WHAT a striking word is this! A warning word indeed from the lips of the blessed Lord Himself. And surely it should have as much force now, in this day of increasing evil, as when it was first spoken. The rich man is an evident figure of the worldling, the unbeliever, though he may have been religious (for religion is not Christ, and Satan can, and does, use religion to shut out Christ, and to blind the soul to its personal need of a Saviour). But if so, his religion could not save his soul.
The beggar, on the other hand, seems to be strongly figurative of the “poor in this world, rich in faith;” for what was his portion here? “Full of sores,” and wanting the commonest necessaries of life. “If,” says the apostle Paul, “in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Why? Because we have given up all for Christ; but we know that we have “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven.” Now, proceeding with the narrative, we get in the compass of two short verses — Luke 16:22, 2322And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:22‑23) — the death of these two men, the believer and the unbeliever; and then, as it were, the curtain is lifted which separates the seen from the unseen, and that too by the Lord Himself. What do we see now? Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom; the rich man lifting up his eyes in hell, “being in torments.” Oh, what value were his riches to him now? Just for his brief lifetime here he no doubt enjoyed them without God; but what is the longest lifetime when compared to eternity? And note this rich man’s prayer. He may have said many prayers here on earth, though of this we are not told; but we are told of his prayer in hell; and what is it for? That the once poor and despised beggar Lazarus might dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool his tongue. Just one drop of water! But it is denied him. Oh, unsaved reader, think of this, and of the great gulf fixed, not by man’s puny hand, but by God Himself.
Note too that memory appears to have full force in hell; and think you it would be the slightest comfort or relief to have brought vividly to your remembrance the many times you had heard the gospel here, and were offered salvation full and free through the death of God’s Son? Oh, no; you will then bitterly bewail your folly in turning a deaf ear to the gospel message; but it will be too late.
Oh, come to Jesus now! believe in Him now! Life is short and uncertain, the day of grace is running its course; even before another day the Lord may have “caught up” His saints — all those really believing in Him — from this earth, both those who have fallen asleep, and us who are alive here. And there will then be nothing left for you, my unsaved reader, but judgment. But this is God’s strange work; “He delighteth in mercy,” and willeth not the death of one sinner, but rather that all should come to Him and live.
T. E. L.