the Lord Jesus Christ. It is foolish to think otherwise.

Luke 16:19 to 31 talks about a man like this, that didn’t think about eternity. You should know this story, about the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus was the poor man, that was badly beaten. It’s curious to know how this man, Lazarus got so many wounds on himself. The Scriptures indicate that these were many open wounds on his person, bleeding, and very sore. He was there at the gate of the rich man, it says that he was ‘laid’ there which seems to indicate that he couldn’t walk, he was so weak. Someone may have carried him there, or he walked (maybe even ran—it is curious to know how he received such a beating) there and lost weakness in that spot. The man was a terrible sight, hungry, and in so much pain. It seems that no one had pity on this miserable person, indicating that he was in a terrible state, and would soon die. People welcomed his death.

The dogs saw this man, sitting? I don’t think so, for when one is weak with hunger, and desiring even the few crumbs that have been thrown on the floor of some man’s house, and that perhaps for days, I believe that he was very weak, and near the end (as is mentioned.) No, I think that the dogs came to him as he was lying there in agony of two sorts.

The dogs licked his wounds. This indicates that the wounds were untreated, and visible from across the road. Creatures that have no moral were overcome with pity for the man, and liked his wounds. I’m told that dog spittle has antibodies in it, and this helps them for when they are injured, but I’m not sure how well it works on people because it’s not a common practice. The dogs, the creatures without personal feelings had, as it were, affection for this poor mortal. The animals could see suffering and pain. They could do so little for him, but they did what they did.

The rich man, however, he could be the one that we could look at and see selfishness, and hatred for all living things, and cared only for the fat of his own body. The poor man was at this man’s gate. Rich men usually don’t spend all their time at their dinner table eating and drinking. This is a glutton, but not exactly a rich man. No, a rich man has money, and he likes to go out his gate to the markets and spend that which he has now, in order to get a good bargain. The rich man passed this poor and pained man, that was truly in need. The rich man, no doubt, saw him. The dogs had compassion, but this rich man, lower than a dog, did not see a man, but saw maybe, a pile of rubbish, but did not consider in his own mind that this was a human being like him, but not at the same street standards as him. I will not say, however, ‘less fortunate’ than himself. No, I do not believe that the thought entered his mind.

It seems that I am all together speaking repugnantly of this rich man. I’ll just let you into that a bit more. The dogs, stupid, and dumb creatures, had pity on a man that was truly in need. We can see, that one of the most terrible creatures on this earth had pity on one who was in trouble and suffering. The dogs were an example to this man, and he turned his back on even the lowest of the low acts that he could have done. He swept his floors, and threw the crumbs out the back door, and didn’t even consider that a man in need thought such things were appetizing. A man who had real feelings, and was suffering real pain, but the rich man showed not a thought of pity towards him. If there was but one little thought of pity in his mind, it would have grown, and then he would have done something. Seeing the man on the ground, he hid his eyes, and didn’t want to see the sight that may trigger off some form of charity inside his person. This rich man, lower than a dog did not even consider thinking about someone else. To disregard a fellow citizen in their time of great need is something that is not part of my system, and it is not a part of many people that I know either. There has always been some form of pity, even if it’s not much. This rich man, however, showed not even the slightest amount of pity towards the poor man.

We now find that the poor man is actually more fortunate than the rich man. The poor man was a Christian, a saved man, and one that God loved. Maybe this is even the reason why the dogs came and licked the sores of his mortal body? The poor man eventually died of his wounds which includes hunger. He went to Heaven, to be with those that he desired to see.

I would like to point out here, that the poor man had a natural death. He died because of something that was done to him, or should I say, that was not done for him. The rich man died also, but it was a mysterious death—who knows why he died. The point is that he died, and he wasn’t expecting to die. The poor man, anyone could say why he died—because he was neglected. One that didn’t neglect himself, but was fat with increase (rich) died for a strange and unknown reason. How odd it is that riches can’t guarantee a long life, or a safe trip into eternity!

The rich man, when he entered eternity, no doubt understood now that his earthly desires were facing the wrong way. He lead a life of personal gain, and I say this because he did not consider anyone else, and as can read here. His desires were the rich man’s desires, which are usually materialistic. I’m sure that he had a large bank account when he died, but I might suggest that there is no way currency can be of any value when one has entered eternity without the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This man didn’t seek after the right things, the things that would last for ever, the man thought were unimportant. Now, in hell, we can see just how foolish he saw himself.

He asks for mercy! He begs the best way he knows how, but it does him no good. As he showed no pity, as it was put to him, he will be showed no mercy from and now forever. The other point that was made was that it was completely impossible for a man that was redeemed by Jesus Christ to enter hell. Twofold was the fact that this man was righteously being judged.

It was not a pretty sight. This formerly rich man was in pain and suffering greatly. I really notice this because his words to Abraham were quick, and it’s like they were well thought up before he uttered them. This can be only surety of mind because of the current situation, meaning that everything that he is going through convinces him several times over and over that his request is what he believes thoroughly and completely without any form of doubt. He doesn’t want his family to go there too! This was worded out quickly immediately after the first request.

He asked that some miracle would be performed, and trusted that this would suffice to convince his brethren of the judgment to come. He requested that Lazarus go back and tell his brethren about this terrible place that he was in. This request seems rather unfair and unreasonable in my mind. Lazarus was out of pain and sufferings, and was happy. There was no sufferings where he was now, and he didn’t have to desire such filthy things as bread crumbs anymore. This man wanted him to go back to his mortal body, which was virtually destroyed, and no thanks to the rich man. The body was destroyed, and there was no way that he could go back. The rich man’s body, however, seemed to be in complete working order, and ready to go again, for we know not why he died! If this was the case of Lazarus, then there may be a good chance, but it was not so to be.

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