Holy Happiness - Part 15

Let’s be real… sometimes people who have no relationship with God at all, seem perfectly happy.  Things are going their way.  They may be well-off, healthy, have good marriages and kids you could be proud to call your own.  Their life looks great; and it may be.

But the best life soon comes to an end.  And if it ends with that person having no personal relationship with God through Jesus, then their first experience after death and for each moment throughout eternity is one of unimaginable suffering and agony.

How happy do you think they are then?

Jesus told a parable of such a man.  This story gives us just a glimpse into his experience after living a wonderful, “happy” life on earth.  But it is enough for us to know his happiness did not follow him to the other side of the grave.

“There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day.  But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was left at his gate.  He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.  One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side.  The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side.  ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy 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 flame!’  ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.  Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’”  (Luke 16:19-26)

Which one do you think was happier in life?

Which one would you want to be – the wealthy who had the best of everything, or the poor beggar covered with sores and whose belly growled constantly with hunger?

And you see, this is the problem…particularly for us Christians: When we suffer, or don’t experience the kind of life we see other people who are not Christians experiencing, we wonder.  “God, how is this fair?  Why is my life this way?  Hey, God, I’m on your team!  Remember me?  God if you are going to bless them and let them be happy, why not me?”

Sometimes we become discouraged, depressed, even enraged at God.  The result: we let our happiness be negatively impacted by the apparent joy of someone else’s life.

We know we should not do this.  We know it’s not wise; that things aren’t always as they seem and those “happy” people are probably struggling in some ways too.  But we still, so often, look at them and say: “I wish I could be like them.  I wish I could have their life.”

Well look at the rich man in this parable.  Would you really want to be like him?

Notice five truths from this passage.

I.     Both men died.

Everyone does!  But just to be clear, Jesus said it this way:

“One day the poor man died…The rich man also died.” (vs. 22)

Obvious fact, but don’t miss its significance.  You too will die one day and go to one of two possible destinations.  Everyone – rich or poor – will experience this.

II.    Death is not the end.

“One day the poor man died and was carried away…to Abraham’s side.  The rich man [was] in torment in Hades.”  (vs. 22-23a)

After their earthly, physical death, both men were alive and aware someplace else.

The rich man recognized Abraham (who he had never seen) and Lazarus (who presumably he had seen).  He was aware of his agony and suffering.  He was acutely aware of his thirst.

‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy 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 flame!’  (vs. 24)

There is an afterlife – an eternity for each of us.  A place where we have awareness and recognition…of ourselves, of others, and of our condition.

III.  “Blessings” in this life do not transfer into eternity.

Or you could say: One’s station in this life does not gain one any privilege in the next!

‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.  (vs. 25)

The man who had all the blessings life could offer – who apparently was a man of means, privilege and prestige – was experiencing only… What?

Answer:  AGONY!  He was in absolute torment!

He whose every whim was met in this life, was denied his only request.  In eternity he had no status, no standing, no influence and no importance at all.

Please notice: it is not that his status, standing, influence and importance were reduced.  Rather, in eternity, they do not exist!

Notice another interesting tidbit in the parable.  It’s a small detail.  You may have missed it.

If only one of the two men was going to get a first-class ticket to the afterlife, which one do you think it would be?  Obviously, the rich man.  Most of us expect the wealthy to travel first-class, and the poor to travel coach (if at all).

But when Lazarus died, he was “carried away by the angels” (vs. 22).  But the rich man “died and was buried” (vs. 22c). 

Transportation by angels, versus being dumped into Hades!  Truly, one’s station in this life does not gain one any privilege in the next!

IV.  Once you arrive – you’re not leaving!

“Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.”  (vs. 26)

The Eagles sang the song: Hotel California.  Lots of people like the song; but it’s about drug use.  The famous line in the lyrics is: “You can go anytime you like, but you can never leave!”

This is certainly true of the afterlife.  You get one ticket.  It’s one-way, and non-transferable.  And once you arrive, there is no going back and no changing sides.

A great chasm has been placed between the place of peace, comfort and joy, and the place of flame, agony and suffering!  There is NO way, ever, to cross this chasm.  Even Abraham said it was impossible.

Pick your destination carefully while you can.  This is a trip you will take.  You will arrive somewhere upon your earthly, physical death.  And you will remain there for eternity.

So we can summarize this passage with this final truth…

IV.  Happiness here does not determine happiness there.

Whatever happiness people experience in this life is over the moment they die.

If they were happy, but lived without a personal relationship with God through Jesus in this life, then their happy days are over forever.  If they had such a relationship, then whether they experienced happiness in this life or not, they certainly will now!  And for all of eternity!

So don’t be discouraged or depressed, and certainly don’t become enraged at God when you see those who want nothing to do with Him seemingly experiencing wonderful, happy lives.  Know, whatever happiness they experience is limited to this life.

Instead, in this life find your joy in Christ.  Do so and you will experience lasting happiness forever!