Thursday 21 November 2019

As you have done

As you have done
In the book of Obadiah we read,
“The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your head.” Obadiah 1:15niv.
We need to consider this verse of scripture carefully. God will one day judge all people and nations. God speaking through the prophet Obadiah makes it clear “as you have done, it will be done to you....”
Jesus tells this story,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”Luke 16:19-31
The rich man in this story could have had compassion on Lazarus but he didn’t. He showed a complete lack of compassion. And while he got away with not helping Lazarus in this world. He payed the price in the next.
This rich man in his lifetime showed the love of God was not within him. Thus on the day he died he was punished for his lack of compassion and understanding.
Lazarus on the other hand was comforted.
This serves as a warning to all people be they pastors, politicians, evangelist, the average men and women. All people.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
What Jesus is saying could be interpreted this way.
If you treat people badly. Then you are saying you want to be treated badly. If you treat people without compassion. Then you want to be treated without compassion.
Please think about it.

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