Hear God’s Warning to Repent Before it’s Too Late

On the afternoon of March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan. The fourth-largest earthquake ever recorded, it was so powerful that it knocked the earth off its axis by seven inches and sped up the earth’s rotation by about two milliseconds. It also generated a massive tsunami that fanned out in all directions at speeds initially topping 400 miles per hour, racing to find a place to release its energy.

Japan was the closest, some 45 miles to the west. When the wave hit Japan, it was, in some places, more than 100 feet high. It ruthlessly sought out every nook and cranny, sweeping away everything in its path and rising, rising inexorably to fill the mountains and valleys. When the wave was finally spent, more than 20,000 people had lost their lives, and hundreds of thousands more had been displaced. It was the most expensive natural disaster in history and caused, among other things, a catastrophic meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear reactor.

But it was not the first time such a thing had happened. No, based on its unique geography and location, Japan is a natural target for tsunamis, with hundreds hitting the island over the past 1,300 years. As a result, dotted all along the coast of Japan are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of “tsunami stones,” some of which have been in place for 600 years. These carved stone pillars, planted in the ground and standing anywhere from two to ten feet tall, tell of disasters from the past. Some contain warnings in the starkest possible terms: “Do not build below this point.” “If an earthquake comes, beware of tsunamis.” “Choose life over possessions and valuables.”

In March 2011, most of the people and villages that heeded those warnings survived. But those that did not generally perished. With memories fading over time, the urgency dissipating with each successive generation, and real estate down by the water looking really attractive and convenient, many chose to ignore the warnings literally written in stone for all to see. They perished because they did not listen to the warning.

This week and last week, we’ve been in a section of Luke’s Gospel focusing on money. Last week, we were confronted with the choice to serve either God or money. This week, we come to one of the most famous stories in the Gospel: the story of the rich man and Lazarus. It’s unique not only because of its vivid, memorable characters and its portrayal of the corrupting power of wealth, but also because it gives us a rare glimpse into what life might be like after we die. But more importantly—far more importantly—the story serves as a stark warning to everyone who reads it.

On one level, the passage is about money and wealth. On another level, it warns us of the danger of not listening to warnings. It’s a warning about warnings! Like the people of Japan, we have been warned, but will we listen?

This leads us to the big idea of today’s passage: Hear God’s warning to repent before it’s too late. Hear God’s warning to repent before it’s too late, while you still have time, before disaster strikes. How do we do that?
1. Follow the money.
2. Deal with hell.
3. Heed the Word of God.
Follow the Money

Go back with me for a moment to almost the very beginning of Luke’s Gospel, to Luke 3, when we first met John the Baptist. John is the forerunner of Jesus. He is the wild man out in the desert, preparing the way for Jesus’ coming by calling people to repent. Hear what John says to the people who come out to see him:

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:7–9

John is calling people to repent! And saying, “I’m a child of Abraham,” isn’t going to help. They must bear fruits in keeping with repentance. That means your actions matter, not your words. Well, what actions in particular? The crowds have the same question:

And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise…” Luke 3:10–11

Notice that John the Baptist answers the question about repentance in terms of how you use your money and possessions. In fact, he gives three examples, and they all have to do with money, greed, and contentment! What’s the point? If you want to get to the heart of repentance, sometimes it’s easiest to just follow the money.

Luke 16 reinforces this idea. Let’s see how our passage unpacks it.

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.” Luke 16:19

The details might not speak to us immediately, but this guy is filthy rich. “Clothed in purple” isn’t just a fashion choice. It means he’s in the top 0.01 percent because purple dye could only be obtained from a certain type of sea snail. It was extremely rare and difficult to procure. As a result, anything purple was among the most expensive clothing available back then. As one commentator puts it, it was “the enviable insignia of the ruling class.”

For us, this is like the person who has a different Rolex for each day of the week, lives in a Main Line mansion, or drives a Lamborghini. He’s that kind of loaded. And he lets everybody know it.

Meanwhile, “And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.” Luke 16:20–21 ESV

In contrast to the rich man, we are introduced to Lazarus, who is dirt poor. Notice that we get the poor man’s name, Lazarus, but not the rich man’s. That’s already a hint that things are going to end very differently from how they began.

This guy is dirt poor. He doesn’t have two pennies to rub together. He’s hungry, and he’s also sick. He has these open sores, with dogs licking them. And if you’re thinking of adorable Labradoodles, think again. No, these are half-wild, dirty, dangerous street dogs.

But then:

“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.” Luke 16:22–23 ESV

They both die, but their outcomes are very different. When the poor man dies, notice that it doesn’t say he was buried. He was probably tossed into a ditch somewhere. But then he is escorted by angels to Abraham’s side. He’s a true child of Abraham, and he is brought to a place of honor and comfort.

