Sermon: There's More to Life

18th Sunday after Pentecost, 2010

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

Luke 16:19-31

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

We’ve been talking a lot about life lately. A few weeks ago we were discussing the meaning of life. We noted that some say Life is a game. We also noted that some say Life is a cereal. Again, I was actually referring to the cereal called Life. It claims to help promote healthy hearts. Now if you remember, there use to be a series of television commercials that tried to sell us Life. There were three kids sitting around a table who had never tried Life. Two of the kids conversed saying, “I’m not going to try it. You try it.” Then the suggestion was made to give it to Mikey who’ll eat anything. Shortly there after the kids said, “He likes it. He likes it.” Thus, if Mikey likes it, it has to be good. I want what Mikey likes. Now I need to go and get the Life that Mikey and his friends have. Here we have consumerism in its simplest form. I can buy Life in a box. For a small price, I can have the Life that other people have.

In today’s gospel text, we are told about thelife of two different men reflected in their eating habits. One man “feasted sumptuously” while the other man “desired to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.” One was rich and the other was poor. The rich man “was clothed in purples and fine linen” while the poor man was “covered with sores.” Based upon the externals these were two very different men. Which man would you rather be like? …Remember, life is more than food and the clothes that one wears.   

In the end, these two men have their humanity in common. Thus, it has been appointed for each to die and then to face judgment. Here’s where things turn around just as the Virgin Mary said, “he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.” (Luke 1:52, ESV) The rich man died and was buried. Period. No fancy funeral recorded, just the fact that he was buried. Now the food and clothing don’t really matter. At death the body is put into a box. But the death of Lazarus is recorded differently. Lazarus died and he was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. Now we begin to see beyond the physical and the external. The rich man was dealt good things in this life and now he is handed anguish in the life to come.   Lazarus was dealt difficulties in this life and now he is comforted in the life to come.   Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20, ESV) “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” (Luke 6:24, ESV)

Again, we hear another text about the misuse of riches, wealth, and the things of this world. We are warned so that in this life we do not rest in a false security comforted in the abundance of material goods. Life is more than food, drink, clothing, and all those other things. Life is more than what we see on the external package. We are called to repent from the culture of materialism that we are swimming in. We must not become consumed by our consumptions of the latest commodities. We must not become possessed by our possession. We are learning to repent from American consumerism and self indulgence which is an appetite for destruction. 

We are learning to put to death the idea that the purpose of life is to make ourselves comfortable. In our text, it is too late for the rich man to learn this lesson. So, he begs Abraham to teach his five brothers so that they will stop heading down the wrong road. He thinks that if Lazarus comes back from the dead surely this sign will stop them. 

Now what is it that makes a car stop? Is it a stop sign? Is it the eyes that see the sign? Is it the brakes? Is it the foot that presses upon the brake pedal? Is it the brain that accesses the situation and signals to the foot that it is time to stop? You see, without a living brain, it is impossible to stop. In the end you realize that it is not about the sign at all. The mind has to be engaged in the physical realities of the situation. 

Even if a man were to rise from the dead, the brothers of the rich man would not believe. Just because they see a sign, it will not make them stop. Without faith, it is impossible to stop. Without faith, eyes and feet do not work. Faith enables the individual to engage in the spiritual realities that cannot be seen with the physical eyes. The only means through which the LORD has promised to bestow the gift of faith is through the word of God. For this reason, Abraham says, “Let them listen to Moses and the Prophets.” Moses and the Prophets is a reference to the written scriptures of the Old Testament. 

Again, we hear another text about the importance of the written word. All that we need to know for our salvation has been revealed for us in the Holy Scriptures. Throughout these writings we can be assured that we hear the very voice of God speaking to us and revealing divine truth. We are taught about life. God teaches us what He requires of His people and what He forbids His people to do.

In our gospel text, we are told about two different people living in the context of the people of God who have the word of God. But let us be clear that these words about the rich man and Lazarus are not given to us so that we just change our moral behavior as if Moses and the Prophets merely taught social justice. That is the false message of Liberal Protestantism and even Islam. They teach that if we just become obedient to God, all will be well with our souls. No! Such texts show us the need for a Savior who can save us from ourselves. Without Him there is no hope for us.

From the commandments of God we discern our spiritual illness. The promise of the Messiah is given to the people of God. This teaching will draw all other nations to faith in the One True God. From the promise of the Messiah we learn of the only spiritual cure. The people of God were given the written word so that they could hold on to these wonderful teachings and pass them on to their children. Through the scriptures, faith is created and sustained in the hearts of the people. Where ever the people of God dwell on this earth, they are instructed to dwell in these two chief parts of the revealed truth. We are called to hear the word. To hear is to learn. To hear, in the biblical sense, is to believe.

Because we live in a fallen world, there is poverty and suffering. Jesus took upon our flesh and blood emptying Himself and becoming poor. For our salvation He suffered. Jesus was dealt a difficult hand. Moses and the Prophets teach us that it was necessary for Jesus to be rejected, suffer, die, and rise again. At the transfiguration, Moses and the Prophet Elijah stood by Jesus as the voice of the Father said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35, ESV) 

After the resurrection, Jesus gave the people of God the sign of Jonah and yet there were those who would not believe. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus taught the disciples to look at the written word of Moses and the Prophets who testify of Him. Later, He gathered with the apostles and opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. It was necessary for the Christ to suffer and on the third day rise from the dead. They were then sent out to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name to all nations. The written word of Moses, the Prophets, the Apostles, and the Evangelist all teach us to listen to Jesus. For this reason, in the liturgy we sing, “Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.”

Life is not about the externals. There is more than what is on the outside appearance of a man. What matter is most is found in the inside, in the internal heart, of a man. If you just look at the outward appearance of a cereal box and read the word Life, it doesn’t mean that it actually contains life. When you dump the cereal out and look on the inside, it is empty, void, and lifeless. 

The LORD gives us His word so that we are not left lifeless. The word of God comes into the ears to fill the heart with faith in Jesus. "For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”(John 3:34-36, ESV) Through faith in Jesus we have life.

We close with these words from the hymn written by Thomas Kingo:

On my heart imprint Your image,
Blessèd Jesus, King of grace,
That life’s riches, cares, and pleasures,
Never may Your work erase;
Let the clear inscription be:
Jesus, crucified for me,
Is my life, my hope’s foundation,
And my glory and salvation!
Amen.