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ease. This sample case represents the h ab it of th e rich man’s life. He was thoughtlessly indifferent to the claims of others and had no sense of stew ard ship. He, is therefo re held up to con demnation. The second con trast is seen in the death and burial of each. Death comes alike to both. The beggar was probably buried in the po tte r’s field in a nameless grave. “R attle his bones over the stones, h e’s only a pauper whom nobody owns.” The rich man may have had a costly funeral and his body may have been laid in a massive mausoleum. The th ird contrast is seen in Hades. The Savior follows th e ir spirits to the underworld. Lazarus is seen a t a celestial ban quet table a t Abraham ’s rig h t hand. The rich man is seen in hapless to r ment. The ensuing conversation 'shows th a t th ere is no passing to and fro be tween th e lost and saved. When the once rich man begins to plead for his five brothers, we discover th a t his de sign was ra th e r to vindicate himself th an to save them . He virtually de clares th a t if h e had been properly warned, he would not be where he is. Abraham ’s reply proves th a t th e means of grace accorded to every soul are ample if properly appreciated and righ tly used, to secure its salvation. Every man has ligh t enough to do such duty as God requires. The preaching of a ghost would not avail to save those who tu rn a deaf ear to Gospel appeals and pay no atten tion to th e w ritten Word. No rich man is con demned because of his riches, and no poor man is saved because of his poverty. Poverty is not a v irtu e bu t a m is fortune. There is as much wickedness among th e poor as among th e rich. It is not w hat a man has bu t w hat a man is, th a t counts. Poverty tests character
(4) No mansion had been provided for Dives in heaven, so he h ad to tak e up his residence w ith demons. (5) If we have Christ, we have all things. P eter and John had no money, b u t they had something fa r better. ( 6 ) Moses and th e prophets are suf ficient evidence fo r any man. (7) Lazarus w anted crumbs here. Dives wanted a drop of w ater there. W hat is your want? PERTINENT QUESTIONS (1) W ill riches be found w anting in th e day of w rath? (Psa. 52:6, 7) (2) If heaven is your home, is it worth while to tie yourself to earth ly riches? (Matt. 6:19, 20) (3 ) If riches bring no rest, what profit is th ere in profiteering? (Mark 8:36 ) (4 ) Is the world’s measure of men, possession? And is God’s measure, posi tion ? (Eph. 1:13, 14) (5 ) A re eternal destinies deter m ined here? (Psa. 1) ( 6 ) Does Jesus certify to th e iden tity of individuals in th e next world? (Matt. 1:28) (7) A re memory and an accusing conscience active in th e next world? (Luke 13:28, 29; Matt. 25:41-46) ( 8 ) Does Jesus testify to th e verity of the Old Testam ent Scriptures? (Luke 24:27, 44) This n arrativ e is not parabolic and imaginary. It is historic and authentic. The Savior lifts th e veil th a t hangs before th e invisible world and reveals an actual . occur- DEVOTIONAIi rence. The story COMMENT consists of a series D r. P . W . F a rr. of contrasts w ith a practical application from them . The first con trast is a pampered rich man in a house of selfish luxury. Over against him is a m iser able beggar wasted w ith w ant and dis
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