(Luk) 16:23, 27-31 CJB “In Sh’ol, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Avraham far away with El‘azar at his side. “He answered, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house, where I have five brothers, to warn them; so that they may be spared having to come to this place of torment too.’ But Avraham said, ‘They have Moshe and the Prophets; they should listen to them.’ However, he said, ‘No, father Avraham, they need more. If someone from the dead goes to them, they’ll repent!’ But he replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moshe and the Prophets, they won’t be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!’

Hell is real just as heaven is real.

Jesus taught both realities as facts, not metaphors. In Luke 16, He describes a rich man in torment after death and Lazarus comforted in Abraham’s presence.

The lesson is sobering:

The Word of God Leads to Eternal Life.

The rich man understood too late that eternity is determined by what we do with God’s truth in this life.

From torment he begged Abraham to send someone to warn his five brothers so they would not join him.

Abraham’s answer was simple:

“They have Moses and the Prophets; they should listen to them.”

The rich man disagreed.

He thought a miracle would convince them.

Surely someone returning from the dead would produce repentance.

But Abraham replied:

“If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they won’t be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

What an incredible statement.

Jesus would soon rise from the dead, yet many would still reject Him.

The Word of God Leads to Eternal Life, Not Miracles

Many people think they would believe if they saw enough evidence.

Yet the Bible repeatedly shows the opposite.

Israel saw the Red Sea part.

Israel ate manna from heaven.

Israel watched water flow from a rock.

Yet many still rebelled against God.

The problem is not a lack of evidence.

The problem is a resistant heart.

God has already given us what we need.

He has revealed Himself through the Scriptures.

He has preserved His Word through generations.

He has clearly testified concerning sin, judgment, salvation, and His Son.

Faith does not come through signs.

Faith comes through hearing God’s Word.

As Romans 10:17 says:

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

The Battle for God’s Word

Satan’s first attack in the Garden was against God’s Word.

“Did God really say?”

His strategy has not changed.

The world mocks Scripture.

Culture questions Scripture.

False teachers distort Scripture.

But the man of God stands firm on Scripture.

He studies it.

He obeys it.

He teaches it.

He proclaims it.

Why?

Because The Word of God Leads to Eternal Life.

Men are not saved by religious experiences.

They are not saved by emotional feelings.

They are not saved by miracles.

They are saved when the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to reveal Jesus Christ and bring them to repentance and faith.

The greatest gift you can give another man is not your opinion.

It is God’s truth.

For through the written Word men come to know the Living Word—Jesus Christ.

Run Today’s Play

• Spend 15 minutes reading God’s Word today, believing it is sufficient to lead you to Christ and guide your life. (Ask the know God coach for a free reading plan if you need one).
• Pray for one man who needs Jesus and ask God to open his heart to the gospel.
• Share one truth from Scripture with someone today instead of merely sharing your opinion.

Remember: God has already provided the message that saves. Our responsibility is not to create a miracle. Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim His Word.