We have learnt two precious lessons from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus so far: (1) “God allots different conditions to different people”, and (2) “A man’s temporal condition is no test to the state of his soul.” I’ll continue with the third lesson….

(3) All classes of people alike come to the grave.

The rich man in the parable died, and Lazarus died, too. Different and divided as they were in their lives, they both had to drink of the same cup at last. Both went to the house appointed for all living. Both went to that place where rich and poor meet together. Dust they were, and unto dust they returned.

(a) This is the lot of all men. It will be our own, unless the Lord shall first return in glory. After all our scheming, contriving, planning, and studying, after all our inventions, discoveries, scientific attainments, there remains one enemy we cannot conquer and disarm, and that is Death.

(b) Death is a mighty leveller. He spares none, he waits for none, and stands on no ceremony. He will not tarry till you are ready. He will not be kept out by moats, and doors, and bars, and bolts. Named or no named, it matters little. In God’s appointed hour, death will come. One man rolls hastily along the road in the easiest and handsomest carriage that many can procure. Another toils wearily along the path on foot, yet both are sure to meet at last in the same home. A pronouncement will be made on both, “ashes to ashes, and dust to dust.”

Sometimes we may wonder at the tone and language of ministers of the Gospel. We may think them extreme and extravagant, because they urge upon us to be close with Christ, to leave nothing uncertain, to make sure that we are born again and ready for heaven. We hear, but do not believe. We go away and say to one another, “they mean well, but they go too far.” But we do not see that the reality of death is continually forbidding them to use other language. We see our fellow-worshippers gradually thinning our congregations. We miss face after face in our assemblies. We know not whose turn may come next. We only know as the tree falls there it will lie, and that “after death comes the judgment.” We must be bold and decided and uncompromising in our language. We would rather run the risk of offending some than of losing any. Charles II said of one of his preachers, “That man preaches as though death was behind his back. When I hear him, I cannot go to sleep.”

We should learn to live as those who may one day die. Truly it is poor work to set our affections on a dying world and its short-lived comforts, and for the sake of an inch of time to lose a glorious immortality. Here we are toiling, labouring, wearying ourselves about rifles, and running to and fro like ants upon a heap, and yet after a few years we shall all be gone, and another generation will fill our place. Live for eternity, seek a portion that can never be taken from us. Remember John Bunyan’s golden rule – “he that would live well, let him make his dying day his company-keeper.”

(4) A believer’s soul is precious in the sight of God.

(a) The rich man in the parable dies and is buried. Perhaps he had a splendid funeral, a funeral proportioned to his expenditure while he was yet alive. But we hear nothing further of the moment when soul and body were divided. The next thing we hear of is that he is in hell.

(b) The poor man in the parable dies also. What manner of burial he had we know not. A pauper’s funeral among ourselves is a melancholy business. The funeral of Lazarus was probably no better. But this we do know, that the moment Lazarus dies he is carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom, carried to a place of rest, where all the faithful are waiting for the resurrection of the just. There is something to our mind very striking, very touching, and very comforting in this expression of. The parable. It throws great light on the relation of all sinners of mankind who believe in Christ to their God and Father. It shows a little of the care bestowed on the least and lowest of Christ’s disciples by the King of kings.

(c) No man has such friends and attendants as the believer, however little he may think it. Angels rejoice over him in the day that he is born again of the Spirit. Angels minister to him all through life. Angels encamp around him in the wilderness of this world. Angels take charge of his soul in death and bear it safely home. Vile as he may be in his own eyes, and lowly in his own sight, the very poorest and humblest believer in Jesus is cared for by his Father in heaven with a care that passes knowledge.

(d) The Lord has become Shepherd, and thus a believer can want nothing. Though his sins may be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though his heart is hard and prone to evil, a new heart shall be given to him and a new spirit put in him. Though he is weak and cowardly, He who enabled Peter to confess Jesus before his enemies shall make him bold. Though he is ignorant, He that bore with Thomas’ slowness shall bear with him and guide him into all truth. Though he is alone in his position, He that stood by Paul when all men forsook him shall also stand by his side. Though he is in circumstances of special trial, He that enables men to be saints in Nero’s household shall also enable him to persevere. The very hairs of his head are all numbered. Nothing can harm him without God’s permission. He that hurts him hurts the apple of God’s eye, and injures a brother and member of Christ Himself.

(e) A believer’s trials are all wisely ordered. Satan can only vex him as he did Job, when God permits him. No temptation can happen to him above what he is able to bear. All things are working together for his good.

(f) A believer’s steps are ordered from grace to glory. He is kept on earth till he is ripe for heaven, and not one moment longer. The harvest of the Lord must have its appointed proportion of sun and wind, of cold and heat, of rain and storm. And, then, when the believer’s work is done, the angels of God shall come for him as they did for Lazarus and carry him safely home.

The men of the world think little of whom they are despising when they mock Christ’s gospel. They are mocking the brethren and sisters of Christ Himself. Believers in Christ may know little about the full extent of their privileges and possessions. Learn to live by faith more than we have done. Acquaint ourselves with the fullness of the treasure laid up for us in Christ even now. This world, no doubt, must always be a place of trial while we are in the body, but still there are comforts provided for the brethren of Lazarus which many never enjoy.

Lovingly,

Your Pastor

More Lively Hope

© Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
14 Bedford Square, Colonel Light Gardens, South Australia 5041