Luke 16:19-23 (NKJV) “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen andfared sumptuously every day.But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,desiring to be fed withthe crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels toAbraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
These verses tell us how the rich man and Lazarus, who was a beggar, lived their lives on earth. Both died, but they went to different parts of the depth of the earth.
One of the greatest fears of man is the fear of death because many are uncertain about their destination after death, especially when one is on the death bed. The Bible tells us of two kinds of death: physical death and spiritual death. Our physical body is perishable, a temporary home while we are on earth. However, our spirit man is the eternal being. Although we won’t be able to decide when we will die physically, we can choose our destination—to be in heaven or in hell.
As Christians, we should have no fear of death or judgement because we know that we are hidden in Christ. God has caused Jesus to be sin for us so that we can have His righteousness. We are accepted in the Beloved because His blood has purchased our redemption. We are only to call on the name of Jesus to receive salvation. We can stand on the promise that the moment we have taken our last breath, angels will carry and escort us to the presence of God immediately, and at the judgement seat of Christ, we will be given rewards based on how we have served Him faithfully with our gifts, talents and resources, but for those who have not accepted Jesus, they will be separated and thrown into the lake of fire at the Great White Throne if their names are not be found in the Book of Life.
All of us will die once and depart either to heaven or hell. Nobody can change the destination of the departed spirit with rituals or prayers. There are only two destinations, either heaven or hell for all who are alive now to decide.Therefore, let us take every opportunity to share the Gospel with our loved ones, friends and colleagues because we only live once.
1 John 4:17-18 (NKJV) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Sermon Series: The Make-Up of Man (Part 1)
我们只活一次
路加福音16：19-23 “有一个财主，穿着紫色袍和细麻布衣服，天天奢华宴乐。 20 又有一个讨饭的名叫拉撒路，浑身生疮，被人放在财主门口， 21 要得财主桌子上掉下来的零碎充饥，并且狗来舔他的疮。 22 后来那讨饭的死了，被天使带去放在亚伯拉罕的怀里。财主也死了，并且埋葬了。 23 他在阴间受痛苦，举目远远地望见亚伯拉罕，又望见拉撒路在他怀里
这段经文告诉我们：有个财主和一个讨饭的拉撒路，他俩在世上怎样过完了一生。这俩都死了，但是却去到了地下不同的地方。
世人最大的恐惧之一是对死亡的恐惧，因为很多人不确定他们死后去哪里，尤其是临终的时候。圣经告诉我们：死亡有两种：身体的死亡与灵的死亡。人的身体是会朽坏的，是人在世间暂时的居所。可是人的灵是永远存在的。虽然我们不能决定身体几时死，但我们却能选择自己的灵死后去哪里——天堂或者地狱。
作为基督徒，我们不该惧怕死亡或者死后的审判。因为知道我们是藏在基督里。神使耶稣代替我们成为罪，好让我们在祂里面成为神的义。我们在爱子里被接纳是因为他的宝血替我们还了赎金。我们只消呼求耶稣的名就能领受救恩。当我们吐出最后一口气息时，我们能够站立在应许之上，天使将即刻带着我们，把我们护送进入上帝的同在里，来到基督审判的座前。我们将按着我们在世时如何信实地以自己的恩赐和天分以及资源事奉上帝来领取奖赏。至于那些还没有接受耶稣的人们，因为在生命册上找不到他们的名字，他们将被分开在另一处，然后在白色大宝座前被扔进火湖里。
人人必有一死，死后不是上天堂就是下地狱。没有人能够靠着仪式或祷告去改变亡魂的去处。去处只有两个：天堂或者地狱，这是所有还活着的人当下要作的抉择。所以，让我们把握每个机会与家人们，朋友们以及同事们分享福音，因为我们此生只有一次。
约翰一书4：17-18这样，爱在我们里面得以完全，我们就可以在审判的日子坦然无惧；因为他如何，我们在这世上也如何。 18 爱里没有惧怕，爱既完全，就把惧怕除去，因为惧怕里含着刑罚；惧怕的人在爱里未得完全。
讲章系列：人的组成（第一部分）
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