Today's Passage - Luke 16:19-26

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 16:19-26   'There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.  The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.  In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.'   This is a parable that makes us ponder deeply.  First, it's a contract between rich and poor.  The rich man had a lot of money, for he dressed well and ate lavishly, but he didn't have any compassion or kindness.  When Lazarus was at his doorstep, he only got to eat the leftover from the rich man.  The Jewish law actually clearly says that when wheat was harvested, some grains should be left the field for the poor to collect.  This rich man, however, didn't understand the principles of God's Kingdom, for he only cared about himself but not others.  In real life, he never obeyed God's will to live the compassion and grace of God's Kingdom.  On the contrary, the beggar Lazarus was poor and covered with sores, so from men's view he had nothing.  Nevertheless, he depended on God from his heart, because he often cried out to God and looked up to God.  He might have been poor, but his heart was filled with assurance of peace and joy, because his hope was in God.   Second, this is a contract between life before and after death.  Most people never think about life after death when they are alive, they'll just enjoy life while they can; but the reality is that the time we'll spend in our eternal life is far longer than the short time we're spending on earth.  We don't realize when we are young, but when we reach a certain age we will start thinking about how we will enter our life in eternity.  Will we be like the beggar who will enjoy comfort in the Lord's arms, or will we be like the rich man who will be tormenting in the flame of hell?  In Matthew 7:13-14, the Lord said: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  Which path are you on?  May God open our eyes, to see the value of eternity, and to be willing to live by the Lord's commands in our present life. Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you are truly the God who is graceful and merciful.  May you open our eyes, to recognize the value of the eternal life, so that we not only see our current environment, but we also ponder about the eternity.  May the Lord give us wisdom to choose your way or the way of the world in our daily life.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!