Meanwhile, the rich man dies and is buried, which is the honorable thing in the world’s eyes. But that’s where the honor ends, because he goes to Hades, where he is in torment. More on that in a few minutes. Just notice that their positions are reversed. What is this showing us?

There’s a phrase in our legal system called “depraved indifference to human life.” Have you heard this? Depending on the circumstances, it can be a crime. It describes being so callous—so hard-hearted—that you cause the death of another person. And that’s basically what happens here. The rich man didn’t actively cause the poor man’s death, but he completely neglected the need that was right in front of him.

The rich man is an extreme example of what John the Baptist was warning people about back in Luke 3. He’s actually not malicious. For all we know, he might have been a great guy to hang out with. But he completely ignores the need that is right in front of him.

What does this mean? Here’s what it means: Follow the money. When it comes to heeding God’s warning to repent, follow the money. And this isn’t just for people who are super rich; it’s true for all of us. In other words, how you use—or don’t use—your money can be a huge clue to the state of your heart. It’s a massive indicator of where you stand before God.

Why is that? Because money—or the things money can buy—is generally one of the greatest substitutes for God in our lives. That’s why Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34 ESV

To understand the true state of your heart, follow the money. Look carefully at how you think about it and, more importantly, how you use it.

How do we apply this? Actually, first I want to mention three ways not to apply this passage. I think there are some misunderstandings about what this passage might be teaching, and I want to address them here. So here are three principles for how not to apply this passage.

1. Wealth is not the problem. Wealth per se is not the problem. How do we know that? Easy: Abraham—the one who welcomes Lazarus in the afterlife—was rich! Just one example: Genesis 13:2 says, “Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.” In the same way, there are passages in the New Testament, such as 1 Timothy 6:17–19, that speak directly to Christians who are rich. Wealth is not the problem; the reasons you might accumulate or hold on to money are. So wealth per se is not the problem.

2. Giving money away is not the solution. I want to address a certain type of person: someone here who may not be a Christian, who is hearing this and thinking, “Okay, I see where this is going. Let me just make sure I give plenty of money away to help the poor and so forth, and I should be good in the afterlife.”

That’s not what the passage teaches, because in the Bible, what you do with your money is the fruit of repentance. It’s the fruit—it’s what grows from a heart that is aflame with the glory and goodness of God. It’s the result of a real and growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ, not something that creates or exempts you from that relationship.

Said another way—and I can’t say this clearly enough—you can’t buy your way into heaven. The Apostle Paul says, “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” Giving money away is not the solution.

3. Poverty doesn’t save you. It might be easy to get the impression that Lazarus went to the good place just because he was poor. But we know that Scripture interprets Scripture, and nothing in Scripture indicates that simply being poor is somehow better in God’s sight or can earn you eternal life.

In fact, verse 25 is very important in this regard. Let’s read it carefully:

But Abraham said, “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.” Luke 16:25

Notice what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say, “Lazarus in like manner received bad things, and so he is comforted here.” It doesn’t say that. It simply says, “But now he is comforted here.” There’s no causal connection. His receiving bad things then is not the cause of his receiving good things now.

No, Lazarus was a believer. He was one who trusted in the promises of God and placed his only hope in life and death in God. In other words, he was not just poor in possessions; he was poor in spirit. Being poor in spirit means recognizing your spiritual bankruptcy and trusting in the wealth of God’s grace offered in Christ alone. And Scripture says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

So those are three principles for how not to apply this passage. But how do we apply it? Here are four questions you can ask to help you follow the money and discern the state of your heart.

1. Do your budget and spending habits reflect kingdom priorities? Are you giving generously to kingdom causes, or is your philosophy “me first”—whether you’re spending, saving, or paying for experiences, and then giving from whatever is left over?

2. Does your giving to kingdom causes hurt? Are there things you would like to have but are going without because of your kingdom giving? C. S. Lewis, in his classic Mere Christianity, says it plainly: “There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures exclude them.”

3. Are you relieving the burden of the materially poor through your giving, as you see in the example of Lazarus? Jesus says in Matthew, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Matthew 6:3 ESV

Notice that Jesus says “when,” not “if.” Christians care about the materially poor because we were spiritually poor in God’s eyes, and he gave his only Son for us.

4. Are you willing to alter your plans in order to personally help those who are in need? This is what the rich man would have had to do: stop what he was doing and notice Lazarus so he could help him. If we are never willing to be personally inconvenienced to help someone in genuine need, this might tell us something about the state of our hearts.

