Scripture:
Luke 16 v 23-24: "And in hell he lifted up his eyes,
being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And 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."
John 11 v 39-40: "Jesus said, Take ye away the
stone.......Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldst
believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God."
The New Testament mentions two men who were called
Lazarus and the different circumstances surrounding their lives that could help
us solve some of today's problems.
Lazarus 1 was a real (not a parable)beggar and a leper
who lay at the gate of a rich man hoping for alms. The hard-hearted rich man
died and went to Hell. Lazarus died too and was taken to Paradise, a
compartment of Hell where the righteous dead were sent. It was also called
Abraham's Bosom. Jesus was the last person to ever go there!
Anyway, the rich man could see and talk to Lazarus and
asked him if he could dip his finger in some cold water to cool the flames on
his tongue. Lazarus could not cross the great chasm between them.
The former rich man begged Lazarus to send someone to
warn his family to live Godly lives to avoid Hell. Lazarus responded that if
they ignored Moses and the prophets who would they listen to.
Lazarus 2 was the brother of Mary and Martha, all of them
dear friends of Jesus. Lazarus died and his sisters were heartbroken. Four days
later Jesus arrived and Mary said if only you had been here he would not have
died.
Jesus told them to roll away the grave stone and shouted
"Lazarus, Come forth!" Perhaps if He had just said "Come
forth!" all the dead people would have come back to life. However Lazarus
was raised back to life to the rejoicing of all.
The lessons to learn are that no matter how small and
hidden you are, Jesus knows you and if you suffer rejection and persecution,
but remain faithful to the Lord, you will enter into everlasting life and
escape Hell. Plus - death has no hold on those whom Jesus loves. He has
conquered death and Hell and holds the keys (final authority) to both.
If you know without any doubts that Jesus Christ loves
you and died in your place your eternal life is secure.
Heavenly Father every person mentioned in the Word of God
can bring us closer to you. Let our lives be examples to those around us in
small and great ways so they may all be with us in Heaven one day. In Jesus'
name. Amen.