Would We Live
If I knew the number of my days were finite, and my days would be short, would I live differently?
Perhaps you’ve read the stories of people who find out from their doctor they have a short time to live and they decide to do as many of the things on their bucket list as they can before…
I wonder how many ask the question if I knew the number of my days were finite and my days were short, would I live differently than I am currently living?
We can read in the Gospel according to Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
And also in Luke 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
We know how the rich man and Lazarus lived different lives from one another here on this earth. The rich man had a life of ease and Lazarus was a beggar begging for crumbs. We also know how they died and had different experiences after death.
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
When the rich man asked for a drop of water to cool his tongue Abraham said not so…Then the rich man had one last request, that Lazarus would go to the rich man’s home and warn his brethren:
Luke16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
This is a short story, yet it has been played out many times through the centuries. And Abrahman’s final answer?
Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
How many times have we as Christians told people to repent, told people there is a great day coming? Most turn a deaf ear to words of warning. Some even tell us a loving God won’t send anyone to torment.
That may be so, but there are still a vast number who are day by day choosing a place of torment over a home with a loving God… and it’s their choice, not God’s.
This life on earth isn’t a quiz for the next life. Every day we make choices, some are hard choices and some aren’t but they are choices. Remember as the Psalm says:
Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
