A Tale of Two Different Destinations!
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Welcome
Welcome
Good Morning! I’m Pastor Wayne and I’d like to welcome you all to the gathering of Ephesus Baptist Church.
We believe we are a called people! Called to worship and exalt our God among the nations in order that His glory may be spread over all the earth!
If you are visiting with us this morning, we want you to know that ...
We are all one family of faith: “giving our all to love God, love others, proclaim Jesus, and make disciples in our generation.”
We have a connect card in the pew in front of you. I invite you to take one and fill it out! If you have prayer needs, you can let us know about those as well.
I promise, our prayer team will lift you up soon. You can place those cards in the offering plate when it comes around.
Scripture Memory
Scripture Memory
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Opening Scripture Reading
Opening Scripture Reading
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Introduction
Introduction
There was a song during my teenage years that I believe sums up the modern view of who we are and what I am going to talk about today.
The song was recorded in 1996 by a country music performer by the name of Sammy Kershaw. Allow me to share a few of the lyrics with you from his song...
“Religion, Politics, and Her.”
Hey ole buddy, how you been
Not much has changed here on my end
No I don't think she's comin' back
We better not get into that
Let's talk about baseball
Talk a little small talk
There's gotta be a good joke
That you've heard
Let's talk about NASCARs
Old Hollywood movie stars
Let's talk about anything
Anything in this world
But politics, religion and her
Politics can start a fight
Religion's hard to know who's right
And one more topic I won't touch
That one's her -- it hurts too much
Politics, Religion, and, (well we are going to leave the third one alone today).
The point of his song was this: If you want to create an awkward conversation quickly, there are a few sure-fire topics to bring up.
Politics, for example, is sure to do the trick. Kershaw says talking about “Politics can start a fight.”
Have you been on Facebook or Twitter lately? Every day people fight a war of words over the widely divergent political ideologies of our day.
Next Kershaw says, “Religion's hard to know who's right.”
Yes, Religion often does the trick as well, particularly when someone suggests that there is only one way to God through Jesus Christ and that all those who do not have faith in Jesus will spend eternity in hell.
Conversation over! If you want to end a conversation with some one, just start telling them about Jesus. Isn’t that what the culture tries to tell us.
If we are honest with ourselves we have bought into this way of thinking ourselves.
I saw a quote going around Facebook this week from Dr. Roy Fish. He said, “So you’re afraid sharing Jesus will push unbelievers away?” He goes on to rightly proclaim, “They’re already away!”
Today, we are going to continue a sermon series we started just before Mother’s Day called Who’s Your One?
In our first sermon, we were reminded of the value of one life. Remember, we learned that you may just reach one, but that one may reach millions with the Gospel!
So, we aren’t going to talk about politics today, but we are going to talk about religion and another word that begins with an “H.” HELL!
We are going to look at “A Tale of Two Different Destinations!” This morning we are going to be in the Gospel According to Luke, the 16th Chapter and verse 19-31.
Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s most sufficient Word!
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
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.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
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.’ ”
Heaven or Hell?
The incredibly clear implication of Jesus’ teaching in this parable is that every human being has only one of two eternal destinations awaiting them in their future.
It’s natural for people to want things to turn out well in the end, both in life and afterwards. If you pay attention to our culture, you know that the majority of Americans believe in a real heaven and hell. But their understanding of those two destinations is pretty vague.
According to Pew Research Center, roughly seven-in-ten or (72%) of Americans say they believe in heaven.
Now we must understand that heaven was defined as a place...
“where people who have led good lives are eternally rewarded,” according to the Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Study.
Not exactly a biblical teaching, as the Bible is clear that living a good life apart from Jesus will not get the job done at the Judgement Seat of Christ.
But at the same time, only 58% of U.S. adults believe in hell, defined as a place...
“where people who have led bad lives and die without being sorry are eternally punished.”
Again, not exactly a biblical understanding of Hell or of the Gospel that saves us from Hell.
In this parable, Jesus gives us an account of a rich man and poor man who both die. The poor man goes to heaven and is embraced by Abraham.
The rich man dies and suffers in hell. While suffering, he looks across the great chasm between heaven and hell and asks for mercy, for water and for someone to go warn his family of their need to avoid this place of torment.
One thing I want to make clear at the outset...God does not send anyone to hell; we go there of our own volition as we choose to reject Christ and his free offer of salvation.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Jesus presents three major contrasts in our passage. Let’s look at them briefly! As we do, we will learn a few things about heaven and hell.
1. THE CONTRAST OF A RICH MAN AND A POOR MAN.
1. THE CONTRAST OF A RICH MAN AND A POOR MAN.
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
THE RICH MAN
Here was a man who was described in four ways.
He was rich.
He was clothed in purple and in fine linen.
Not your average person’s clothing, no this was the attire of the Royals and the Pharisees.
He feasted sumptuously every day.
This man loved to eat, and he was very good at doing so. He never missed a meal.
His house was big enough to have a gate.
Most houses in Israel did not have their own gates surrounding the house. Indication that this man enjoyed his separation from those other people.
The rich man was living the life of luxury. He was on easy street!
THE POOR MAN
Next we meet Lazarus. A man who was laid or thrust out by the rich man’s gate. He was described in five ways.
He was a poor man.
He was a man with a name.
This is the only instance in any parable where a character is named. Lazarus was a common name in Israel. It is the Greek form of Eleazar and means He (whom) God has helped.
3. He was covered with sores.
He was not a leper, his sores came from his poverty.
