Where Will You Spend Eternity? Know Jesus Today

Luke 16 brings eternity right into the present moment. The text begins with a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day, while Lazarus lies at his gate covered in sores and longing for scraps. The rich man knows Lazarus is there. Lazarus is not hidden from him, and his need is not outside the rich man’s world.

The time comes for both men to die. Lazarus is carried by angels to Abraham’s side, while the rich man is buried and finds himself in hell, in torment. The picture turns everything upside down. The man who had comfort every day now begs for one drop of water from the finger of the poor, broken man he once saw at his own gate.

The great chasm in Luke 16 shows that eternity is not a place for fixing what was ignored in life. Abraham’s words make clear that no one can cross from one side to the other. The rich man’s desperation then turns toward his brothers. His cry is not merely for relief but for someone to warn them, because hell, heaven, the spirit realm, and the destination of the soul are all very real.

The rich man’s request for someone to rise from the dead meets a serious answer. Moses and the prophets already speak. God has already made His truth known. The text says that a heart unwilling to hear God’s Word will not be convinced even by a person rising from the dead. Jesus Christ is the truth God has given, and His resurrection leaves no excuse for treating eternity as unreal.

The contrast between a full life and a saved life presses hard. A person may climb mountains, travel the world, pour into family, serve a community, and leave behind beautiful memories, yet still need a real, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. Good deeds, a rich life, and a good reputation cannot carry the weight of eternity apart from Christ.

Jesus calls people to know where they are going now, today. Salvation rests on calling upon His name, repenting of sin, believing that He died and rose again, and receiving the Holy Spirit. Christ alone gives the guarantee of heaven, not anything a person has done. The reality of eternity also gives believers boldness to ask loved ones, children, neighbors, and friends whether they know Jesus, because that is the one thing that truly holds weight.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. A rich life cannot save [58:44] The rich man had comfort, luxury, and every outward sign of a good life, but none of it prepared his soul for eternity. A full calendar, a strong body, generous service, and meaningful memories are not the same as knowing Christ. Jesus must be more than a background thought in a person’s life. [58:44]
• 2. The time comes for everyone [48:37] Death is not distant just because life feels active, beautiful, or successful. The time came for Lazarus, the rich man, and every person who has ever lived. Eternity makes the question of relationship with Jesus urgent, not someday, but today. [48:37]
• 3. Eternity cannot be changed later [51:35] The great chasm is fixed after death. The rich man’s agony shows that regret cannot cross that distance, and no second chance can be demanded from eternity. God’s mercy is offered now, while His voice can still be heard and answered. [51:35]
• 4. Jesus gives the true guarantee [53:37] Salvation does not come through being a good person or doing enough good things. Jesus saves those who repent, believe in His death and resurrection, and call on His name. The Holy Spirit gives believers peace because their future rests on what Christ has done. [53:37]
• 5. Love speaks boldly about Jesus [58:06] Concern for children, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends should reach deeper than concern for their temporary life. No person can save another, but every believer can ask the honest question: “Do you have a relationship with Jesus?” Boldness becomes love when eternity is truly believed.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [40:21] - God’s Word Is Full of Life
• [41:33] - A Celebration of Life and a Hard Question
• [42:27] - A Real Relationship With Jesus
• [43:20] - Remembering Chris’ Full Life
• [44:56] - Where Was Jesus in the Room?
• [46:51] - The Rich Man and Lazarus
• [48:37] - The Time Came for Both Men
• [49:13] - The Rich Man in Torment
• [51:35] - The Great Chasm Is Fixed
• [52:13] - The Warning for His Brothers
• [53:25] - Know Where You Are Going
• [58:06] - Boldly Ask Others About Jesus
• [59:30] - Prayer and the God of the Living

Bible Reading

Luke 16:19–31

19–21 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.” [47:28]

22–23 “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.” [48:30]

24–26 “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’” [51:35]

27–31 “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” [52:40]

Romans 10:9

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” [53:48]

Acts 4:12

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” [58:23]

Observation questions

1. What details in Luke 16:19–21 show the sharp difference between the rich man’s daily life and Lazarus’s daily life?
2. What does the passage specifically show that the rich man knew about Lazarus, both before and after death? [48:17]
3. After the rich man realizes he cannot leave his place of torment, what new request does he make, and what does this reveal about his concern for his brothers?
4. What sources of truth does Abraham say the rich man’s brothers already have, and what does he say about someone rising from the dead? [52:40]

Interpretation questions

1. The rich man had comfort, wealth, and a full life, yet he was unprepared for eternity. What does this passage show about the difference between having a rich life and having saving faith in Christ? [58:44]
2. Why does the “great chasm” matter so much in understanding the urgency of responding to God during this life rather than putting it off? [52:02]
3. Abraham says that people who will not listen to God’s Word will not necessarily be persuaded even by a resurrection. What does this suggest about the condition of a person’s heart when they continually demand more proof before trusting God?
4. Romans 10:9 and Acts 4:12 place salvation in Jesus alone. How do these verses correct the idea that good works, service, family devotion, or a good reputation can guarantee heaven? [54:03]

Application questions

1. It is possible to fill life with meaningful work, travel, family, service, and good memories while leaving Jesus in the background. What parts of life can most easily become substitutes for a real, personal relationship with Christ? [56:11]
2. Christ alone saves, and salvation rests on His death and resurrection rather than personal goodness. Is there a place where confidence has quietly shifted toward being a “good person” instead of trusting Jesus? [54:20]
3. The time came for Lazarus and the rich man, and it will come for every person. How does remembering the reality of death and eternity change the way priorities should be set this week? [49:04]
4. God’s mercy is offered now, before the chasm is fixed. Is there an area of repentance, obedience, forgiveness, or surrender that needs to be brought honestly to Jesus today? [56:23]
5. The rich man wanted his brothers to be warned. Who among family members, friends, neighbors, or coworkers may need loving and honest encouragement to consider their relationship with Jesus? [58:06]
6. No believer can save another person, but love can speak boldly and graciously about Jesus. What might it look like to ask someone, “Do you have a relationship with Jesus?” in a way that is prayerful, caring, and sincere? [58:34]