During the months of early Spring a flash food comes to a small Texas farming community. Livestock, houses, and barns are loosened from their foundations and washed away by the over-bounding currents of furious water. Farm folk are caught upon their roofs as waters suddenly rise and flow. One farmer trapped atop his shed flowing down the current prays to God saying, "I believe in miracles and I know you will save me."
Before the next hour is finished the farmer experiences three incidents. The first, a man on the shore offers to throw him a rope, second, a rescue boat passes by the floating shed and offers help, third, a helicopter flies over and lowers a rescue harness. But each time the farmer refuses. "God will rescue me, I have faith" he states.
But the deluge overcomes him and suddenly he finds himself before his maker. Bewildered, he asks God why he let him perish. God angrily replies that he sent him the rope, the boat and the copter! Didn't the farmer recognize the miracles of this present world? Dr. Luther Martin King once said about the African-American struggle that "once we all came in separate boats to America, but now here, we are all in the same boat. That very same lifeboat.
Our lesson today is the importance of providing the everyday miracles of that lifeboat today to those who need them.
What could Jesus mean when he said? 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Luke 16:19-31
16:19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
16:20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
16:21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
16:22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
16:23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.
16:24 He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.'
16:25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
16:26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.'
16:27 He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house--
16:28 for I have five brothers--that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.'
16:29 Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.'
16:30 He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
16:31 He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line
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