30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 13 The rich man is screaming his warning to us
📖 Luke 16:19-31
16May2020 - *The rich man is screaming his warning to us* - _Luke 16:19-21_ - Bible reading: _Revelation 20:11-12_
_Luke 16:23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom._
The rich man is screaming his warning to us. His life on earth was full of self-centeredness but now he is in the place of torment. He is warning us to be full of God’s righteousness as we are judged by Him.
The Lord has done His part to pave the way for man’s reconciliation with Him. He is longing for us to be reconciled with Him by receiving by faith and through His grace, the penalty of our death that He has paid and to also receive His forgiveness of our sin that He has given us by the shedding of His blood on the cross.
Now that we have received His righteousness by faith, through appropriating His death, burial and resurrection, He now expects us to no more live self-centred lives but serve Him with fear and trembling. _Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, *work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;* (13) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure._
This is the warning of the rich man for we will be judged by God. _Revelation 20:13-14 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. (14) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death._ Let us note that each one will be judged according to his works, which are works of righteousness that come out of faith in God. (Loving God and loving our neighbour going hand in hand).
God will also judge the motives of man’s heart, whether we were living a self-centred life or were we seeking Him. _(I Corinthians 4:5 / Romans 2:16)_
_Revelation 19:20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever._
The three other persons who will be in this place of torment are the beast, the false prophet and the devil. What a terrible place. This is why the rich man is screaming out his warning to us. Will we heed him? Or will we continue on in our self-centred lives, assuming and presuming that since Jesus has done it all for me by his death on the cross, His burial and His resurrection, I need not commit to live out His righteousness?
_Revelation 20:11-12 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire._
We must seek first His kingdom and also His righteousness. Seeking His kingdom is to be submitted to His authority over us and His righteousness is what we receive and express from our lives, by faith in Him. Our righteousness is never our own for our own righteousness is like filthy rags before God.
*Thought to ponder*
_Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account._