Remember, this is not a checklist but more of a gut check. Living this way does not earn us salvation, but how we handle money is often a great indicator of the state of our hearts. Follow the money in your life—in your budget and your family. Follow the money and see what it indicates about the state of your heart. Does the way you use money reflect a heart that is aflame with the glory, grace, and goodness of Jesus Christ?

And to those of you who follow the money and can genuinely say, “While I’m not perfect, I think that, in Christ, by his grace, I am actually living this way, reflecting kingdom priorities and attitudes in my giving,” I just want to say: Well done. Keep going!

Either way, the use of money is a fantastic barometer of the state of our hearts. So the first way to hear God’s warning to repent is to follow the money. But the second way we hear God’s warning is to deal with hell.

Deal with Hell

“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’” Luke 16:22–24 ESV

If you’re wondering, “What is going on here?” let me help. This raises so many questions: Where is this? Why can the two sides talk to each other? And does this describe something real, or is it just a story?

Where is this? The Old Testament speaks of a place called Sheol, or the grave, where the dead go—both the righteous and the unrighteous. For example, Psalm 139, written by King David, says, “If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” Psalm 139:8 ESV

Prior to Christ, all the dead, both righteous and unrighteous, went to Sheol, the place of the dead. But there are (or were) different sections of it. There is the part called Hades, where unbelievers go, like the rich man, and there is another part, sometimes called “Abraham’s side” or “Abraham’s bosom,” where believers go, like Lazarus. Apparently, there was a pit or gulf between them.

So, where is this? This is in the realm of the dead, Sheol, and the two characters are in two very different parts of it.

Why can they talk to each other? This idea of Sheol having two parts explains why the two sides can talk to each other. Both parties are in the same general underworld, but they are in different sections, if you will. There’s a gulf—an unbridgeable one, it turns out—but apparently, that doesn’t preclude all communication.

Does this describe something real, or is it just a story? We should take Scripture at face value. It’s not just a story. HOWEVER, this describes things as they were before Jesus rose from the dead, not afterward. Before Jesus rose from the dead, things were like this. Now, however, this section called “Abraham’s side,” where Lazarus was, is empty, because believers, both before and after the time of Christ, now have access to heaven, the abode of God.

So now, if you die in Christ, you don’t go where righteous Lazarus went; you go directly into the presence of the Lord in Paradise. As Jesus said to the thief on the cross who believed in him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 ESV

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord for believers. And even that isn’t the final state, because there is the coming resurrection and a new heaven and earth. But that’s taking us a bit beyond today’s passage.

Suffice it to say: Luke 16 is referring to the realm of the dead before Christ, where both righteous and unrighteous people would go. Now, after Christ, believers go directly into the presence of the Lord, while unbelievers still go to this place of torment to await final judgment.

But let’s not get so lost in the details that we miss the point. The point is that you need to deal with hell. Hell is real. Hell, or Hades, as today’s passage describes it, is a place of torment. You are totally removed from the comfortable presence of God. It is described in terms of heat and thirst.

Have you ever been really hot or really, really thirsty? I can remember only one time when I was really thirsty. It was on a long hike. I had been hiking along a very narrow ridgeline and had run out of water. I knew I’d be able to get water from springs and rivulets once I was off the ledge, and eventually I did, so it wasn’t that big a deal. This ordeal of thirst lasted maybe the better part of two hours, but all I know is that by the time I reached that water source, all I could think about was water. Nothing else mattered.

Now imagine being so hot, so thirsty, and so tormented that even a fingertip’s worth of water seems like a relief. But you can’t get it. Hell is real, and it’s horrible.

And notice that even in hell, the rich man still doesn’t get it. He’s actually trying to order Lazarus around as if he were his personal servant. He says to Abraham, “Send Lazarus to cool my tongue.” He just assumes that the same pecking order that was in place on earth is still in place in the afterlife.

You see, sin, even this side of eternity, causes you to lose perspective and to see other people as tools to be used, not image-bearers to be served. Where do you see this tendency in yourself?

Deal with hell. It is part of the warning of Scripture, and this warning is here to help us. How do we apply this? It’s really simple.

1. If you are here without Christ, deal with the reality of hell. I know it’s something you’d rather not think about, and you just hope it will go away. But it won’t go away. The reality is that each and every one of us will live forever. We will either live forever in the peace, love, joy, and comfort of the Father, or we will live forever in the torment, anguish, and pain of hell. Uninterrupted, unrelieved, unrelenting.

2. If you’re a Christian, warn others. Don’t let your loved ones go unwarned. As Charles Spurgeon memorably said: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” — Charles Spurgeon

Now, this can seem overwhelming, so let me try to put a finer point on it. Christian, would you do two things? First, think of one name, one person who comes to mind. Not your entire group of friends and family, but just one person. Second, would you commit to taking one next step with them? Invite them to church or to your Citygroup. Invite them out for coffee specifically to explain the way of eternal life in Christ and warn them away from hell. One person, one concrete next step. Would you do that?

