Take It to Heart – Luke 16:19-31
In Luke 16, Jesus tells a parable that begins, “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.”
It’s clear that this rich man could have helped Lazarus. The Old Testament Scriptures even commanded him to care for the poor, but the rich man refused. Why? Because his heart was hard. He was so focused on his own pleasure that instead of seeing Lazarus as an opportunity to share God’s love, he saw him only as a nuisance. He’d hardened his heart.
But the rich man’s viewpoint and his circumstances are radically changed in verse 22. Jesus says, “The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham,” and he “entered into his reward.” But on that very same day, the rich man died and “[from] Hades, where he was being tormented, [the rich man] looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.”
In death, the rich man and Lazarus have reversed positions because death is the great equalizer. As Proverbs 22:2 tells us, “The rich man and the poor man meet together; the Lord is maker of them all.” Rich or poor, healthy or sick, in the end, we’re all going to die. But what we’ve done in life affects what we’ll find in death.
So, in verse 24, the rich man cries out, “‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’” Ironically, the man who failed to offer Lazarus mercy in life is now begging for it for himself. But timing is everything, and unfortunately for the rich man, hell is also the absence of all mercy.
Because of his unbelief, the rich man had condemned himself to an eternity of suffering. Why did that happen? Why didn’t he believe? It wasn’t because of a lack of evidence. He knew the scriptures and the Torah teachings. It was due to a closed heart.
What keeps people from salvation is a willful rebellion of heart against God, and that simple act of rebellion can haunt us throughout eternity. So how can we change our fate? How do we avoid ending up like the rich man?
The answer is to read the Bible and study what it says about life, death, and eternal life. And then — most importantly — take it to heart. Let God’s word and God’s love fill your heart and soul and transform your life. Both this one and the next.