By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The assistant pastor of God’s Greater Grace General Assembly Intl Incorporated, Benin City, Mr. Osazee Aibangbee, has said the most talked about Lazarus in the bible did not go to heaven because he was poor rather because he lived a God fearing life.
He said this while speaking on the theme “The Journey of no return” during the Sunday church service in Benin.
Pastor Aibangbee while taking his bible reading from the book of Luke 16:19-31, Luke 13: 24, said as a believer, we must be conscious of the life we live and make an amend while we still have the golden opportunity to do so, noting that, the rich man who failed to extend a helping hand to poor Lazarus sought for a second chance but was not never given.
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
“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. 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. 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.
“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.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
“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 16:19-31.
The cleric who urged believers to be heavenly conscious and earthly useful, reminded them that their lives must reflect and project Christ in all that they do just like the believers in Antioch where the word, Christian was first mentioned.
The servant of God warned further that believers must shun backbiting, gossiping and any behaviours that will cause men to question their identity and bring reproach to the body of Christ.
While lamenting that most christians have lost consciousness of the second coming of Christ by chasing after materialism, said Nicodemus realized that materialism and all the goodies of the world will not guarantee him heaven, that was why he went to Jesus Christ by night to find a lasting solution to his problem, which is, how to enter the kingdom of God.
He further admonished christian faithful to strive to be among those who will walk on the narrow path and not the broad way.
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to”, Luke 13:24.