 Will All Your Family Make It?
" There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 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; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. " Luke 16:19-31
If we stop a second and think about the reality of the fact that not all our family, relatives and friends will be in Heaven, it is quite a sobering thought. People that we like to be around, have fun with, enjoy conversing with... someday that will change.
Obviously this rich man must of had a close knit family, evidenced in the fact he requested that Abraham send Lazarus to warn his brothers about hell. Notice Abraham already knew that this man's brothers would not be convinced of hell even if Lazarus came from the dead and appeared to them and told them. Many people just simply refuse to believe.
How many of us that are born again have tried to warn family members of the reality of an eternal hell, only to be scoffed at and made fun of and declared religious fanatics. My Dad tried to warn his family but to this day they scoff at him... even though he is the only one in his family that will be in Heaven. Someday they will be like this rich man who wishes he had believed like Lazarus did... but you cannot convince them of it now.
While we should never give up praying that God will bring circumstances into their lives that might per chance open their heart, we should also accept the fact that not all our family, relatives and friends will make it. Jesus has already told us that there will be more people in hell than will be in Heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14;
" Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
If you have family who have died without Jesus the grief is overwhelming and it does not offer much comfort to be told that they chose their destiny. Someday God will give us the ability to accept what has happened to them.
But do not give up hope too quickly. Just as the thief on the cross accepted Jesus in his dying moments and made it to Heaven, maybe your Dad did the same. Jesus is there to save even during our last breath if we choose to believe in Him. God might have a surprise waiting for you in Heaven sweetie and that surprise might be your Dad. You'll just have to wait and see.
I love you.
Wayne Brown
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