2-1-22
L
Laz 2
(Reminder: I’m doing an A to Z devotional blog.)
Last week we looked at Lazarus being raised from the dead. This week, we’re looking at another Lazarus, and we’ll call him Laz-2.
His story is found in Luke 16:19-31. We discover Laz-2 was a beggar. To set the scene, imagine a mansion inside a gated entryway. Scripture doesn’t give us the rich man’s name, but because we’re dealing with “L” in today’s devotion, let’s call him Larry.
Laz-2 would sit outside the gate leading into Larry’s expansive driveway and humbly beg. Because wealthy Larry owned this mansion, it stands to reason that his rich friends often visited. Laz-2 probably got a few good donations once-in-a-while. But I imagine it truly was once-in-a-while.
Laz-2 was in pitiful shape. He obviously didn’t have the money to see a physician, and his body was covered with sores that wouldn’t heal. Dogs would gather around him licking the pus oozing from his open sores.
Larry knew Laz-2 was outside his gateway, and he could have easily blessed him with leftovers and a blanket. But he refused.
Let’s push the fast-forward button. Laz-2 died and went to heaven. Larry also died and went to hell. Scripture tells us he was in torment while Laz-2 was well, comforted and fulfilled.
In his agony, Larry begged God to allow Laz-2 to bring him some relief—just a bit of water. The answer was no. This would be his eternal state and his forever dwelling place.
Larry then begged that Laz-2 be allowed to warn Larry’s family so they wouldn’t end up in such agony. The answer? ‘Hey, if they wouldn’t listen to all the prophets, pastors, Scripture and the Holy Spirit I’ve sent, they wouldn’t even listen to a dead man bought back to life.”
That’s serious stuff.
It shows how hardened an unbeliever’s heart can become.
God passionately chases us—longing for us to let Him save us, care for us, and provide for us eternally. BUT . . . He won’t force us to be caught. He leaves that decision up to us.
And the longer we put off this decision, the harder our heart becomes. Again, God passionately chases us . . . but you won’t always have an opportunity to respond.
Those who continually reject Him don’t have a lifetime to keep their option open. At some point it closes—and your heart is hardened against Him. When you continually reject Christ, you run the risk of being given over to
your sins.
This is why it’s so
very
extremely
incredibly
essential
that we pray for our loved ones who aren’t walking with Christ.
Loaves is another L word in the Bible. And what an event that was! I can image the page inside Jesus’ cookbook:
Recipe: Fish Sandwiches for Thousands
Ingredients:
• 5 small loaves of bread
• 2 fish
Directions:
• Pray
• Serve
Another L word? Lumberjack. It’s not in the Bible—probably because the word hadn’t been invented yet. But I kind of think Samson was a lumberjack.
Back to Laz 2 and Larry: We only have two choices for eternity: heaven and hell.
And yes, this is the most important decision you’ll ever make.
Choose wisely.
