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Tuesday, July 22,
2008
Dead Man Talking
Luke 16:19-21 There was a certain rich
man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously
every day: (20) And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was
laid at his gate, full of sores, (21) And desiring to be fed with the
crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and
licked his sores. (KJV)
Did you ever wonder what kind of
interview some well known famous people would give after their death, even
some big name preachers who looked so good on the outside, but inwardly
they were empty? Do you think the message they would deliver would be the
same as the one they gave here on earth, or do you think they would like to
have another crack at it, maybe this time with some truth added to the mix?
The above example reminds me of many of today’s so called churches and even
politicians, who live high off the hog and the backs of other people then
leave them with crumbs, or in the case of the preachers, crummy doctrines
of man. Oh they look so good on the outward, but inwardly they are empty
and dead, so instead of feeding the flock of God they end up fleecing it.
Luke 16:22-24 And it came to pass, that
the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the
rich man also died, and was buried; (23) And in hell he lift up his eyes,
being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24)
And he 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. (KJV)
So being rich and famous isn’t all that it’s
cracked up to be is it? If famous news organizations could go and interview
people after their death I am sure it would be quite an exclusive
interview, let alone a change in the message they used to deliver. But then
that is not going to happen; the enemy isn’t going to expose himself or the
consequences because that would get the people’s attention pointed in the
direction of the truth. So for the believers in Christ, we have the word of
God to rely on, and it is vital that we get to know this word so we don’t
end up in a hell of a predicament.
James 2:1-5 My brethren, have not the
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
(2) For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly
apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (3) And ye have
respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou
here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here
under my footstool: (4) Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are
become judges of evil thoughts? (5) Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not
God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom
which he hath promised to them that love him? (KJV)
Just because you are not rich and famous
in the outward doesn’t mean you can’t be rich on the inside does it? Nor
does it mean you are doing anything wrong if your focus and attention is
more on eternal things and not on the temporal things. Talk about idiotic,
have you ever noticed some of these big name ministries on TV that do their
telethons and offer more perks and privileges to the people that can give
the most and basically discard all others, including some that may be poor?
Does that sound like something our Lord approves of, especially when He has
had His people write letters to the Church warning and forbidding these
abominations? Yet with this in mind, how do godly people still get duped
and support this junk; you know like if you don’t take a stand with the
Lord then you will fall for anything, or another way of putting it is a
fool and his money are soon parted.
Luke 16:25-26 But Abraham said, Son,
remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (26) And
beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that
they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to
us, that would come from thence. (KJV)
Do you recall what the root of all evil
is? As we see in the above verses a love for God was drowned out by a love
of money; so what may have started out as a servant to the people ended up
worshipping and serving mammon instead, the end result was a place where
one can’t buy their way out of.
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other
better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every
man also on the things of others. (KJV)
Are you looking out for others, your
brethren in Christ, or are you looking to make another score using others
for your own advantage sake? There will be consequences, not only for those
that initiate these practices but also for those that support them in their
folly.
Luke 16:26-31 And beside all this,
between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would
pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come
from thence. (27) Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou
wouldest send him to my father's house: (28) For I have five brethren; that
he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (29)
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them. (30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from
the dead, they will repent. (31) And he said unto him, If they hear not
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose
from the dead. (KJV)
You know someone has risen from the dead;
in fact He is the author and finisher of our faith who gave us the word of
God so that we could avoid the pitfall we see in the above verses. Have you
given ear to the word of God today, or are you following some deadbeat that
is more concerned with their things and not the things that edify? While
many think that they need to go witnessing to others in order for them to
be saved, the truth is they need to hear how to present the word of God
effectively so that it points the people more toward the Lord and not man
and his own creations of what he claims is a church.
Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God
hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart
man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation. (11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed. (KJV)
There is a man who was dead and now
lives, who is seated at the right hand of our Father, ready to deliver a
personal message of faith to any and all that would call upon His name,
that being Jesus Christ. Are you taking the time to hear His message so
that you can be delivered from destruction, or are you following some dead
man talking but not really walking?
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