Redeemer Lutheran Church
1084 W. Bullard Ave.
Fresno, CA   93711
Phone: (559) 439-8500
Fax: (559) 439-8585
office@redeemerfresno.com

The Reverend Clarence Eisberg
Phone: (209) 725-9082
Cell:  (209) 631-3108
pastor@redeemerfresno.com

Worship ~ 8:30 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.
Family Ministries ~ 10:00 a.m.
Holy Communion ~ 2nd & 4th Sundays
Connecting People to Jesus
and to One Another!
www.lcms.org









The Reverend
Clarence Eisberg

September 30, 2007

“When Life on Earth Ends – What’s Next?”

In our gospel lesson today, Jesus pulls back the curtain to help us catch a glimpse of life
Jesus’ story is the self-righteous Pharisees (Luke 16:14).  The Pharisees were “lovers of
money” and sought to justify their own behavior, but God knows their hearts
(Luke 16:14-15).  
One of the Bible studies I enjoy doing is to take the High School youth group to the
cemetery.  While there, they look at the names, dates, and epitaphs on the tombstones.  
We then talk about the “dash” and study the promises of God and the resurrection of
Jesus.

Perhaps you have heard the story about the message one man left on his tombstone.  It
said, “Consider, young man, as you walk by, as you are now, so once was I.  As I am now,
you soon shall be, so prepare, young man to follow me.”  That  sounded very profound,
but one fellow took a knife and scratched a response that read, “To follow you is not my
intent; until I know which way you went!”  There are only two directions you can go after
death.   

Act I
Jesus introduces us to a rich man, one who is extremely wealthy.  He lives in a home with
a gate to keep others away from him.  His clothes were made of the finest purple.  The
process to get purple dye from shell fish was very expensive.  The color was usually
reserved for royalty.  He had the very best.

His linen was produced from the flax that grew along the Nile River.  It was white, very soft,
and kept him cool in the warm weather.  It was very expensive.

In contrast to the rich man, Lazarus was in need of everything.  He had no home.  His
health was failing.  He was an outcast.  His only food is what was thrown out.  His only
companions were the stray dogs, who came and licked his oozing sores that covered his
body.  The rich man ignored his plight.

Rev. George Truett was a well known Texas preacher.  He was invited to dinner in the
home of a very wealthy oil man.  After the meal, the host led him to a place where they
could get a good view of the surrounding area.  Pointing to the oil wells dotting the
landscape, he boasted, “twenty-five years ago I had nothing; now as far as you can see, it’
s all mine.”  Looking in the opposite direction at the sprawling fields of grain, he said “That’
s all mine.”  Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, “They are all mine.”  
Then pointing to the west and beautiful forests, he exclaimed, “That’s all mine.”

The man paused and expected Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success.  Truett,
however, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other
simply said, “How much to you have in that direction?”

Notice that Jesus does not condemn the rich man for the money he had but for the
compassion he did not have.  He was guilty for a long time and failed to believe what his
O.T. scriptures had said about the two choices beyond this earthly life.  The rich man was
condemned for his sin of omission, for what had not been doing.  Blessed by God he
failed to give God credit.  He failed to care with acts of kindness and charity.  His money
bought lots of things but there are things that money can not buy.

Act II
A contrast in death.
While there was an obvious contrast in how the rich man and Lazarus lived, there was
also a difference in their deaths.  When Lazarus died, no one offered a proper burial or
even a memorial service.  He was simply carried by angels to heaven.  

When the rich man died, the family provided a fantastic funeral.  The family, as was the
custom, hired professional mourners, purchased costly spices and used an elaborate
tomb for burial.  No doubt the whole town turned out for the funeral and listened to the
countless eulogies offered.  But he learned too late …… in hell, where he was in torment.  
He called to Abraham; he begged for just a drop of water to cool his tongue.  Imagine the
agony, the fire, an eternity without hope.

Jesus uses the words of Abraham to explain that it was absolutely impossible for Lazarus
to come and help him now.  There is a great chasm between heaven and hell that is fixed
so that no one can cross over to the other side.  The lost and redeemed are separated
forever.  There are no exit signs in hell.  It is a place reserved for Satan, his demons and
all who reject Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.  It is a place of everlasting
punishment.

I remember a long time ago, attending a seminar with the famous researcher and author,
Dr. Elizabeth Kuebler-Ross.  Her research and interview with terminally ill patients and
families gave us the book “Death & Dying”  During the question and answer period,
someone asks, “You have told us about all the patients you interviewed over the years
and you stated “They all saw or experienced good or light beyond death.”  Did any of your
research interview patients who saw evil or torment beyond death?  Her answer was
interesting, “Yes, but we discounted those because they were not real.”

In other words, Dr. Kuebler-Ross rejected the words of God in the bible because she had
no personal faith in Jesus, his death on the cross and his resurrection.  Therefore she
created her own illusion of life beyond death.  She was an intellectual fool.

Act III
The rich man tries one more plea.  He begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his family
members.  He did not want his brothers to join him in hell.  He now knows the ultimate
need for repentance and faith in God verses self.  He wanted Lazarus to return – listen to
his request --- “Father Abraham, if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.”

Jesus makes God’s message plain.  Abraham said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the
prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”!  In other
words, they have everything they need.  They have their Bibles.  They can listen to
believers explain the way to Heaven.

A recent poll reveals that 89% of Americans believe in Heaven while only 73% believe in
hell.  But when asked where the think they will spend eternity, 3 out of 4 think they will go
to Heaven.  At cocktail parties, you will often hear a dime store philosopher sagely say,
“Heaven and Hell are shaped by what you make out of life.”  OR, “I believe that heaven
and hell are right here on earth.”  Amazingly almost everybody I’ve ever seen, swallows
this balderdash and baloney and nod their heads in agreement.  I pray you are not one of
those folks.

Both Lazarus and the rich man survived their earthly funerals.  Eternity awaits.

Listen to the words of Paul to the Christian church in Galatia.  “All who rely upon
observing the law, (the commandments) are under a curse, for it is written 'Cursed is
everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.'  Clearly
no one is justified before God by the Law.”  
Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by hanging on the cross.  For “God
forgave us all our sins, he canceled the written code with its regulations, that stood
opposed to us.  He took it away, nailing it to the cross.”  (Col. 2:14)

In a recent interview with Fidel Castro, (World 3/31/01) he was asked if he spends time
pondering his own death.  Here’s how he answered that question:  “I have never thought
much about that because I don’t attach much importance to what happens after I die.”  
That sounds like the rich man in our gospel lesson.

Paul wrote:  “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who have fallen
asleep in the Lord, or grieve like the rest of humanity who have no hope.  We believe that
Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave.”  I Thess. 4:16  “By faith we have peace
with God through Jesus Christ” for there is no other name given under heaven by which
we can be saved and experience eternal life in heaven.  Yes, I know there is a hell
because Jesus says so and God’s scriptures don’t lie.  Yes, there is a heaven and God
has provided us a way to arrive there safely.

God has done everything necessary to open the doors to heaven for you.  His creation is
his handiwork.  He places believers near you to encourage you.  He places believers near
those who are spiritually lost and searching.  God has placed an enormous stop sign on
the road to hell and the sign is in the shape of a cross.  God does not and has not offered
a Plan B – which humans can invent.  The road to heaven is prepared by the blood of
Christ.  Heaven is a free gift if … you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.