Friday, July 29, 2011

Rest in Peace

I have never claimed to be the most popular gal when it comes to topics... mostly cuz I am willing to tackle the tough stuff. I have felt this one brewing for over a week.... so here goes nothing...



so recently another rock star passed from this life into eternity, and all over facebook I saw R.I.P Amy.
This really really really bothered me.
People all over the web posting Rest in Peace...

really?

Do YOU think she rests in peace tonight?

or is that just something we do for not telling the world about the Jesus we love and adore and then keep to ourself?

or.....
 Is that something we do because we cant imagine the idea that real people do spend eternity in hell?

Now Hell was NOT created for us. In fact I truly believe God's heart breaks every single time one of the beloved people He created is sent to that most unfathomable horrific place. But reality is: There is an eternity and only 2 paths. heaven or hell. and real people DO spend an eternity there.... and if you dont choose Jesus that IS where you end up. In Hell. for Eternity.

folks. that is forever.

F.O.R.E.V.E.R

and I think this parable bothers me the most about it....

Luke 16:19-31


New King James Version (NKJV)

The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[a] from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

You see there are several things that deeply disturb me about this parable but .... the rich man can see into heaven. He cries out to Lazarus to simply touch his tongue for just a moment of relief... and then to be sent back so that his family members could avoid this torment.... but nowhere in the parable does Lazarus respond. Abraham does. Now I am not a Bible scholar.... but what if people in hell (hades) can see us in heaven and cry out to us... but we cant see them??? But based on this parable, just knowing they are there in torment wishing someone would go back and warn their family, their loved ones... so that they too could rest in peace in the Eternity of heaven.... bothers me deeply. What if that someone is me that they can see. Or You?

So be intentional and share your faith, invite folks to church, go where the people who dont know Jesus are and share the amazing Saviour with them - but dont just assume that everyone rests in peace.

1 comment:

Holly said...

thank you for your honesty and sharing your heart! It is hard to swim upstream these days when so much of what we believe, the TRUTH, is so RARE in society and sadly even amongst the "church". We truly do need to share the TRUTH with everyone even others who call themselves Christians. Because I have a strong feeling that more of those "christians" are headed to hell than we would like to believe.