Today’s message
Read and reflect
MESSAGE
Some things can be replaced.
If your phone spoils, you can buy another one. If you miss a bus, another may come. If your clothes tear, tailor can still perform small resurrection.
But there are opportunities that come with an expiry date.
Your opportunity to know Christ is one of them.
The story of the rich man and Lazarus is frightening because it shows us two men whose situations completely changed after death.
While alive, Lazarus was the beggar.
He sat at the rich man's gate, covered with sores, desiring crumbs from his table.
Apparently, Lazarus was not important enough for the rich man's dining room.
Then death came.
Suddenly, the beggar changed!
Lazarus was comforted, while the rich man cried:
«“Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water...”
— Luke 16:24»
Ah!
So you know Lazarus now?
The man who was not important enough to enter your house is suddenly qualified to travel from paradise carrying water!
Life has a way of rearranging titles.
The rich man was not even asking for a bottle of water.
Not a cup.
Not even one spoon.
Just one wet finger!
Yet the request was refused.
Abraham explained:
«“Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed.”
— Luke 16:26»
Notice the word FIXED.
Not under discussion.
Not “come back tomorrow.”
Not “appeal within 14 working days.”
FIXED!
There are things you can change while you are alive that eternity will simply confirm after death.
WHEN A RICH MAN BECAME AN EVANGELIST
When the water request failed, the rich man suddenly remembered his family.
He said, in effect:
“Father Abraham, please send Lazarus to my father's house. I have five brothers. Warn them so they don't come here!”
Wonderful!
The man suddenly developed passion for evangelism!
Unfortunately, his ministry started after death.
The man who apparently had no missionary assignment for Lazarus while alive now wanted to send Lazarus on an evangelistic crusade.
Abraham refused again:
«“They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.”
— Luke 16:29»
In other words:
They already have enough warning.
They have Scripture.
They have preachers.
They have opportunities.
They have heard the truth.
Let them respond NOW.
The rich man protested:
«“Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.”
— Luke 16:30»
But Abraham told him that if they would not hear God's Word, even someone returning from the dead might not convince them.
And beloved, today we have something even greater:
Jesus Christ actually died and rose again.
So what other evidence are we waiting for?
SECOND CHANCE — LIMITED EDITION
Maybe God has given you another opportunity.
You survived something that could have killed you.
You wandered away, but somehow you are hearing His voice again.
You abandoned prayer, but something inside you is calling you back.
You compromised your convictions, but God is confronting your heart again.
Don't play with it.
Second chances are products of mercy, not permanent entitlements.
Jonah ran away, yet:
«“The word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time...”
— Jonah 3:1»
Peter denied Jesus, but Jesus restored him.
The prodigal son wasted everything, but he was still alive enough to say:
“I will arise and go to my father.”
That is the privilege of today.
You can still arise.
You can still repent.
You can still return.
You can still forgive.
You can still surrender.
You can still make peace with God.
But please don't turn “God is merciful” into “I have unlimited time.”
The Bible says:
«“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
— 2 Corinthians 6:2»
The most dangerous word in spiritual matters may simply be:
“Later.”
“I will repent later.”
“I will serve God later.”
“I will stop that lifestyle later.”
“I will forgive later.”
“I will become serious with Christ later.”
Beloved, later is not a date on anybody's calendar.
The rich man eventually became serious about spiritual matters.
He believed in prayer.
He believed in evangelism.
He believed in repentance.
He believed people needed warning.
He even became concerned about his brothers' salvation.
His theology improved considerably.
The problem was timing.
He became serious too late.
Some things can be replaced.
If your phone spoils, you can buy another one. If you miss a bus, another may come. If your clothes tear, tailor can still perform small resurrection.
But there are opportunities that come with an expiry date.
Your opportunity to know Christ is one of them.
The story of the rich man and Lazarus is frightening because it shows us two men whose situations completely changed after death.
While alive, Lazarus was the beggar.
He sat at the rich man's gate, covered with sores, desiring crumbs from his table.
Apparently, Lazarus was not important enough for the rich man's dining room.
Then death came.
Suddenly, the beggar changed!
Lazarus was comforted, while the rich man cried:
«“Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water...”
— Luke 16:24»
Ah!
So you know Lazarus now?
The man who was not important enough to enter your house is suddenly qualified to travel from paradise carrying water!
Life has a way of rearranging titles.
The rich man was not even asking for a bottle of water.
Not a cup.
Not even one spoon.
Just one wet finger!
Yet the request was refused.
