This sermon was preached for World Communion at 1st Presbyterian, Oct. 2nd, 2022, and for the first time, hosting St. John’s Episcopal Church and choir, along with African American churches in Salem such as the historic Mt. Pisgah AME and Soul Saving Church. This as a testimony to unity in Spirit and prayer to which Christ calls the family of God. Worship was followed by a fellowship Luncheon hosted at St. John’s.
Luke 16:19-31
A wealthy banker once told a friend about a disturbing dream. He dreamed he died, and instead of being at Abraham’s side, he was in the other place. He’d been there only a short time when a phone rings, and he answers.
“Who is this?” “This is your friend, Ron.” “Where are you, Ron?” “I’m in Paradise. So, how are things where you are?” “Well, it’s hot, but all I have to do is shovel some coal now and again. By the way, Ron, how is it up there?” Ron replies, “It’s work, work, work. Take in the stars and moon every night. Hang the sun and push clouds around all day.” “Why so much work?” the man asks. “Well,” said Ron, “we are short on help!”
A little levity for a parable that is quite sad. The sadness is in hearing Abraham admit that there are some people who will find themselves on the wrong side of God. They are the ones who openly ignore the needy right outside their doors, while enjoying life with little regard for God’s Word revealed through the scriptures of Moses and the Prophets.
Presbyterian preachers of old would have taken this scripture and graphically described the agony of the flames while pleading for sinners to come to Jesus so that they may rest in the bosom of Abraham in heaven. Unfortunately, while some repented, others did not listen.
Today, new church movements are seeking ways to attract people by being relevant. They may employ the latest technology and create theatric productions in the hope of attracting this generation, but even so, there is limited success. The numbers of those who will not listen to God’s Word is on the rise.
Jesus makes the case within this parable that God’s Word is sufficient to judge us, and if it doesn’t change hearts, then no program or production will make a difference – not even if someone were to rise from the dead to warn them. What is so sad is that someone did!
For Jesus’ hearers, including the sneering Pharisees, Abraham was the father of their faith that was to be built on Moses and the Prophets. But the Abraham of the parable did not have the whole truth. He believed that this chasm between his side and hell’s side could not be crossed by anyone. And even if someone could, he was skeptical that it would convince those who will not listen. Oddly enough, it is the rich man who is the optimist. He is the one who believes it possible that if someone rises from the dead, Abraham’s children will repent.
If Abraham is right, then God help us! But if the rich man is right, then God has helped us! As a point of interest, the name “Lazarus” means “God will help.”
God helped us when Jesus did what Abraham of the parable said could not be done. Jesus crossed the uncrossable chasm with the cross! We confess it most every week: “He descended into hell; the third day, he rose again from the dead.” And now nothing has the power to separate us from the love of God.
So, if Christ crossed the uncrossable chasm to convince us to listen and repent, then any such chasm is now of our own making. What can we do but pray that the Word is offered faithfully and heard, and hearts are changed.
A pastor wrote this about today’s lesson, entitled, Heaven and Hell.
Fires of long ago remind the listener of the hell of indifference.
But Heaven’s door waits for bridges to be built across the chasm.
Eternity’s lingering cry that “no one would listen to a voice of resurrection” waits for a reply from those who now claim the name of Christ.
Christ is alive, but so is poor Lazarus, for Hell is reflected in the struggler’s face.
Pass not by the wounded one, O traveler.
We are Heaven’s children, not Hell’s puppets.
There is no chasm the risen Christ cannot cross, nothing to hold us back but ourselves. So, this is our reply: Heaven wants more children to join our family – now and forever!