Change Lanes

Daily Reading:  Luke 16

Scripture Focus:  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. (Luke 16.26)

Devotional Thought: In 2014, Marine Reservist Andrew Tahmooressi found himself in the wrong lane.  Unable to get in the right lane, he ended up in Mexico and in lots of trouble because he had loaded guns in his car.  Like Tahmooressi, there comes a point in life when we can no longer change lanes.

Jesus told a story about two men who had died.  Lazarus, who in his lifetime “received bad things,” was carried to Abraham’s side (heaven).  The rich man, who in his lifetime “received good things,” died and was buried.  He found himself “in hell,” “in torment,” “in agony,” and “in this fire.”  It was too late to change lanes.

Luke 16.26 is a sober reminder that death marks the end of all opportunity to make our peace with God: “Between us and you a great chasm has been fixed.”  There is nowhere in the Bible that tells us we have another chance after death.  Instead, we have repeated warnings about the spiritual finality of death:

·       In John 8.21 (NIV), Jesus warned his antagonists: “You will die in your sin.  Where I go you cannot come.” 

·       We read the following in the book of Hebrews: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (9.27). 

·       Paul wrote, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5.10, see also Galatians 6.7-8). 

·       It says in the book of Revelation: “Let him who is vile continue to be vile… Let him who is holy continue to be holy” (22.11, NIV). 

Do you need to change lanes?

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the frank warnings of scripture that there is life after death, and that what we do in this life will determine where we spend eternity.  May those going the wrong direction change lanes before it is too late.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 140.7-13

7 O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

10 Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!

11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.