Pastor’s Column 2/2/2025

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man died and was also buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ ‘…There is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’  Luke 16:22-24;26, NLT                                            

“Fixed”   

There are many people in this life who do not believe in consequences. At most they go along in life with a casual or dismissive attitude. Such thinking helps a person rationalize, “What happens, will happen.” This is neither helpful nor reasonably sound. People of faith  should know that all of life has purpose. Our precious lives were not meant to be thrown to the wind or discarded with no future. In our Christian faith we believe in eternity – which is perpetual life different from this life, and one for which we can anticipate. Inherent in the  truth and teachings of our faith is a life where the cross is conquered; sin is eradicated; and death is annihilated. This is our hope! The parable Jesus tells of the rich man (often called, Dives) and the poor man, Lazarus, is instructive and comes with a stark warning.  Jesus chided the rich man for his exuberant lifestyle that excludedthe poor, like Lazarus, from any charitable or benevolent act on his part. The rich man is a symbol of people who oppress others with the power and privilege of their wealth and social standing. Absent in the description of this man’s life, is any devotion to God. Lazarus represents the left-out castaways, who have no other choice but to plead and scramble for the crumbs of others more fortunate than they. But the parable illustrates “death” as the equalizer who comes to all.  Lazarus is prepared for the after-live, and Dives is not. Dives learns all too late that he sealed his destiny of torment; but Lazarus for eternity!