Deal with hell. But the reason for the warning about hell is that no one needs to go there. In fact, if you’re hearing me this morning and are getting uncomfortable, that is a good sign. Because you don’t have to go there. You know why? Because Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty. He bore the pains of hell for you. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the rich one who becomes poor so that we who believe in him might become rich. He is the blessed Son of God who becomes a curse for us on the cross so that we might be eternally blessed in him as spiritual children of Abraham.

Turn to him. Repent of your sins—of living for yourself and spending what you have on your own pleasure—and turn to Christ. He will take away your sins and give you the free gift of eternal life.

Hear God’s warning before it’s too late. And notice that there is a time when it will become too late:

“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’” Luke 16:25–26 ESV

None may cross! The chasm is fixed. Deal with hell. Hear the warning before it’s too late. There’s one final way to do this:

Heed the Word of God.

Let’s finish the story:

“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’” Luke 16:27–28

The rich man, still trying to order Lazarus around, tells Abraham to send him to his father’s house to warn his five brothers. Now, this sounds really altruistic and selfless until you realize that your identity in the ancient world was defined by your family. Basically, the rich man is still thinking selfishly here because he doesn’t want his family to end in shame.

This is still true in many cultures today. You see, in our culture—Western culture—we generally look inside ourselves as individuals for meaning and purpose. We think of finding our identity as a solo sport, like tennis. But for many cultures today, and for the world of the Bible back then, identity was more of a team sport, like football. You don’t look in; you look out—at the family. The team—that is, the family—stands or falls together.

And by the way, the gospel confronts both of these approaches. To both the Western person who looks inward and the non-Western person who looks outward for identity, the Bible says, “Do neither.” Instead, look up to God and what he says about you to find your true identity.

But notice Abraham’s response:

“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’” Luke 16:29

He’s saying, “Your brothers should know this already,” and they should. The whole Old Testament makes it clear that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. We should be generous with our possessions as a reflection of our relationship with God. It also teaches us that the righteous shall live by their faith, expressed through their works. It has all been written. They know this already.

But the rich man, apparently thinking this isn’t enough, believes that what his brothers need is a supernatural experience:

“And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:30–31

Have you ever thought this? “I’ll believe in God if he shows himself to me.” “I’ll follow Christ if he proves himself to me.” The funny thing is, sometimes he does this. But not always. And he definitely doesn’t have to.

This exchange is recorded for us, on the one hand, because it is one more place in Luke where Jesus is talking about his own people, who should have known that the Messiah would be coming and who, even when Jesus himself rises from the dead, won’t believe in him—at least, many of them.

But on the other hand, this is a message to everyone who thinks that they don’t have enough information and that they essentially need a miracle in order to believe. Jesus is saying to you, “Listen, I know you think that a miracle will do the trick, but I’m telling you that it won’t. Because the basic problem is hard-heartedness, and even a personal appearance by a dead man won’t be enough to overcome that.” You can always explain it away.

Hear God’s warning before it’s too late by heeding the Word of God. You already have enough information. How do we apply this?

First, and most obviously, heed God’s warning through the Word of God today and repent. Turn away from your life of living for yourself and your own pleasure, and turn toward God in repentance and faith in Jesus. There will be an opportunity to respond in this way in a few minutes as we share the Lord’s Supper together.

Second, I want to speak to the person who has already heard the Word. Maybe you grew up in church. Maybe you heard last week’s sermon about what you treasure and felt convicted, but you haven’t acted on it. Now you’re hearing the same message again this week, and you know in your heart of hearts that you don’t want to listen. Friend, heed the Word of God today. Heed the Word now.

And Christian, perhaps you are stuck in ongoing, unrepentant sin. You can respond to this passage by heeding the Word of God and repenting.

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:9 ESV

The warnings in Scripture are there to wake you up to your true condition and help you turn to Christ. Let today be the day of repentance. Speak to a pastor or a Citygroup leader and come out of the darkness.

Friends, our passage today reminds us that life is short, eternity is long, and today is the day of repentance. And if you are faithfully following Christ and are suffering, like Lazarus, know that a day of comfort is coming. A day is coming when every tear will be wiped away and every sad thing made untrue. If you have sacrificed, if you have set aside good things for yourself and your family in order to serve Christ, know that a day of rich reversal and reward is coming.

And finally, one more time, if you are here without Christ, hear the warning. Repent and believe in Jesus. He who was rich beyond all splendor, all for love’s sake, became poor. He traded a throne for a stable, a crown for a cradle, and ultimately a crown for a cross to bring poor, wretched sinners like you home to God. Call upon him today.