WEDNESDAY - August 20, 2014 WARNING !!! 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. And besides all this, 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 16:25-26 The world is FULL of warning labels. Everything you see today seems to have some kind of warning or caution that goes along with it. Personally, I have seen: Fast food coffee cup lids that say: CAUTION: CONTENTS MAY BE HOT (Its coffee... cmon). Vending machines that say: Never rock or tilt. Machine can fall over and cause serious injury or death (Really?). Washing machines that say: DO NOT put any person in this washer (Are you kidding me???). And my favorite... A prescription bottle for a dog that says: Warning: May cause DROWSINESS. Use care when operating a car (Honey, Im sorry but Fido cant drive you to school today...) Thanks to those of little common sense - the majority of things in our possession come with a set of warnings - even for the most remedial things. Some warnings and labels even provide us with “what if” consequences of what may happen if we do “choose” to misuse. And I guess for the most part… this is a good thing. This leads me to think about salvation and the choice we mortal humans have relating to it. And I think about how so many things around us (billboards, movies, people) warn and tell others about the consequences of choosing things of this world over God. And when we include The Bible into this equation the “WARNING” cannot get much clearer. Look at Lazarus. Not the friend that Jesus rose from the dead. I’m talking about “The Rich Man and Lazarus” (Luke 16:19-31). At a point Lazarus (a beggar) and the rich man die. Because of his choices, Lazarus was carried to heaven. But because of his choices, the rich man was in torment. He was in hell. And after communication with Abraham, the rich man begged for mercy (to no avail). He then begged to allow Lazarus go to his five brothers and warn them, so that they would not fall and come into the same place of torment, that he was in. Of course, and again because of his choices, Abraham declines the rich man’s plea. No second chances – period… Scripture is loaded with stories about salvation. Stories that include decisions to choose right from wrong. Decisions and opportunities to choose (or not to choose) Jesus... “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 It comes down to choices. The rich man chose too late. I thank God for (some) billboards, movies, people, and especially The Bible. We learn (and are warned), that our eternal salvation comes down do a choice… Have you chosen Jesus? If not, what warning are you waiting for? WARNING: Exposure to the SON prevents burning. Choose to believe in Him – so you too can have everlasting life. God Bless.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 18:35:12 +0000