The Summers Heat

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 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.’ 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. 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.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 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.’” Luke 16:19-31 It is hot in Mississippi in the summer. If it gets too hot I can pick up and travel to a milder climate. There is a place that is even hotter and there is no place to go to get away from the heat. We have an eternal destination, there are only two choices. We can choose Jesus and the pardon of our sins or we can ignore his knocking on our hearts. We can override his call, we can say there is no God. Someday every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. There is a place of torment, eternal torment, we don't like to hear about it but as sure as there is a Mississippi Summer, there  is a eternal destination with or with out God. This rich man in the scripture above received good things in his lifetime and didn't feel a need for God. In Hades, in torment he looked up and saw the poor man he had seen in There is no changing of destinations once we pass over. It is set for eternity. When the rich man was told no one could cross over either way, he then asked if Lazarus could be sent to warn his family, Abraham said, they have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear Moses and the Prophets. Perhaps is someone comes back from the dead and warns them, they will listen. No, even then they will not listen if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not listen to one coming back from the dead. Moses and the Prophets is the word of God, the Bible. If we will not listen to God's word and accept by faith that Jesus died for our sins, we will not listen to any other way either. Through the word God talks to our hearts and says come unto me, I will give you rest. Jesus is the only way. Some don't believe in a God or even Heaven or Hell, but the Bible tells us it is real. When we reach the grave it is too late to believe in a God, and change our ways. All around us we see his handiwork, his beautiful creation. I use to look at the flowers and marvel at the different colors that come from the same dirt. This world and universe and the many laws of nature that make it work point to a divine hand that created us in the first place. We didn't just happen, the earth didn't just start spinning on its own, nor did the gravitational pull that keeps us the right distance from the sun, just suddenly happen. God set it in place and he created us to worship him. Moses and the Prophets are there to tell us of our creator and his goodness. If we will not listen to them neither will we listen to one sent back from the grave. God does not send people to Hell, they choose to go there by ignoring his word, his knocking on our hearts door. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to a knowledge of his grace. When you look at the marvels of creation, God designed in six days, think what splendor is ahead when he has had thousands of years to prepare a place for us. It is on the other side of the grave, be ready. There is no chance to change our destination after eternity is reached, The destination is set on this side, we choose to believe or not to believe. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20  God bless, LVZ.