Our life span here on earth is limited. Our behavior and our attitude should be governed by this understanding. We need to pause and consider this truth from time to time. The Bible says: So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psalms 90:12 NKJV). When we remember this truth, we will make different choices. In our family, we occasionally discuss this truth at our dining table, during our drives. Gradually, we make a shift in what we give importance to and in what we choose to ignore.
When the question, “Do you have time?” is asked, many assume we have time. We reason that we are only in our 30s or 100s, etc., not knowing that this question is neither about our age nor our health situation, etc.
Jesus has a subtle yet powerful way to convey deep truths so many can understand through parables. Let’s examine two of these first.
Rich man’s parable told by Jesus
We know the parable Jesus spoke about a rich man who had a great yield of crops. His health condition was not stated, hence would have been normal. As the harvest was beyond the capacity of the storehouse he had, he planned to demolish the existing storage facility and rebuild larger ones. He thought that as the harvest was so very large, he could take it easy and start enjoying eating, drinking, and being merry.
But God had other plans for the rich man. God called him a fool, since the rich man was to die that night. His plans were to go awry. His riches would go to others.
Jesus said that this is the case of everyone who lays treasure for himself and is not rich towards God. As some of us reading this would be like the Bereans (residents of the city of Berea in Macedonia), who were eager to hear the truth about what Paul taught. So they searched and examined the Scripture and compared it to what Paul was teaching. So here in blue font, you can read the scripture verses.
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21 NKJV)
The most important matter is to be rich toward God. To have riches in the Kingdom of Heaven. To have eternal riches. This should be the first priority. Everything else is a lower priority.
This is best mentioned here in the Gospel of Matthew. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ( Matthew 6:33 NKJV) Having a daily and consistent focus on seeking the Kingdom of God is most important.
The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
The rich man whose name is not mentioned by Jesus and the poor beggar named Lazarus were not far from each other. The rich man lived inside a luxurious house and used to eat dainties fit for a king. But the Lazrus, who was probably the nearest neighbor to the rich man,.
During most of the day, he was at the gate of the rich man, expecting to be fed by the crumbs of the rich dainties that fell down from the rich man’s table. The rich man’s neighbor, Lazarus, had a pitiable life. His body was full of sores. Probably it was soothing for him when the dogs would lick his sores.
One day Lazarus died, and he was “carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.” (Luke 16:22b NKJV). The rich man also died and he was buried. But he was being tormented in Hades. He could see Father Abraham far away and Lazarus on his bosom.
But this time Lazarus was in pain and asked Father Abraham if he could ask Lazarus may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.’ (Luke 16:24b NKJV).
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. (Luke 16:26 NKJV).
When Father Abraham explained the practical difficulties in obliging this request of the man who used to be rich, the rich man asked if Father Abraham could send Lazarus so that the rich man’s five brothers would be warned. Then Father Abraham said that let the rich man’s five brothers hear Moses and the prophets.
And he said, “No, Father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:30,31 NKJV).
Did the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus at the gate have time? Did they use it well?
We find that the rich man did not use the time he had. Hence he reached a place of torment.
Whereas Lazarus reached a good place after death—Abraham’s bosom. Don’t think that all beggars reach a good place. But Lazrus did reach a good place.
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words, and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. ( John 14:23, 24 NKJV)
Stay blessed. Love Jesus. Obey His commands daily. That’s the way we love Him and get the great upgrades that come with it.
I have started my journey on this pathway. Like Jesus, I have to surrender my will from time to time. When I think of the rich rewards and the great blessings, the pain and suffering pale away in significance. The more I focus on the rich rewards, the more I am able to be victorious. All glory to Jesus Christ.
Distinct possibilities
We can perhaps be like the rich man in the above-mentioned parables, or we can be like the beggar Lazarus, or we can be like Stephen, whom we meet in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament.
In Acts chapter 6 we read the Apostles choosing Stephen and six other men who were full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Stephen flowed in the power of the Holy Spirit and did great signs and wonders. The people could not resist the wisdom and Spirit which Stephen spoke. Even when his enemies stoned him to death, his face shone.
And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel. ( Acts 6:15 NKJV)
Stephen was bold and determined to defend his faith in Jesus and defend the gospel. He gave a fiery speech that made his enemies burn with rage further. They started attacking him and stoning him. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”( Acts 7:55-56 NKJV)
But the stones or attack could not disturb him. Stephen had always lived a life worthy of giving God the glory. He had used his time well. Even an attack leading to his death did not distract him. No situation or circumstance could distract him. Even when he gave up his spirit, he asked for the forgiveness of his attackers. Such presence of mind. We also read that he fell asleep. Read these verses. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he kneeled down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.( Acts 7:59-60 NKJV)
No one knows the day or the hour
We are called to be ready, always alert. We do not know when our transit on earth will be over. We are to be heaven bound and always ready. Either we would die as many of the faithful have died. Else the Lord would come at the appointed hour.
But the day and hour – no one but the father God knows. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. ( Mathew 24:36 NKJV)
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. ( Mathew 24:43,44 NKJV)
It’s important that we are vigilant, yet be relaxed as we do things which are pleasing to the Lord. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:11-14 NKJV) The actions we can take is putting on the armour of light, which is putting on Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit reveal to you how you can change your spiritual attire by wearing this. Keep asking and you will be surprised in the way the Lord changes you. You will certainly start looking glorious in the spiritual releam.
There is no need of fear about death or about when we transition from this earth to eternity. The Bible has a very pertinent verse. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. (Romans 14:8 NKJV)
