Today's lesson is concerned with what has been called the intermediate state of the soul between death and resurrection. John Calvin would caution us in this study with these words:"Now it is neither lawful nor expedient to inquire too curiously concerning our souls' intermediate state. Many torment themselves over much with disputing as to what place the souls occupy and whether or not they already enjoy heavenly glory. Yet it is foolish and rash to inquire concerning unknown matters more deeply than God permits us to know. Scripture goes no farther than to say that Christ is present with them, and receives them into paradise, that they may obtain consolation, while the souls of the reprobate suffer such torments as they deserve."
His last statement on scriptural content summarizes the Biblical teaching that the intermediate states is one of conscious existence for both the righteous and the wicked. However, there is a difference between the two. For the righteous it is a state of joy and for the wicked it is a state of suffering. This is pointed out clearly in our text for today.
It is also affirmed in 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:23 where Paul makes it clear that the state of the believer immediately after death is much to be preferred to the present world. That intermediate state is one of consciousness, holiness and happiness, which the resurrection and judgment only augment and make permanent. It is sort of like a trip my family and I took to Disney World a few years ago. Many of the popular displays and shows had extremely long lines. A half hours wait was not unusual. So there we were in the heat of the sun, standing on hot concrete counting our movement in inches. It was frustrating and only the fond desire of enjoyment kept people in line. Once you entered the shade of the foyer, many places provided a brief introductory entertainment. A preshow, if you will. It wasn't the main event, but it was certainly a relief.
The intermediate state is somewhat like that. Almost there, but not yet, the resurrection and last judgment are still to come! In this life we may not know much more than what has already been said. However, humans are inordinately curious and want to know more than what is possible to know. Thus, life after life research has become a popular point of discussion in the last twenty years. Life after life experiences became ever so much more common with the advent of modern rescue techniques. Of course these experiences have been recorded on a much smaller scale since the time of the Greeks. Probably the first such recording was made by a Greek soldier who described essentially the same experience as is popularly described today by secular researchers.
Now I am not going to waste your time with the generic reports of people like Elizabeth Kubler-Ross or Raymond A Moody and others. If you are aware of their writings, please remember that very many of these modern researchers make their living by telling people what they want to hear! Certainly, there may be some biblical elements like a valley of the shadow of death, a review of one's life and even terrors for suicidal travelers. However, many of these researchers are sympathetic to the psychological view that near death experiences are nothing more than a replay of the birth event.
So as Christians, our primary interest should be in what little information can be gleaned from God's Word. Let us look carefully at our passage in Luke 16: 19-31. We should note that in this parable, the rich man was more keenly conscious of the after life than is a normal person in this life; for he knew what was going on where he was, where Lazarus was and where his brothers still were in the land of the living. We should also note that his character had not changed all that much. There is a note of unconscious arrogance because he assumes that he can have the poor beggar who died at his gate, to come across and serve his needs. And what is his current need? Relief from the fires of punishment! He feels that this is the least service that the saved Lazarus can give him even though the same Lazarus died from the rich man's neglect. The wicked rich man had not changed nor improved in the fires of the intermediate state, he was still thinking of his own or his family's needs!
Third, we should note that the rich man in this parable went to hades not because he was rich, but because he was selfish and hard-hearted. In fact, the Lord had caused an opportunity for the rich man to apply the lessons of Moses and the prophets. We see in verse twenty that someone brought Lazarus to the very gate of a prosperous house where his needs could be amply met by the table droppings. Yet, even the same dogs who lived on those droppings were allowed to cause torment to poor, poverty afflicted Lazarus. Justice is indeed served in the next life and we see no sign of repentance on the part of the wicked rich man. If he cannot be comforted in the least he would have Lazarus sent to warn his family about the terrors of hades. Abraham replies that they have the same light that he had had when he still lived.
"They have Moses and the Prophets, let them listen to them."
But the rich man knows how he had reacted to the possession of the same Holy books and he argues that someone must be raised from the dead so that his brothers might repent! Surely, all sane people would agree with this rich man. If someone should return from the dead, people would have to believe. Yet, in this parable Jesus predicts the world's reaction to his own resurrection:
"If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."
Do you remember what the Pharisees wanted to do when another Lazarus came back from the dead? They wanted to kill the man responsible for raising Lazarus up. We live after the resurrection of Christ that Luke had in mind when he wrote this account of the life of Jesus Christ. We are able to know much more than the rich man in this parable. Yet, is the world any different? Are people listening to Him whom God raised from the dead? There is certainly no stampede that I am aware of even though the world has the complete revelation record in both Testaments of Scripture.
Of course, we cannot answer for the world. Neither can we, like the rich man wanted, provide essential information for our loved ones. Each and every person ever born will stand or fall for eternity on his understanding of God's precious and holy Word. And what we decide about that Word and do in light of it will affect us forever. Death closes the door to repentance. Now, while there is still time, we must all make our decisions for Jesus Christ. What do you think of Him who came back from the dead? What do you do with your life because of your understanding? In those two questions is the whole of Christian life. Our Westminster Standards would summarize our options in its division of the Shorter Catechism. The first thirty-eight questions teach us what we should believe and the rest teach us what we should do with our lives. What do you believe today and how will you choose to live in light of that belief? Your answer is eternally binding. May God bless you with the light of salvation. Amen.
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