2. The Tale Of Two Men

Luke 16:19-31 tells us the story of a man who paid that price. In fact, it gives us a glimpse at both sides of the hereafter. We’re told about a certain rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen (very expensive threads!) and lived in luxury every day.

Now, here was a guy who was the envy of everyone. If he were living in modern times, he’d have a Beverly Hills address. His 10,000 square-foot house would be surrounded by manicured lawns and shimmering swimming pools. His staff would attend to his every need. In his driveway, you’d find an exquisite Mercedes-Benz— for use only when the Rolls Royce was in the shop, or for commuting back and forth to the Lear Jet.

This man was rich beyond imagination and didn’t mind letting everyone know it.

The text also tells us about another man—a beggar named Lazarus. Quite the opposite of our rich man, Lazarus depended completely upon others for his very survival.

Not only was this man poor, he was sick. His body was covered with open sores that wouldn’t heal. His wounds were too infected too close. Besides, the dogs would pass by each day and lick them. Yes, it’s a disgusting picture—human misery at its worst.

Poor Lazarus couldn’t even beg without help; he had to be laid at the gate of the rich man’s home. This was evidently a place with a good deal of foot traffic. After all, you can’t beg where there are no people. But Lazarus had another agenda.

We’re told that he longed to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. In other words, Lazarus had probably made a contact with a servant from the rich man’s household.

“Listen, when you take out the garbage, pass by me,” he might have said. “Leave the scraps by the gate—they’ll be my dinner.” Now, that is poor!

Eventually, the two men died. Now, don’t miss the significance of that short statement. Both men died. Time has a way of doing that to people—and no one is exempt. The fact is, you are going to die. It doesn’t matter how far you jog or how carefully you balance your diet, you are going to die. It makes no difference how healthy you feel, where you live, how much you earn, or who your doctor happens to be. Sooner or later, your time, like mine, will come.

Looking back to our story, the death of the rich man certainly made the headlines. The passing of such a powerful man must have sent ripples through the entire community. Can you imagine the crowd at his funeral? I can almost picture a line of shiny Cadillacs led by a team of motorcycle officers moving traffic to one side!

Lazarus, on the other hand, was likely dropped into a ditch and covered over with dirt.

Nevertheless, make no mistake—despite the enormous differences between them, both men were equally dead.

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The Urban Alternative (TUA) is a Christian broadcast ministry founded over 30 years ago by Dr. Tony Evans. At TUA, we seek to promote a kingdom agenda philosophy designed to enable people to live all of life underneath the comprehensive rule of God. This is accomplished through a variety of means, including media, resources, clergy ministries and community impact training. The Urban Alternative’s daily radio broadcast airs on over 1,400 radio outlets in America and in over 100 countries worldwide. Find us online at tonyevans.org.

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Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry dedicated to restoring hope and transforming lives through the proclamation and application of God’s Word. For over three decades, Dr. Evans has also served as senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas. He is a prolific author of numerous books, including the best-selling Kingdom Man. His radio program, “The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans,” is heard daily on over 1,400 radio outlets. Dr. Evans is also the chaplain for the Dallas Mavericks and former chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys.

The Urban Alternative | P.O. Box 4000 | Dallas, TX 75208 | 800-800-3222 | TonyEvans.org

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