A Contrast in Life and Death

Luke 16:22-23

New International Version

“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 Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

For Encouragement

Dressed in purple, fine linen, luxurious living, and daily feasting—an extravagant and opulent lifestyle. That was the life of the rich man in the story Jesus told (Luke 16:19-31). Juxta positioned against this scene at the gate of the rich man’s home was a portrait of a poor beggar with:

Tattered clothes, infested body sores, dogs licking his sores, wretched, hungry, and yearning for crumbs from the rich man’s table—a challenging and impoverished living. 

What a world!

The rich against the poor. The affluent against the poverty-stricken. A class war that never ends—a ranking that never closes but widens by the day.

Death, the human leveler, comes to the door of every one of them. Always on time at the correct address, it never misses an appointment. It reminds me of an Arabian fable set in Bagdad.

The story relates the occasion when a merchant sent his servant to the market to buy some provisions for him. Death met the servant and made a threatening gesture that sent him running home, panting and asking for his master’s horse for a quick ride to Samarra. Supposing Mr. Death could not find him there, he left a thick trail of dust behind him, galloping towards Samarra. The master, meanwhile, went to the market and confronted Mr. Death, who denied threatening the servant. He was surprised to see the servant in Bagdad because he had an appointment with him that night in Samarra. 

What a twist of events! Who then can escape death? The rich, influential, poor, nonentity, sick, and healthy. All will face the same fate one day – Death!

So, Lazarus, the poor man, died, and angels carried him to the side of Abraham (Luke 16:22). I call it heaven’s limousine.

Death did not miss its appointment with the rich man, either. Over time, he also died. It leveled the field for both, regardless of their earthly situation. The only difference concerned their destinies after death. The bible curtly says the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, he was in torment (22b -23). 

And in Hades—what a surprise and shock! The rich man was in torment while Lazarus relaxed by Abraham’s side. 

The pertinent question in the story is: What determined the eternal situation of the two men after death?

Was the rich man transported to Hades because of his wealth and opulent lifestyle? How about Lazarus? Did he get an angelic limousine ride to Paradise because of his poverty and wretchedness? We will explore this next week. Meanwhile, I will leave you with two lessons.

Whatever your social, economic, political, or religious situation, everyone will face one common end on this side of eternity—death, the human leveler no one can avoid.

Second, our eternal destination gets sealed at the point of death, not after, as many falsely claim (Luke 16:22-23; Hebrews 9:27). Only two doors open to every human being at the moment of death: The door to heaven or the door to hell (John 3:16; 14:6). Your decision concerning Jesus and His invitation to repent and surrender to Him for the gift of eternal life He bestows on all who believe in Him is what determines which door will open to you (John 3:16). The decision is now, as you have breath.

So, what is it going to be? Will you surrender your life to Jesus now and receive entrance to heaven (John 14:6), or will you hold on to whatever you have come to believe and head straight to Hades when you die? 

I pray you bow your knees to Jesus today (John 1:12-13; Romans 10:9-10, 13).