Lent 2020 Thursday 12 March
LUKE 16:19-31
Today we will follow the Gospel Story in a graphic novel style. The source of this story and images here below is:
Walking with Yeshua ( Jesus ) – Bible Stories for Kids.
https://wwyeshua.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/lazarus-and-the-rich-man-luke-1619-31/
Jesus told a story about a rich man who wore the finest clothes and lived in luxury and only thought about himself.
A beggar named Lazarus lay outside the rich man’s gate. Lazarus was hungry and his body was covered with sores. He was hoping that the rich man might have pity on him and that he might be able to satisfy his hunger with the leftovers from his table.
But every day the Rich man did not pay attention to Lazarus, he just did not care. He did not have the love of Jesus in him; he was selfish and cared only about himself.
The Bible says that one day Lazarus died and went to heaven.
The rich man also died, but he went to hell. In hell, he looked up and saw Lazarus in heaven with Abraham.
He asked Abraham to let Lazarus dip his finger in water and come and touch it to his burning tongue, but Abraham said, “No.” Then he reminded the rich man how he had selfishly kept all of the good things that God had given him on earth while Lazarus had nothing.
The rich man then asked Abraham to allow Lazarus to come back to earth and warn his five brothers so that they would not end up in that terrible place with him. But again, Abraham said, “No.” The rich man finally understood what he had done, and that now it was too late.
God wants us to understand how dangerous it is when we do not listen and obey Him. We need to listen and obey before it is too late and there is no turning back. Once you are in the place like where the rich man is, there is no way out, even if you ask God for forgiveness.
Once someone dies, their decision has been made. If they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and obeyed Him here on earth, they will go and live with Him in heaven for all eternity.
But if someone chooses not to obey God and continue doing things their way, they will go where Satan, the father of lies is also going – to hell for all eternity.
God is a loving God and He gives us many chances, but if you keep telling Him, later Lord, I will listen and obey you later, now I want to have fun and do what I want to do, then you might have a big surprise, because times might run out and you made the wrong decision.