Sermon Central
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The Peril Of Procrastination
Contributed by Ron Hicks on Jun 15, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: HAVE YOU EVER AWOKE TO FIND THAT EVERYONE ELSE IN THE HOUSE WAS GONE? NO BIG DEAL? IT WILL BE ONE OF THESE DAYS.
THE PERIL OF PROCRASTINATION
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 hell, 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 fixed, 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 father’s house, 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.’"
NIV
As we look at this story in the Bible, we must realize that it is an aweful yet true story. It is aweful because one man had so much suffering in this life and the other man had so much suffering in the next life. It is aweful because one man ended up in hell.
As you may have noticed, I also believe that one’s senses are going to be very keen in hell.
v23 Sight
v24 Taste
v24 Touch-feeling
v25 Hear
v24 Emotions- remorseful
And though smelling is not mentioned, I believe the stench is going to be horendus.
We know this story is true because Jesus told it.
This aweful story is summarized in two words: TOO LATE! About the only real difference between these two men is two words: TOO LATE!
The rich man in hell did everything that the poor man did on earth; however he did them simply TOO LATE!
He awoke to the fact of eternity too late (vs.22-23)
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 hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
NIV
He had to die
Death is a sure appointment
Heb 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Death is real.
Death is a peeping tom; he gazes into your window just waiting for the opportunity to snatch your soul.
Experts say that 3 people die every second. If this fact is true, then 180 people die every minute, 10,800 people die every hour, 259,200 people die every day, and 94,608,000 people die every year. Of the six billion people on earth today, experts also sayt that 2/3 of them have never heard the Gospel one time. If these percentages hold true, then 63, 103,536 people die every year without ever hearing the Gospel one time!
Not everyone that has heard the Gospel one time, accepts the Gospel. Therefore, many more people die every year without hearing the Gospel!
But I want you to know that death does not end it all.
This should encourage those who are saved.
This should sound a warning to those who are lost.
He lifted up his eyes too late (vs. 23)
23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
NIV
Evidently he was too busy in life to stop and look up.
He was too involved with earth to look up to heaven.
He was too absorbed with the Now to think of the Here-after.
The average man breathes God’s free air, eats God’s food, drinks God’s water, and never turns a face to God in appreciation.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THE SECOND STEP TO BECOMING A REPROBATE IS TO BE UNGRATEFUL. (Romans 1:21)
Rom 1:21
