“Also, there is a big pit between you and us. No one can cross over to help you, and no one can come here from there.”

Jesus is the greatest teacher ever! Most of His lessons portrayed pictures that people relate well with; however, in this verse of today, it is a real story because He mentions Abraham, the father of faith. In chapter 16, there were Pharisees who disregarded the spirit of the “Law and the Prophets”; so, they were in the same league as the rich man’s siblings who had “Moses and the Prophets” (v.29); they hardened their hearts against belief in Christ. Pharisees knew about the Law and the Prophets, but they did not practice them; they were just after money like the rich man (v.14-15) and lacked compassion towards the needy.

In Luke 13:28-30, Jesus says that those who will be locked out of heaven’s door will be able to see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom. Those outside will cry and grind their teeth with pain. People will come from the east, west, north, and south. They will sit down at the table in God’s kingdom. People who have the lowest place in life now will have the highest place in God’s kingdom. And people who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in God’s kingdom.

Where would you rather be in the eternal kingdom (Luke 16:22)? If you follow Christ, keep witnessing about Christ as you use the resources and skills with which He entrusted you.

On earth, righteous and wicked are living together, yet in the eternity, there is segregation. Verse 21 says, “Lazarus wanted only to eat the scraps of food left on the floor under the rich man’s table.” The name Lazarus is Latin, Eleazar, meaning “God is my help.” I If the rich man would have invited Lazarus for a decent meal together, Lazarus would have shared Christ with Him, the hope of glory; though he had sores in his body, his name has a deeper meaning. There could have been some exchange of meals and salvation!

People are created to have a social life—fellowship and eating meals together is where conversations come out, and people connect, and the Good News platform is created, and Jesus is the center of the meal!

Beloved, go and invite someone (one who would not pay you back the same gesture) with the intention of sharing Christ. John 5:24 says, “I assure you, anyone who hears what I say and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life. They will not be judged guilty. They have already left death and have entered into life.” This is a promise valid in this world, but it has an expiration date—it does not extend into eternity.

The rich man could not negotiate his relief (Luke 16:24-25). We can only cross over from eternal condemnation to eternal salvation while we are living in this world. No one would be able to exercise faith after death; we apply it now for eternity (Romans 8:24-25). Go out and invite someone over for a meal, so that Christ may be the center of your conversation. Proverbs 19:17 says, “Giving help to the poor is like loaning money to the LORD. He will pay you back for your kindness.”

By Christopher Thetswe, Bible League International staff, South Africa