From the “Bible Facts” Newspaper Column, February 2013
"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" (Luke 16:26)
In Luke 16 Jesus pulled back the curtain to the next world and told of what awaited two men after death. One poor man named Lazarus went to a place of comfort where Abraham also was.
His rich neighbour died and went to the fire and torment of hell. From there he begged Abraham to send Lazarus over and give him relief by a little water on his tongue. There are some important lessons in Abraham’s answer quoted above about a “great gulf fixed”.
1. Every man has one of two possible destinations after this life.
2. These places are worlds apart with absolutely no movement between them.
3. Our present state of wealth and well being is of little importance compared with these matters of eternity. Lazarus was a beggar but prepared for the next life. The rich man failed to.
4. The two men set forth the basic two-fold classification of human beings in this world. There is a great gulf spiritually between people now, depending on their relationship to Jesus Christ.
5. Since all are sinners and equally lost to begin with, Lazarus must have experienced God’s salvation to become part of the family of God before he died. The rich man did not.
6. The great gulf spiritually, then, can be crossed now. It is only “fixed” after death. Now is the time of opportunity. Once in hell or in heaven, there will be no change in estate for all eternity.
7. Death comes to the saved and unsaved. What matters is what comes after.
We today have no excuse. God has warned us of the danger facing us all by way of these two examples. He has also made a provision for us so we can be ready to die with confidence as to where we are going like Lazarus.
The way of salvation is simple. God’s Son has paid the price for our sins by His death on the cross. Those who turn from sin and receive the resurrected Lord and Saviour are made His children and promised a home in heaven.