Many people in the world today have high expectations of going to heaven when this life is over. This is good except when they try to deceive themselves into believing they will be saved while not living in accordance with God’s divine word. This is, of course, a tragedy!

 

Jesus gave the perfect example of “the tragedy of being lost” in Luke 16:19-31. This is the account of the rich man and Lazarus. There are numerous lessons found in this passage, but we want to look at a few which pertain to our subject. Notice some of these tragedies which took place in and following the death of the rich man.

 

First, we see a tragedy in the separation of the rich man from all his possessions. He apparently believed that wealth made one a better man than did poverty. Also, he was apparently unwilling to help others who were in need, such as Lazarus. Lazarus had to beg to sustain his life and received only the comfort of the dogs which licked his sores. Without his riches the rich man was helpless. His life had been built upon his wealth, and now it was gone.

 

There was also the separation of the rich man and his family. Death not only separates one from all physical possessions, but also from all family ties. The separation from one’s family is tragic. Notice, though the rich man would have liked to have been reunited with his family, but he didn’t want them in the place where he currently found himself, hell (hades). In verses 27-28 he pleads with Abraham, “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” The torment, felt by the rich man, was very real. Four times in verses 23-28 either Abraham or the rich man mention his being “tormented” or “in torments.” Yes, the torment of hell (hades) was very real to the rich man, and very tragic!

 

But, the greatest tragedy of all was his separation from God. This separation left him without hope and without the blessings which God promised to the faithful. When one dies separated from God, it is for eternity. Notice verse 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 hence.”  This separation is from all that is good and holy. In this place of torment one will find himself in the company of the most wicked people who have ever lived. In Revelation 21:8 we are told, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” There is certainly no worse place one can be than in hell for all eternity. How tragic!

 

Another tragic lesson which can be learned from this account is others may be influenced by us to go to the same place. The rich man became extremely concerned about his brethren, but his concern came too late. Experiencing the torment of the flames, the rich man was alarmed at the thought of his five brothers who were destined for the same end. He prayed that they might be warned not to come to this place; but, Abraham told him, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them” (vs. 29). He then added, that if they would not hear Moses and the prophets (the Scriptures), they would not believe even though one arose from the dead to warn them. Such a tragedy! If the rich man had been faithful to God while he lived on earth, he could have possibly influenced his brothers to do the same.

 

Finally, we learn from Jesus the lesson that no one has to be lost. Every person, every day of his life, chooses where he will be in eternity. Many people try to blame God or somebody else for their conduct, but the only person to blame is one’s self. Jesus has offered the promise of eternal life to all who will obey and keep His commandments. However, some are still trying to convince themselves that God will give them a “crown of life” without their having complied with His will. It’s not going to happen!

 

Are you following faithfully the will of God, obeying the commandments that He set forth? Are you daily living IN Christ (Galatians 3:27)? Listen to the prayer of the rich man in hell (hades), and learn the lesson of Jesus concerning, “The tragedy of being lost!”