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.–Luke 16:26
Every day is filled with decisions; and the further we are into the decision-making process, the more difficult it is to reverse them. Take buying your first home. It’s much easier to change your mind prior to signing the papers than after the home is yours. At some point, we’re committed to our decisions and cannot easily undo our choices, if at all.
In telling us about Lazarus and the rich man, Jesus indicated that on earth we have the opportunity of making spiritual decisions that will transform our lives and determine our eternal destination. But at the moment of death, that opportunity is gone forever. In hell, the rich man earnestly desired to cross over to be with Abraham and Lazarus in God’s heaven, but there was “a great gulf fixed,” and he was unable to do so.
The Bible says that today is the day of salvation; now is the time to be saved (2 Corinthians 6:2). When we pause to think of the limitless duration of eternity, how important to choose Jesus now and to follow Him with all our hearts!
Could we but for one moment get a glimpse into the mighty depths of His love, our hearts would spring out to meet His will, and embrace it as our richest treasure.
Hannah Whitall Smith (From Turning Point)
