Sorry, no way!
Well, the actual words of Abraham to the rich man according to NKJV were “between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ Luke 16:26
All that the rich man was looking for was ephemeral comfort. A momentary cooling of the tongue while his whole body was in torment.
A powerful parable yet again by Jesus (Luke 16: 19-31). One that should shake those living a life of luxury with little thought for the have-nots at the roots.
While the Book of Revelations reveals the glory of God and His triumph over the evil one and does a neat SWOT analysis on our condition as the body of Christ, this disturbing parable here opens a window to the events that take place after death.
Disturbing particularly to those with no thought for the morrow. Their attitude is “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Isaiah 22:13. This approach to life gets a sharp focus when there is some one in the vicinity who longs for just a little of your wasted food. “But that beggar named Lazarus is at the gate and he is full of sores…………………the dogs came and licked his sores”. Luke 16:20
Certainly not a pretty sight. One we’d rather not see. Disgusting in fact. Best to close the front door, draw the window curtains and carry on partying as though there was nothing wrong with the world. But The New Testament quotes Jesus as saying in Luke 18:25 that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God“. Nothing wrong with being rich of course if you are Rockefeller or Rattan Tata, with a heart of gold – a rare combination. The rich, then had better watch out for it is so easy to carry on the good life. The poor however cling to their Maker in pitiful cry as they have little else to go by.
There comes a time when we must contend with the question raised by Jeremiah ( 4:31) “But what will you do in the end?”
The Bible tells us quite clearly that there is one of two places we can go to when we die; heaven or hell (hades), as we see in this parable. The choice is ours!
“22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom”. Luke 16
Even a scoundrel can be accorded a grand church funeral replete with garlands, wreathes and lofty tributes. It appears this was the case with the rich man; the beggar was cleared up by the Municipality. The following passage tells us about the stark turnaround in the after life.
24 “Then he (the rich man) 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.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
It is not for nothing that the Bible says: “He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given”. Prov.19:7
This parable ends with a must-hear message to those still living on earth. Abraham dismisses the notion that folks on earth would repent if one goes there from the dead to preach the gospel. He says,
‘‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”
Moses and the prophets are there in the Bible. Listen to the gospel while yet there is time. Yes, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near” Isaiah 55:6
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor.6:2