Death is always a difficult issue to
accept, especially when it is someone that is close to us like family members or childhood
friends. It is even more tragic when that someone dies without salvation. A few weeks ago,
I received word that a childhood friend of mine had died (for the sake of privacy we will
call him Roger). He was thirty-three years old. Such a young age for the candle of his
life to be extinguished. We reflect on this with fear and disbelief. More than that, we
face the chilling reality that life is precious. While its' span is unpromising, death has
a way of reiterating the certainty of our own demise. That as sure as we are born, we will
die. Knowing this, it is incumbent upon us to choose Christ while we are living.
Unfortunately, Roger died without every electing the peace and promise accompanied with
God's salvation. That night, a despairing thought struck me like lightning, tonight is the
first night he will spend in Hell. The first night of an eternity separated from God's
peace. For Roger, a demise of everlasting damnation engulfs him. Without hope, without
relief . . . no more chances. Imagine, being eternally separated from God's grace. In Luke
16: 23-26, Jesus speaks of the void and torment experienced by the rich man, while
comparing it to the peace enjoyed by Lazarus.
| St Luke 16: |
| 23. And in hell he
lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his
bosom. |
| 24. And 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 thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus
evil things: but now he is comforted, and though art tormented. |
| 26. And beside all
this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from
hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence." |
This story made me
think of the many opportunities for salvation Roger turned down. I liken these
opportunities to a restaurant that has a huge street-side window in front. As you peer
inside, you see a long banquet table with plenty of beautifully carved high-backed chairs,
ornate decorations and flawlessly starched white linen. The chairs are marked reserved
with a persons name stenciled on the card denoting their reserved place. A servant is
placing entrées, steamed vegetables, buttery breads and deserts of every sort imaginable.
By the look of this grand spread, you would think a feast was being prepared for some
visiting king, president or diplomat. In short, you get the impression that someone
special is expected for dinner. Despite a sign above the window that read "Free to
all who are hungry - Come as you are," Roger never chose to enter. We will never know
his reason for not entering. Maybe he thought a place like that was "too rich for his
blood." If only he would have gone inside, he would have discovered that the
restaurant catered to clientele such as he, the hungry. Sure, he often passed and
sometimes stopped to look inside, especially when he was hungry. The smell of this
succulent feast swelled well past the walls within. Often times, the scent of the banquet
could be picked up for blocks. Interestingly, the smell had a drawing effect, as good
cooking does, especially to hungry people. He as well as others would find themselves
drawn to the window yet never opt to go inside or at least inquire out of curiosity. On
many occasions, Roger would see people going inside, despite their invitations to
accompany them, he would say no and walk away. Once he passed and saw the servant placing
reserved name cards at a chair. As he looked, the servant motioned for him to come inside
and held up a reserved name card with Roger's name on it. The servant then mouthed the
words "this one is for you Roger, please come inside, its free." As the servant
began to leave the table and come toward the door, Roger turned and walked away. It
appears that Roger was always preoccupied with matters that at the time, seemed more
pressing. Curious but not serious, he walked away from the chance of a lifetime. Could it
be that at the point of decision, something distracted Roger, urging him to consider it
tomorrow. This is a message for we who are living. There is a banquet being prepared, and
we are all invited to attend. The Holy Sprit is mobilizing Christians to go out into the
highways and hedges and compel mankind to come in.
| Revelation 19: |
| 9 says "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the
Lamb." |
Life is too short, and the destiny of our
eternity too precious for us to shirk the invitation of salvation. How sad it is for Roger
to still be able to see that grand feasting table. Yet a void now exist which denies him
access from entering. From his vantage point, gone is the sign that read Free to all who
are hungry - Come as you are. It has been replace with a sign that simply reads
"Closed." How anguishing the feeling he must be experiencing as he witnesses the
servant, who with tears in his eyes, slowly remove Roger's reserved seating card because
now he will certainly not to attend. No more chances. If you are reading this story, you
still have a chance, choose Christ today.
Remember for you the sign still reads "Free to all who are hungry - Come as you are." |
