Luke 16:19-26 – “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
“Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
In this parable there are many revelations and understanding of the Kingdom of God. I would like to point out a revelation that may help us understand how to receive the blessings of God and what hinders us from receiving the blessings of the Kingdom. In the scripture, the rich man chose to live and enjoy the tasty truffles of the world and refused to obey and live the life of God. Yet he was surprised the place that was allotted to him after he died. His inheritance after death, was the underworld. What does this mean? In part, it means that while man is on the earth, he can’t choose to live in the underworld and expect to receive the blessings of the Kingdom of God. He cannot live in sin and expect to receive the blessings that come from the life of righteousness. This parable also shows what was more important in the rich man’s life while living on earth. It was in the underworld. Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Whatever dimension your heart dwells in on the earth determines where you will dwell on the other side of death. Live with God not the world. Put your heart and identity in heaven and not in things of this world. Live in heart of the Father!