Ezekiel 33:10-12
Magandang Balita Biblia
10 Sinabi sa akin ni Yahweh, “Ezekiel, anak ng tao, sabihin mo sa mga Israelita ang inuulit-ulit nilang sila'y
nagumon na sa kasamaan kaya hindi na sila mabubuhay. 11 Sabihin mong ipinapasabi ko na akong si
Yahweh, ang buháy na Diyos, ay hindi nasisiyahan na ang sinuma'y mamatay sa kanyang kasamaan; nais
kong siya'y magbagong-buhay. Sabihin mo ngang magbagong-buhay sila pagkat di sila dapat mamatay sa
kanilang kasamaan. 12 Ezekiel, anak ng tao, sabihin mo rin sa iyong mga kababayan na ang dating
kabutihan ng matuwid ay hindi makakapagligtas sa kanila kung magpakasama sila. Kung ang masama ay
magpakabuti, hindi siya paparusahan. Ngunit kung ang mabuti ay magpakasama, paparusahan siya.
MANGANGARAL 12:7
Kung magkagayon, babalik ka sa lupa kung saan ka nagmula at ang espiritu moʼy babalik sa Dios na
siyang nagbigay nito.
Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment" (Hebrew 9:27)
powerful truth. However, the Word of God is crystal clear! This is no parable! This is a bold, clear warning
for people to turn from their sins and be saved. You see, there is a Hell for the lost person and there is a
Heaven for the saved person! Which place you go when you die is determined by what you do with Jesus
Christ while you are in this world!
This passage is one of contrasts. A picture is painted here of some of the differences between a lost man
and a saved man. There are three primary areas where these contrasts are plainly visible. By God's grace,
I want to point those areas out today. You see, all the days from your birth to now make no difference, all
that matters is what happens From Here To Eternity.
I. V. 19-21 A CONTRAST IN THEIR EARTHLY EXPERIENCE
A. One Man Lived A Bountiful Life - These verses tell us that the rich man enjoyed the best that life had
to offer. He lived for himself, with no thought for the needs of his fellow man. He was his own man, just
enjoying life to the full. It appears that he was living for the now, with no thought for the future at all.
Even after his death he was still self-centered, v. 24. He cared only for himself and not one of the millions
who were there with him! (Note: There is nothing wrong with having money and material things. Just
being rich does not automatically condemn a person to Hell. But, Jesus did indicate that a life lived in
dependence on material riches will end in Hell - Matt. 19:16-26.) (Note: This rich man is a picture of a
person who cares only for himself. He does not care about God or His Word. If he had, he would have
ministered to Lazarus, Pr. 14:21; 31. He lived a good life, but it was a lost life!) (Note: Do not begrudge
the lost their earthly pleasures and treasures! This is the only Heaven they will know! We should rather
pity them because while they trust in their riches and the things that this world has to offer, they are
steadily marching headlong into Hell.)
B. One Man Lived A Burdened Life - While the rich man prospered, Lazarus suffered daily. He did not
have the riches of the world. He could not afford medical treatment for his ailments. He could not afford
food to eat. His only friends appeared to be the dogs which came and licked his sores. His was a
wretched existence made bearable only by the knowledge that this world was not his home! (Note:
Here, Lazarus is a picture of the believer. While the lost men of this world live it up and indulge every lust
of the flesh, the redeemed make a conscious decision to separate themselves from this world. They carry
within their heart burdens for the very souls of the men around them that are perishing. Surely, none of
us have or probably ever will suffer as much as Lazarus did in this life, but if we are living as we should
before the Lord, our lives would appear to be burdensome to those who do not know the Lord.) (Note: I
am not implying that we have it rough! If you listen to some Christians, you would think God had died
and they were the most miserable people alive. In contrast, I say that we are blessed above all men!
However, when you get saved, your priorities will change! Your goals and aspirations will change! You will
live a life that is markedly different from the lost folk around you! That is because you are a New
Creature - 2 Cor. 5:17!)
II. V. 22 A CONTRAST IN THEIR EXIT EXPERIENCE
A. One Man's Death Was Alone - We are told that when time ran out for the rich man, death came to
claim him. His money, his friends and his family could not go with him through that awful experience. His
time of living it up was ended and he died and was buried. And, if things held true to form, his family
immediately began the process of taking everything he had left behind for themselves! (Note: I can
imagine living without God, because I have done it! I would never want to do it again, but I have been
there. I can understand why people live for their flesh. However, I cannot imagine having to die alone!
