What does it take to get our spiritual attention? I remember after 9/11 here in the United States that people were especially focused spiritually. Our sanctuary filled on a Tuesday night to pray. We pray for the people of Belgium and Europe today as they face the reality of evil in their country, as well. May this be a time of turning to Christ who is our only hope in this world and the next.
Luke and Matthew share different parables which Jesus told. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is found only in Luke. Do you remember the story? A wealthy man lived in the lap of luxury while a poor man named Lazarus lay in the street as a beggar. When the beggar died, he was carried to Abraham’s side. Meanwhile the wealthy man found himself in torment. The reality of his bad situation led him to ask first for Lazarus’ help and second for Lazarus to go and warn his five brothers. In the story, Abraham answered that Lazarus could not cross over. Besides, the rich man’s brothers could learn the truth from the law and the prophets. The wealthy man knew his brothers well. They won’t read the Bible but they would listen to one who rose from the dead. Jesus said, “If they won’t listen to the law and prophets not even a resurrection could convince them.”
What does this parable mean? If we are not careful we will find some strange teaching of karma that poverty here means wealth in heaven, and wealth here means hell in the next life. Jesus taught us to believe. What would it take for us to believe in Christ? What if he were crucified and arose from the dead? A. N. Wilson, the British scholar came back to Christ at a Palm Sunday service. Something about the way the people faced death with hope drew him back to his childhood faith. The simple gospel invited him to believe and he did. We see the power of the resurrection in the transformation of people from spiritual death to spiritual life. All around us are Christians who have come to life in Christ. Do you believe?