Abraham explained:
«“Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed.”
— Luke 16:26»
Notice the word FIXED.
Not under discussion.
Not “come back tomorrow.”
Not “appeal within 14 working days.”
FIXED!
There are things you can change while you are alive that eternity will simply confirm after death.
WHEN A RICH MAN BECAME AN EVANGELIST
When the water request failed, the rich man suddenly remembered his family.
He said, in effect:
“Father Abraham, please send Lazarus to my father's house. I have five brothers. Warn them so they don't come here!”
Wonderful!
The man suddenly developed passion for evangelism!
Unfortunately, his ministry started after death.
The man who apparently had no missionary assignment for Lazarus while alive now wanted to send Lazarus on an evangelistic crusade.
Abraham refused again:
«“They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.”
— Luke 16:29»
In other words:
They already have enough warning.
They have Scripture.
They have preachers.
They have opportunities.
They have heard the truth.
Let them respond NOW.
The rich man protested:
«“Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.”
— Luke 16:30»
But Abraham told him that if they would not hear God's Word, even someone returning from the dead might not convince them.
And beloved, today we have something even greater:
Jesus Christ actually died and rose again.
So what other evidence are we waiting for?
SECOND CHANCE — LIMITED EDITION
Maybe God has given you another opportunity.
You survived something that could have killed you.
You wandered away, but somehow you are hearing His voice again.
You abandoned prayer, but something inside you is calling you back.
You compromised your convictions, but God is confronting your heart again.
Don't play with it.
Second chances are products of mercy, not permanent entitlements.
Jonah ran away, yet:
«“The word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time...”
— Jonah 3:1»
Peter denied Jesus, but Jesus restored him.
The prodigal son wasted everything, but he was still alive enough to say:
“I will arise and go to my father.”
That is the privilege of today.
You can still arise.
You can still repent.
You can still return.
You can still forgive.
You can still surrender.
You can still make peace with God.
But please don't turn “God is merciful” into “I have unlimited time.”
The Bible says:
«“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
— 2 Corinthians 6:2»
The most dangerous word in spiritual matters may simply be:
“Later.”
“I will repent later.”
“I will serve God later.”
“I will stop that lifestyle later.”
“I will forgive later.”
“I will become serious with Christ later.”
Beloved, later is not a date on anybody's calendar.
The rich man eventually became serious about spiritual matters.
He believed in prayer.
He believed in evangelism.
He believed in repentance.
He believed people needed warning.
He even became concerned about his brothers' salvation.
His theology improved considerably.
The problem was timing.
He became serious too late.
Reflection
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Don't wait until eternity to appreciate the sermon you are ignoring today.
Don't wait until the door closes before discovering that the invitation was precious.
Don't wait until Lazarus becomes unreachable before discovering his value.
If God is speaking to you again today, don't merely call it another day.
Call it MERCY.
This second chance to know Christ, return to Christ, obey Christ and live for Christ is a LIMITED EDITION.
Handle it carefully.
Because tomorrow may come—
but God never placed your personal tomorrow under your control.
Don't wait until eternity to appreciate the sermon you are ignoring today.
Don't wait until the door closes before discovering that the invitation was precious.
Don't wait until Lazarus becomes unreachable before discovering his value.
If God is speaking to you again today, don't merely call it another day.
Call it MERCY.
This second chance to know Christ, return to Christ, obey Christ and live for Christ is a LIMITED EDITION.
Handle it carefully.
Because tomorrow may come—
but God never placed your personal tomorrow under your control.
Prayer
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me another opportunity to hear Your voice. Deliver me from procrastinating with my soul. Give me grace to repent where necessary, return where I have wandered, obey where I have resisted, and follow You faithfully. May I never become serious about eternity when it is already too late. In Jesus' name. Amen.
PROPHETIC DECLARATION
You will not waste your season of mercy. You will not arrive at eternity carrying avoidable regrets. May grace awaken your heart today. May every spiritual opportunity you have neglected receive fresh attention, and may your life remain firmly established in Christ until the end, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me another opportunity to hear Your voice. Deliver me from procrastinating with my soul. Give me grace to repent where necessary, return where I have wandered, obey where I have resisted, and follow You faithfully. May I never become serious about eternity when it is already too late. In Jesus' name. Amen.
PROPHETIC DECLARATION
You will not waste your season of mercy. You will not arrive at eternity carrying avoidable regrets. May grace awaken your heart today. May every spiritual opportunity you have neglected receive fresh attention, and may your life remain firmly established in Christ until the end, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.