In Luke 16 Jesus tells a story about a beggar who lived outside the gates of a rich man’s house. When they both died, the beggar was carried to Abraham’s side, while the rich man was taken to Hades. In the torment of his separation the rich man called out. Luke 16:24-,
“24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. … 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
When we look at this story, we need to ask a personal question. Am I Lazarus or the rich man? Jesus says that Lazarus only desired to be fed by what fell from the rich man’s table. While the rich man enjoyed feeding his every desire. Even in death the rich man reaches out for special treatment.
But Abraham tells him that his family has the same opportunity we all have, to answer the call of God on our lives. Even if someone were to come back to life, not everyone would believe the story they have to tell.
As we look at the world around us let us fix our eyes on the things that point us towards God. Let us be the ones who live like we are convinced by Moses and the Prophets.