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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them
to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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March 9, 2014
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Contents:
1) The Poor Beggar Lazarus (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
The Poor Beggar Lazarus
by Tom Edwards
In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus gives the account of an unnamed, rich man
and a poor beggar called "Lazarus" who had been an invalid that was
laid at this wealthy man's gate and hungrily longed for just the
crumbs that would fall from the rich man's table. And in
addition to Lazarus being impoverished and apparently crippled, he
had also been "covered with sores," which the dogs would come and
lick.
In this narrative, not only is mention made of these canines that
had come to Lazarus, but also, later, of death itself -- and not
only to him, but also to the rich man as well. They both went
"the way of all the earth," as Joshua and David would refer to it
(Josh. 23:14; 1 Kings 2:2). And whether one had been extremely
wealthy in this life or wretchedly poor, in death they both leave
this world the same way -- which is with nothing. As it
has been observed, there is no luggage rack on the top of a hearse,
no U-Haul trailer behind it, nor any pocket in a shroud. Some
people, however, have tried to take things with them, as can be seen
in some Egyptian pyramids; but what those pyramids also show is that
all those possessions had remained behind with the empty and
perishing body -- while the eternal soul from that temporary
tabernacle of flesh had been taken elsewhere.
In this account, we are also shown of the "elsewhere" -- which can
be one of only two places -- where the deceased person would
go. And both of those places are seen in this narrative as
being in stark contrast to each other. For one is a place of
great blessing and figuratively referred to, with regard to Lazarus,
as having been taken "to Abraham's bosom." For Abraham was in
Paradise; so to be with him would indicate also being there in that
same blissful state. Corresponding to this is the idea of
Christians who are spoken of as being "sons of Abraham" -- and even
if they are not of his physical lineage. For it is by
their faith that they have that connection to him (Gal. 3:7).
Paul goes on to say that "...those who are of faith are blessed with
Abraham, the believer" (v. 9). And that is now what Lazarus is
enjoying.
It was to this same place of bliss that Jesus assured the penitent
thief (on the cross) they would be going to that very day, by
saying, "...'Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in
Paradise'" (Luke 23:43).
The idea of BEING IN "Abraham's bosom" also gives the contrast
between that and the rich man in torment who could ONLY SEE "Abraham
far away and Lazarus in his bosom" (v. 22). In other words,
with Abraham symbolizing salvation, comfort, and blessing, Lazarus
was right there to fully enjoy all of that -- and he could not have
been any closer for it! While at the same time, the rich man,
being in great agony, could only see all of that from a
distance. He was far from "Abraham's bosom."
Maybe we can also liken the rich man's situation to those who merely
read the word of God, and can clearly see what it says, but don't
"come to Jesus" by applying that message. Instead, they merely
"see Him from a distance" and do not make the Lord a part of their
lives, thus not benefiting from His blessings of salvation.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, warns, "But prove yourselves doers
of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves" (Jms.
1:22).
Could you imagine if your life would have been like that of
Lazarus', while on earth? To be hungrily longing for even
crumbs, to not be able to walk about, to be covered with sores?
We are not told how long he was in that pitiful condition, but it
appears to have been a long time. For in responding to the
rich man, Abraham says, "during your life you received the good
things"; and then contrasts that in saying, "and likewise Lazarus
bad things" (v. 25). We are given the impression that
throughout his life, it was adversity, hardship, and without
comforts for Lazarus.
These "bad things" (kakos) that Lazarus endured does not necessarily
mean "bad" in the sense of sinful. For Thayer's third
definition of the Greek word is "troublesome, injurious, pernicious,
destructive, baneful." And in considering just what we are
told about Lazarus, his life certainly had been filled with those
difficult, troublesome times.
Lazarus had much to endure, but he did so with faith. And we
know that faith was a part of his life on the basis of where he
ended up after he departed this world. So it can also be said
of him, because of his faith, that he had a "possession" that made
him much wealthier and far more better off -- even in spite of his
physical poverty and pathetic bodily condition -- than what the rich
man had with all his abundance of material things and all the
worldly pleasures he was able to enjoy.
And what about those things that Lazarus never had? No
children? No wife? He didn't have the means to support a
family. He didn't even have enough money to take care of
himself. He also didn't have health. Were there places
he would have liked to have seen? Things he would have liked
to have done, if he only could? Were there many things that he
did not have -- even of those simple creature comforts that many
folks take for granted -- that he wished he did have and would have
been so very thankful for? Probably so.
