This is the Day

Sermon September 28, 2025 Luke 16:19-31

This is the Day

Reverend Fred Okello

I thought that money and wealth were everything when I was a kid. When I was a kid, I thought the world was made up of two groups: the rich and the poor. And even when I heard about the end of the world, especially how Jehovah’s Witnesses talked about it back then, I thought that rich people had a way out. I assumed they could just get on their planes and leave the disaster behind, leaving the underprivileged behind.

That early understanding was wrong, of course. No amount of money, no private aircraft, no luxury, or no golden parachute can keep anyone from appearing in front of God’s judgment bench. But what I didn’t know then and what I see so plainly now is that the difference between the rich and the poor is not only about money. It’s about how people get along, and those differences frequently make our world harsher, colder, and less caring.

This is what Jesus talks about in Luke 16:19–31. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus shows us two individuals whose lifestyles were very different. And when death arrived, the truth came out.

Jesus talks about two completely different lives:

The Rich Man: He wore purple and fine linen, which are signs of riches and grandeur. He didn’t have to worry about anything as he ate. He lived a life of comfort and self-indulgence. But in eternity, no one ever says his name again. He becomes unknown.

Lazarus: His name means “God helps.” He was put at the rich man’s gate, covered with sores and starving, hoping for scraps. His friends were dogs that licked his wounds. He had nothing, but in God’s eyes, he had everything because his name was remembered in heaven.

We often recall the names of famous people, but we forget the names of the impoverished people we see every day. But in the long run, it might be the other way around. God remembers those who have been forgotten.

Our worth to God doesn’t depend on how rich, powerful, or well-known we are. It depends on whether we have had faith in God and showed kindness to others.

Angels took Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom, which was a place of comfort and dignity. Heaven welcomes the poor man who doesn’t have a funeral procession.

But in pain, the rich man wants a drop of water and begs for help. The guy who had everything now has nothing.

Abraham says that a big gap has been plugged in the Chasm, and no one can cross it. The choices we make in this world affect our everlasting fate.

Picture a door that is locked. You can’t open it from either side once it’s closed. That is what eternity is like: once the door closes, you can’t get through.

Life on earth gives us the chance to choose Christ. The result can’t be modified once eternity starts.

The wealthy man begs that Lazarus be sent back to warn his siblings. Abraham says, “Let them listen to Moses and the Prophets.”

People who harden their hearts wouldn’t believe even if someone came back to life. And even after Jesus rose, many people still didn’t believe in Him.

People say, “If God would only show me a sign, I would believe.” But they don’t pay attention to the Bible they already have, the sermons they already hear, or the love of Christ they see every day. The issue is not insufficient evidence; it is a deficiency of willingness to comply.

We have God’s Word as a lesson. The issue isn’t knowledge; it’s obedience. Are we going to live just as hearers, or as doers too?

The big question this morning: Who is our Lazarus? Who do we know who is hurt, ignored, or in need? You know, Love for others shows faith. What we give is what really matters in life. This is the day to do what really matters!

Let us pray!

Dear Lord,

We thank You for Your Word, which reminds us that eternity is real. Please forgive us for the times we walked by the Lazarus at our gate. Please forgive us for going after things that won’t last. Lord, help us see those who need help. Let us hear and heed Your Word. And help us open our hearts to Your Son, Jesus Christ, who crossed the vast divide to give us life. May us live today with an eye on eternity, and may our lives show Your mercy, compassion, and truth. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.