July 9th

Forever

There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate... But Abraham said [to the rich man](), Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.' Luke 16:19-20,25

We stand at the edge of a vast chasm. Our choice between two extremes will determine our fate, and once we have gone to one side of the chasm, we can never cross to the other.

On one hand we can see the wealth of the world. Splendor and majesty, ease and comfort grow large in our vision and entice our desires. On the other hand we see the suffering of the world. Beggars and the broken, filth and poverty fill our sight and we shudder with revulsion.

Our logical mind tells us that there is no choice to be made here, our decision must be obvious. But Jesus says it is not as plain as that. He says that there is a life beyond what we can see that we must consider.

Looking above the chasm to Him, we ask for help to understand what He means. In answer, He simply pulls open His chest so that we can see His heart. Images of His glory flash in our minds and we realize with awe the vast treasure He possesses in Heaven. But that is not all we can see in His heart, for quickly the vision of Heaven is swallowed up by a vision of indescribable destitution. Immediately we know that we see the wretchedness of mankind, the poverty of those living as broken images of God.

Then we understand the choice set before us. It is the same choice that was once set before Jesus. He saw the splendor of Heaven, yet He also saw the afflictions of mankind. He weighed all that He possessed and accounted that it was worth nothing if He must abandon His creation to keep it.

Our vision of Jesus fades and we find ourselves still standing on the edge of the chasm. Having seen Jesus' heart, we know exactly what to do. We know that all we have is worth nothing if we use it only to comfort ourselves.

So we make our choice. We count all we have, offer it up to Jesus, and continue through life, working to take every opportunity we have to meet the needs we encounter around us.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You that You think I am worth all the treasures of Heaven! Please give me Your heart for the people around me and show me the right way to meet all the needs that I can.

Amen