But now, think of Lazarus in Paradise. In that place of bliss,
would he be thinking back of his life on earth and regretting all
those things that he never had, the places that he never saw, those
things he was never able to do? Would he be filled with the
negativity of regret while in that beautiful place called
Paradise? Of course not! For would it be Paradise if the
dwellers there would be terribly grieved, distressed, or depressed
by negative thoughts and negative feelings? The Bible shows
that in heaven there will be no mourning, no crying, nor no pain
(cf. Rev. 21:4); and isn't the same true of Paradise? None of
the sorrows of this earth-life will be in heaven! It will be a
place of supreme happiness, the utmost joy, the greatest
peace, and the ultimate contentment; and all of which will never
diminish -- even throughout all eternity!
So maybe not all of our dreams will come to pass or plans reach
fruition; but if that be the case, think of this poor beggar Lazarus
and what he ended up with in Paradise! Nothing on earth could
even come close to that! There would, therefore, be no longing
or regret in Paradise for anything that Lazarus missed out on while
on earth.
And maybe in his case, it took those infirmities and adversities to
help him make it to Paradise. As the Psalmist acknowledges,
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word"
(Psa. 119:67). We can also think of Paul's "thorn in the
flesh," of which he shows was given him to keep him humble, after
having been caught up to the "third heaven," "Paradise," and seeing
things he was not permitted to speak. He states: "Because of
the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to
keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the
flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting
myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that
it might leave me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is
sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most
gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that
the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well
content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with
persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am
weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Yes, one can be weak
in the flesh -- while at the same time be very strong in the Spirit!
Lazarus was a poor man who suffered while on earth -- but that was
all just temporary (and even if a lifetimes' worth)! And with
faith in the Lord, one need not be discouraged, nor lose hope, when
undergoing difficult times. As Paul declares: "Therefore we do
not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner
man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light
affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond
all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but
at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are
temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor.
4:16-18).
So in Paradise, Lazarus is now enjoying that which all the wealth in
the world could never buy -- and, that, forevermore!
No wonder the Bible says, "Better is the poor who walks in his
integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich" (Prov.
28:6). The rich nuggets of truth in God's word will always far
surpass that of material wealth. As the psalmist also shows:
"...The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous
altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much
fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the
honeycomb. Moreover, by them your servant is warned; In
keeping them there is great reward" (Psa. 19:9-11).
Jesus also expresses the need for this proper perspective of the
spiritual over the physical in this following instruction: "Do not
store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:19-21).
And would we not think that that is exactly what Lazarus had also
done? Though he was poor on earth, he had wealth untold that
was stored up in eternal glory!
Eternal life is what God wants all to have, and this we see so
lovingly expressed in the greatest way possible through the giving
of His Son Jesus Christ, who willingly came to our world and "...for
the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame..."
(Heb. 12:2) in order that an atonement could be made to set sinners
free from the bondage of sin and enable us to be brought into a
harmonious relationship with God. For only in the death of
Christ could that atonement be made (cf. Heb. 10:4).
Therefore, that blood He shed is the most valuable purchase-price
the world has ever known -- and one which far exceeds the value of
all the wealth on earth combined!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."
(Jn. 3:16). "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that
He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1
Jn. 4:10). "For while we were still helpless, at the right
time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for
a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare
even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:6-8).
All of this truly shows of God's desire to save. He wants none
to perish (2 Pet. 3:9). He is "ready to forgive" (Psa.
86:5). But forgiveness must be accepted on His terms, which
includes the need to hear the gospel (for that is how faith comes --
Rom. 10:17), to believe in the deity of Jesus (Jn. 8:24), to repent
of sins (Luke 13:5), to confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38), and to be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mk.
16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
Then, as Christians, we are to strive to remain faithful unto God so
that one day heaven will be our eternal home (Rev. 2:10; Heb.
10:36-39).
So no matter what we have to endure for the cause of Christ,
Whatever the struggles or challenges along the way,
Whatever the dreams that go unfulfilled,
Or the plans that never see the light of day,
Keep Jesus first throughout your life;
And He will see you through --
And one day bring you to that place
That remains eternally new!
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News & Notes
Charles
"Chucky" Calloway has been back in the hospital since March
4. It turned out that the previous diagnoses of his having
an arterial blockage and a heart attack were false readings.
Now the doctors say his artery looks clear, and it was determined
that he had no heart attack. But he had to be readmitted due
to his blood sugar level having dropped too low, and his being
unable to walk. Let those of us who are Christians be
praying for him.
And let us also be praying for the following for their health
conditions: Virginia Fontenot, Shirley Young,
Cheryl Crews, Peggy Lefort, and Terry and Pam
MacDonald.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom.
10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet.
3:21).
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can
be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Park Forest
CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)