An account taught by Jesus with so much application for today that humbly reminds us of how valuable life is and our choices will determine our eternal destiny. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1561/29?v=20251111
One fellow fared sumptuously, the other full of sores. Let’s open our Bibles and we will study some more. The account of Lazarus and the rich man is our study today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour.
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Bound for the promised land.
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So today, let’s read and let’s study together, shall we? From Luke 16, beginning with verse 19. There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate. desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments and Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus’ evil things. But now he is comforted, and you are tormented. And beside all this between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us. Then he said, I beg you therefore, Father, that you would send him to my father’s house, where I have five brothers, that they may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. And he said, No, Father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. But he said to them, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead. That’s Luke 16, 19-31. And may the Lord bless us with the reading and the hearing and the application of His Word. Let’s learn some lessons, friends. Lesson number one, life is short. You know, it was Job in Job 7 and verse 6 that said, My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle and are spent without hope. A weaver’s shuttle that goes back and forth, that brings thread together as garment. How swift it moves. Job says, my days are just that swift. It was James in James 4 beginning with verse 13 that says, Come now. You who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit. Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. I’ve often said, friends, that individual who could make that kind of prediction, I would love for them to handle my investments, wouldn’t you? You know, when compared to eternity and the average life expectancy, indeed, friends, life is short. And we must be prepared to leave this earth at any time. With that being said, lesson number two from the rich man and Lazarus, death is the equalizer. Regardless of their status in life, both Lazarus and the rich man died. It’s Hebrews 9 and verse 27 says, For it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment. Death is an appointment that all of us will keep unless the Lord returns and this old world ends. But regardless of the status in life, no matter how well off we are or how poor we might be, death is indeed the equalizer. It puts us all on the same level. How about a third lesson? A third lesson is God is right. God means what He says. And we learn from this account that God had before the rich man the teaching that was applicable, Moses and the prophets, verse 29. Of course, this is Jesus teaching as he walks upon this earth and saying they have Moses and the prophets, which is what they were to understand at that time. And they had Moses and the prophets, and today we have Jesus and his word. Remember in Matthew 17, 1-5, when Jesus was transfigured before them, and there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Jesus? It’s as if the prophet and the lawgiver is there with Jesus. And they wanted to make three tabernacles. Remember Peter? Let’s make three tabernacles. One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias. And a voice came from heaven. In Matthew 17, 1 through 5, the words of God in verse 5, shall I say, This is my beloved Son, hear ye him. Friends, today we have Jesus and his word. We have all things given unto us that pertain to righteousness, 2 Peter 1, 3-4. The complete revelation of the Scriptures, according to 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17. That all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. And it’s from that scripture that we look into 1 Timothy chapter 4 and we see in verse 2 we are to preach the word. We bring forth the word, the scripture, and teach others. God is right, friends, and we need to be right in His sight. There are Scriptures that we can search, that Jesus challenged those in His day in John 5, 39, but even those in Berea that would search the Scriptures daily whether the things they were hearing were so, Acts 17, 11. We are taught that through the Scriptures there are answers that we can know. We can give a reason for the hope that is within us with meekness and fear, 1 Peter 3, 15. How we can study or give diligence to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Timothy 2 and verse 15. Here’s a fourth lesson from Lazarus and the rich man. There are no second chances. Once we pass from this life, friends, and we learn from James 2 how the spirit leaves the body, there’s no second chance in eternity. The Scriptures speak not of any penance or prayers for the dead that their eternal destiny will change. I take us back to Hebrews 9 and verse 27. For it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this, after death, the judgment. There are no second chances. And Abraham made that clear to the rich man. There are no second chances. Lesson number five. Hell is a reality. You know, friends, there’s not much preaching about hell today. But I will tell you this, it’s as real as ever. We praise of how great heaven will be, but we also realize there’s a place called hell. For in Matthew 25, 41, in that final judgment, he will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. A prepared fire where the worm dies not, the fire is not quenched. Luke 9, 43 and 45. In the book of Revelation, chapter 20, verses 14 and 15, then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, and anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Hell is a reality, friends. And we must realize that seriousness. Here’s a sixth lesson. It was too late to pray. It was too late for the rich man to make his pleas as he did in verses 24, 27, and 30. It was too late for Lazarus to come to him. Too late for Lazarus to go and tell his brothers. And like the foolish virgins who missed the bridegroom in Matthew 25, verses 1-13, there will be the time that it will be too late. And friends, while we are living, it is never too late. We must be like those virgins that prepare our lamps and be ready when the bridegroom is coming. They knew he was coming. And they prepared themselves that when he came, they were ready to go. When the Lord returns, will we be ready to go? Life is short. Death is the equalizer. God is right. There are no second chances. Hell is a reality. And one day, it’s going to be too late to pray. It’s going to be too late to do anything. Friends, that’s why through our studies here at International Gospel Hour, we love to share with you at each broadcast some type of tool or something you can use to help in your studies. Our friends at International Bible Teaching Ministries have a great online Bible course and it’s free. All you’ve got to do is check out their website, ibtministries.org. That’s ibtministries.org. While there, take a look at their biblically sound tracts and articles. And you can register free for your online Bible course that’s waiting for you at ibtministries.org. Once again, ibtministries.org. And be sure to comment you heard about it here at International Gospel Hour. If you didn’t get that website, but you want to call us at 855-444-6988, just leave us a message and just say online study, and we’ll send that link to you. Be glad to help you. Friends, I’m grateful for my late brother and friend, Larry Acuff, for the lesson today. This would fall under from time to time what I share with you, a sermon I heard. Brother Larry preached the gospel well over 60 years, and he impacted so many people. And I do miss him this day. But although he has passed on, like Abel of old, in Hebrews 11 and verse 4, how grateful we are that Brother Acuff still speaks, we’re still able to bring forth a study of God’s word that he provided some time back. We’ll continue these studies together at another time, shall we? But for now, thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
