Will You Trust Him Today?

See Luke 16:19-31. The rich man in this passage was poor in grace, while the poor beggar was rich in faith. The rich man’s name is not mentioned in the Bible. In the book of God’s remembrance, his name is not found. Lazarus is a name written in heaven, see Luke 10:20.

Lazarus was poor materially but rich in faith, this explains the reason why his spirit was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom after his death. The poor man’s burial was not mentioned, but the burial of the rich man, who was poor in grace, was mentioned; sadly enough he opened his eyes in hell.

At the point of death, no man has power to retain his spirit and there is no return from that world. At the point of death, a man’s spirit departs to either a place of joy and peace called HEAVEN (Abraham is in Heaven, see Matthew 8:11) or to the other place of torment and misery called HELL.

In hell the rich man was in perpetual torment. In his tormented state, he was aware of the happy state of the once despised beggar.

The rich man had trusted in his descent from Abraham for acceptance with God, see Matthew 3:9. The rich man now discovers how vain this trust was. Abraham might be his father according to the flesh, but the true children of Abraham are they who walk in the faith of Abraham; see Romans 4:12. FRIEND, do you have parents who are church goers, who brought you into the church for dedication, infant baptism, confirmation and registered your name as a church member and now you are claiming to be a Christian on the account of the above ceremonies or rituals? Like the rich man, you may suddenly discover that you never new Jesus Christ. Don’t you know that one cannot become a Christian from birth? More so the mere fact that your name is in a church register does not make you a Christian. Names of Christians are written in the book of life kept in Heaven; see Revelation 20:12,15. Is your name in the book of life or in the book of records?

Accept the Lord Jesus now before it is too late. That rich man pleaded for mercy but it was too late. See Luke 16:25: Abraham said, “Son, remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou art tormented”. Please note that verse 25 is not teaching that prosperity in this world will be punished and suffering in this world rewarded in the next. The rich man did not go to hell because he was a rich man and Lazarus did not go to heaven because he was a poor man. The rich man lived for himself and had no need for God. He trusted his fleshly descent and could not put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who is grace personified, no wonder he was very poor in grace and went to HELL. Lazarus on the other hand had need for God and trusted Jesus Christ for salvation and went to Heaven.

That rich man was barred from God’s Presence forever because he died in his sin. The wages of sin is still death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord; see Romans 6:23.

You have a choice in this matter; do you choose eternal life or eternal death? But knowing the terror of the Lord I persuade you to choose eternal life.

You can have eternal life by doing the following: First of all, acknowledge the fact that you are a wretched sinner, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Secondly, repent of your sins, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” Acts 3:19.

Thirdly, confess your sins to the Lord, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9), “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Fourthly, you must forsake your sins, “let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7.

After forsaking your sins, you must believe in the only begotten Son of God – Jesus Christ. I urge you to believe him today. The Bible says in Acts 16:31, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. God means exactly what he says in this verse. If a person will believe on the Lord Jesus, he will be saved. That is the clear promise of scripture. The word “believe” means to trust, to depend on, to rely on. To believe in Christ means you are completely trusting in Him and HIM ONLY to take you to Heaven when you die or when rapture occurs. Will you trust Him today?

If you have decided to trust Him, pray this short prayer and mean it in your heart:- Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God who died for my sins on the cross of Calvary. I admit that I am a sinner and plead for mercy and forgiveness. Give me grace to become your son/daughter and remove my name from the books of death and write it in the book of life. Thank you dear Lord for saving me. In Jesus saving name I pray. Amen.