The Values On Earth Are Reversed In Heaven
The first will be last and the last will be first.
Humble yourself and God will exalt you.
The Rich Man and Lazarus(Luke 16:19-31)
“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 and longing to eat what 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 Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “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, between us (heaven) and you (hell) 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.’ “He 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 convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Jesus mentions two extremes: [ Rich Man ................. Beggar ]
There are basically 3 classes: Rich, Middle, Poor with many variations within each class.
Most of us are somewhere in between. Where are you in this mix?
RICH: Life on Earth ... luxurious, selfish, ungodly, tied to wealth, not accepting Christ
After death ... in Hell, suffering, tormented for eternity
POOR: Life on Earth ... poor & sick (sores), separated from wealth, begging for compassion
After death ... in Heaven, comfortable, with God for eternity full of love, joy, peace
It is harder for a rich man to go to Heaven than for camel to go through the ‘eye of a needle’.
Does this mean every Rich person goes to Hell and every Poor person goes to Heaven? NO
It depends on how we live our lives on Earth. We must accept Christ as our Savior!
What kept the Rich Man from going to Heaven? He did not listen to:
a. MOSES which represents obeying the LAW of God which is the 10 Commandments.
b. PROPHETS who foretold the coming of the Messiah,
What else does the parable imply? Will we recognize our loved ones in Heaven? YES
Communication Lines (according to the parable):
Heaven to Earth ... YES
Heaven to Hell ..... NO Hell to Heaven ... NO
Hell to Earth ......... NO Earth to Hell ....... NO
“His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” Luke 1:50-53
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”Luke 6:20-25
When you die, there is only one thing that matters: your relationship with Jesus Christ. “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36).
“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12)