Remember 1

Luke 16:27-31

The other day at church we had a new curtain hung over a small window. The curtain rod was not secure, however, as it was the wrong type of rod. Still, the curtain was functioning as long as no one touched it. Someone came up to admire the new curtain and I warned them, “Don’t touch it.” But as the words were coming out of my mouth the woman touched the curtain and it fell.

Today’s passage is part of a longer story Jesus tells of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man dies and goes to hell, while the poor man receives the comfort of heaven. What does the rich man request? What is Abraham’s response? What reason does the rich man offer for the request (verse 30)? What is the final decree?

We don’t always pay attention to the many warnings and advice we may receive in life. Sometimes we have to go through the experience before the lesson sinks in, and sometimes that is much too late.

A poorly hung curtain that must be picked up off the floor is no big deal in our lives. But the story Jesus tells is of a more important issue. He is talking about our eternal reward and eternal condemnation, the results of our actions in life.

Those we know who have passed on from this life to the next are aware of what awaits us in the great beyond. They could, if they were able, tell us very earnestly how we should be living our lives. Yet, it is not to be.

We do, however, have someone who is able to tell us about how we should be living our lives so that we might be spared eternal punishment, and how we should keep the focus of our attitudes and actions on the goodness we are called to live out. Jesus is the one who has shown us how it is we should be living.

Yet there are so many who still continue to disregard the good teachings of the Lord. There are still those who will not approach their spiritual lives with the commitment and heartfelt attitudes we are called to have. They will not listen to the teachings of the Bible and will not even listen to the one who has been raised from the dead.

As we think of those we have lost over the years, the great saints who have gone before us, let us remember the teachings and examples they have shown. Let us also commit ourselves to obeying the instructions of the greatest teacher, Jesus Christ.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What will help you remember the teachings of Jesus?