4. He desired to be fed, even if it meant table scraps.
Bread to clean hands.
5. Dogs came and licked his sores.
In Jewish eyes dogs were not romanticized as “man’s best friend” rather they were seen as impure, disgusting scavengers. Even the dogs tormented the poor man by licking his ulcerated sores.
The poor man had lived a hard life. A life full of torment. He lived a life of hard knocks.
These two men had very little in common. In fact, Jesus only tells us one thing about these men that they both had in common.
They both died. Death was a reality for both of them as it will be for you and for me. But even in the commonality of death we see another large contrast.
2. THE CONTRAST IN DEATH.
2. THE CONTRAST IN DEATH.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
Both men died, but even in death there were great contrasts.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels of heaven to Abraham’s side, or bosom. Nothing is said of a burial or memorial service or of a paying of respect for this man’s life. He simply died and was forgotten by the world. In death, as in life, no one noticed him, no one cared, except our heavenly Father.
The poor man “was carried,” by the angels to Abraham’s Side. There is a sense of security here. We find comfort and peace in knowing that the journey to eternity is one of help, of grace, and of mercy. The poor man finally got the help he was longing for, and soon he would be eating the greatest meal ever at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The Rich Man’s death wasn’t as nice. Although he had a beautiful memorial service, and tears were shed by his family while he was being buried, when he opened his eyes in death there was no angel to be found, no grace, no mercy, no peace.
When he opened his eyes in Hades, he was in torment. Notice the great reversal of fortune here. In life he had everything, in death he has nothing. In life the poor man had nothing, but in death he has everything.
The torment of hell is vastly different from the peace of heaven. This brings us to our third contrast.
3. THE CONTRAST OF HEAVEN AND HELL.
3. THE CONTRAST OF HEAVEN AND HELL.
Heaven is a place of comfort. Hell is a place of torment.
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
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.
The Rich man (in torment) lifts up his eyes and can see heaven. What did he see there? He saw Abraham, the father of the Jews! And he saw Lazarus at his side. Lazarus was with Abraham in comfort, having found eternal rest for his soul in heaven.
Abraham is most likely an allusion to God himself. Lazarus was at peace with God.
The rich man, well he was able to see God and recognize Lazarus from far off.
I believe one of the greatest torments of hell will be the fact that the soul in its eternal prison will always witness the glory of God, but will never be able to experience it.
They will always see but never taste.
They will anguish over their decision to reject such glory while they had a chance to accept it. Yes, hell is a place of torment in contrast to heaven which is a place of peace and comfort.
THE RICH MAN MAKES THREE REQUESTS
THE RICH MAN MAKES THREE REQUESTS
1st Request
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.’
God’s Response
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.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
Since the rich man knew the name of the beggar, we should assume that he was aware of the continual misery and need of the beggar lying at his gate.
He chose to not show mercy but continued to fatten his life instead with no regard for the one who was struggling. He was merciless toward Lazarus.
Now he wants Lazarus to come care for him.
The merciless now desires mercy but will not receive it for the time of grace is over.
2nd Request
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.’
God’s response
29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
3rd Request
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
God’s Response
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.’ ”
If you had a family member to die, and they were to go to hell, and Jesus released them from hell and sent them back to Ephesus to warn you.
Do you know that the Bible says, there’s no more likelihood that you would repent in that day, than if you saw Jesus and heard him preach the gospel to you?
Allow me to wind down our time together by pointing out....
A FEW GOOD THINGS IN HELL:
1. GOOD PEOPLE ARE IN HELL.
1. GOOD PEOPLE ARE IN HELL.
The rich man in this story is moral and caring after his death.
2. GOOD VISION IS IN HELL.
2. GOOD VISION IS IN HELL.
And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side
Luke 16:23
3. GOOD PRAYERS ARE IN HELL.
3. GOOD PRAYERS ARE IN HELL.
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.’
4. GOOD MEMORY IS IN HELL.
4. GOOD MEMORY IS IN HELL.
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.
5. GOOD THEOLOGY IS IN HELL.
5. GOOD THEOLOGY IS IN HELL.
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
6. GOOD PRIORITIES ARE IN HELL.
6. GOOD PRIORITIES ARE IN HELL.
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.’
“warn them”: witness
7. GOOD INTENTIONS ARE IN HELL.
7. GOOD INTENTIONS ARE IN HELL.
One can reject Christ through outright rebellion, but rejection of the Lord does not have to be active. One can deny and refuse Christ also through apathy, indifference, procrastination and even ignorance. Some people fully intend and plan to follow the Lord one day, but the one day never comes.
Conclusion:
We’re living in a generation that doesn’t like to hear what I’m preaching, so most don’t deal with it.
I’m not preaching this today so that the lost would be saved, but I hope they will be.
I’m preaching that the saved will get burdened over the one, who you said two weeks ago, I’m going to invite him to church, I’m going to invest in her life, and I am going to introduce them to Jesus and to His church.
The reality is Heaven is real. Hell is real. Death will come to every person. Death will come to your one!
If they remain apart from Christ, Scripture is clear death will swallow them up in a sea of torment.
The good news today is that it doesn’t have to be so, we have in the Old Testament, in Moses and the Prophets all we need to point someone to Christ.
We also have in the New Testament all we need to reveal to our one what Jesus has done for them.
Share the Gospel.
Thousands of souls don’t have to face what the rich man is facing. We can point them to Christ, and he will save many of them. But we have to be willing to show mercy. To Invite, To Invest, To introduce!
Who’s your one?
What are you waiting for?