The AFTERLIFE - PART I ~ PRECIOUS VICTOR AKAH

Today, we'll be looking at some very important lessons from the story told by JESUS about The Rich Man and Lazarus. These lessons are what the Holy Spirit revealed as I was having my personal bible study. First, let's read the story carefully.

Luke 16:19-31

[19]“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.

[20]At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores

[21]and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

[22]“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

[23]In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

[24]So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

[25]“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

[26]And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

[27]“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,

[28]for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

[29]“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

[30]“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

[31]“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

LESSONS:

1. Jesus Himself narrated the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus, and since Jesus shared the story, it is the absolute truth with no lies mixed with it. It was a real incident that happened because Jesus was in heaven and had knowledge of everything happening there and in hell before He came to the physical world (earth) to die for the salvation of mankind. And in this story, Jesus tried His best to communicate to us the reality of the existence of heaven and hell. Please, never let anyone deceive you with any nonsense philosophy or theology about hell and heaven being a figment of man's imagination, that is, not having real existence and not being an everlasting abode. The truth Jesus has unveiled to us in this story is that hell exists and heaven exists and they're both eternal abodes. From the story, He also relayed to us the unchanging truth that people go to heaven or hell the moment they close their eyes in death and leave planet earth. Please ensure that you have fulfilled THE MAJOR REQUIREMENT to be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven the day you die. Read this article to find out what the major requirement is.

2. The amount of luxury, affluence, global recognition and wealth you have enjoyed on earth notwithstanding, if you die without fulfilling THE MAJOR REQUIREMENT as the rich man failed to do, you'll spend eternity in hell. This will not be your portion in Jesus' Name. Please make sure you have fulfilled THE MAJOR REQUIREMENT to enter heaven; don't depend on your riches, wealth and affluence to get you access into heaven. God is no respecter of persons. The rich man went straight to hell despite the riches he had. Don't let this happen to you. Also, a poor fellow who has fulfilled THE MAJOR REQUIREMENT to enter heaven will be allowed to enter heaven, their poverty notwithstanding.

3. When a righteous man (that is, a man who has met THE MAJOR REQUIREMENT to enter heaven) dies, the angels of God come to carry them to heaven like angels came and carried Lazarus to Abraham's side. But when a sinner (someone who has not met THE MAJOR REQUIREMENT to enter heaven) dies, no angels come to carry them - they go straight to hell fire (Vs 22) Don't you want to be carried by angels to heaven? I'm sure you do. So, have you met THE MAJOR REQUIREMENT yet?

4. In hell, there is torment, there is agony and there is a great thirst. Jesus said the rich man was in torment in hell; he was in agony and he desperately needed water to quench his thirst. This is not to make your afraid, but to warn you of the great danger of going to hell and how important it is for you to try all your best to avoid spending eternity there. (Vs 23-24) Jesus said we should make every effort to enter through the narrow door leading to the kingdom of heaven (Luke 13:24). We better listen to Him since He loves us and wants nothing but the best for us, which is why He gave up His life for us to live and not die eternally. So when He tells us to "MAKE EVERY EFFORT" we must indeed make every effort to enter heaven. To go to hell, people don't need to do anything except to reject Jesus and His offer of salvation. But to go to heaven, after accepting Jesus and confessing Him as Lord and Savior, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling; there is work to do because the devil does not want us to be in heaven while he is suffering in hell alone with his demons. So, the battle, the fight, is real and we must be ready to continuously resist all his attempts to take us with him to hell. Always remember this and put in your very best to see that you do not miss heaven.

God bless you.

The lessons continues. Part two comes up next week. Expect it and endeavor to come back here to read it. Stay blessed.