The Parable Of The Rich Man And Lazarus

“I wanted to tell you a story…”There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus,  covered with sores,who longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died, and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died-and was buried.

In hell, where he was in torment,  he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame.” But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here-and you are in agony.

And besides all this, a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” The rich man answered, “Then I beg you, Father-send Lazarus to my family,   for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets-let them listen to them.”

“No, Father Abraham,” he said, “but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent!” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” (This story is found in Luke 16:19-31.)

“Let Me explain what this story means…” This world is not the end. There is life after death- and the choices you make now shape your eternity. The rich man didn’t care for the one suffering at his doorstep. He lived for himself- and never repented. But Lazarus, though forgotten by men, was remembered by God. You may have everything on earth… and nothing in eternity. Or you may have nothing here… and be embraced forever.

I’m telling you now-because once that door closes, it cannot be reopened. So don’t wait for a miracle. You have My words. You have the truth. Listen to it-and live. “My parables matter because they reveal the Kingdom.”I didn’t speak these stories on My own.

In John 12:49-50, I said: “For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His  Commandment is life everlasting: Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.”

This story came from the Father-because He wants no one to perish. And in Matthew 24:35, I said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” So take these words seriously. Eternity is real. And mercy is still available-today.