No God, no grace, no hope! Just utterly, eternally alone! Yet, that is the experience of every person who
lives and dies without Jesus. We refer to a "death angel", but there is no such thing in the Bible! We hear
talk of the "Grim Reaper", he doesn't exist either! When a lost man dies, "the devil" doesn't get his soul
either! That is superstitious nonsense! The devil is headed to the same Hell; that the lost man is headed
to. The only difference is that the devil is afraid, whereas the lost man could care less, James 2:19. No,
when death comes to claim the lost man, he dies absolutely alone, cut off from the living and the dead,
with nothing before him but and endless eternity to experience the undiluted wrath of God!)
B. One Man's Death Was Attended - In contrast, when Lazarus died, his death was attended by some
angels. They received him and took him to dwell in Paradise. He did not die alone, but he died in the
presence of God. No one may have cared for him in this word, but God was keenly interested in him and
when he died, God dispatched angels to carry him into a place of eternal rest! (Note: The saint doesn't
die alone! (Ill. Psa. 116:15; Pro. 14:32; Rom. 14:8; Phil. 1:21; Psa. 23:4) He may be parted from a season
from the living, but goes to be with the One Who redeemed him from his sins, 2 Cor. 5:8! (Ill. The Thief
on the cross - Luke 23:43.)
III. V. 23-31 A CONTRAST IN THEIR ETERNAL EXPERIENCE
A. One Man Found Pain - The Bible tells us that the rich man went to Hell when he died! From all we
know about that place, it is far more horrible that we could ever imagine. Notice just a few of the things
the Bible says about Hell:
1. A Place Of Punishment - Matt. 25:41
2. Unquenchable Fire - Mark 9:43; Luke 16:24
3. Memory And Remorse - Luke 16:25 (Ill. He wanted his brothers spared too - Luke 16:27-31. He
experienced regret too!)
4. Thirst - v.24-25
5. Misery And Pain - Luke 16:24,25,28; Rev.14:10-11
6. A Place Of Undiluted Wrath - (Ill. Jesus, rainbow, Hab. 3:2) (There will be absolutely no mercy!)
7. A Place Of Frustration And Anger - Mt.13:42; 24:51
8. A Place Of Eternal Separation From God - 2 Thes. 1:8-9
9. A Place Of Eternal Separation Form All That Is Good And Right - Rev. 21:8
(Note: many people believe that all these truths concerning Hell are just symbolic! You had better hope
not! That which is real is always beyond the power of the symbol to convey! If the truth about Hell is
worse than what I have shared this morning, then it is awful beyond description. Even though what the
Bible says about that place is true and accurate, we need to know that our ability to explain it,
understand it and imagine it all fall far short of what Hell really is! Friend, if you are lost this morning, I
beg you please don't go there! Be saved and turn to Jesus before it is too late!)
B. One Man Found Peace - While the rich man suffered, Lazarus was a rest! He had ceased from his
burdens and he free from his diseases. He was finally at peace. (Note: Just as surely as Hell awaits the
lost person, Heaven awaits the saved person! And everything that Hell is, Heaven isn't. It is a place free
from the cares of this world and from the pain of that world, Rev. 21:4. It is a place of incomparable
beauty, Rev. 21-22. It is the place where God Himself dwells, and where His people will see His face, Rev.
21:3; 22:4. It is a place where sin, sinners and Satan are forever banished, Rev. 21:27. It is a glorious city
prepared especially for those who know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior - John 14:1-6. It is a place
the redeemed long to be. It is the place we call home, Phil. 3:20!)
Conc: What a difference in the experiences of these two men! Of course, these two men are still
represented within the human race this morning! The self-centered rich man is here, still headed for
Hell. The saint of God is still here too, headed for Heaven. Which represents you today?
Friend, this is no game we are playing! This thing is definitely real! You will spend eternity in one of the
two places I mentioned today. You will go either to Heaven, or you will go to Hell! Which depends on
what you do with Jesus Christ, 1 John 5:12. If you are not saved, remember that nothing is worth going
to Hell over, Mark 9:43-48; Mark 8:36-37. Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from your sins. If you
want to be saved, you can come to Him today, trust Him as your Savior and He will save your soul! I pray
that you will do just that!
If you are saved, then I challenge you to come before the Lord to praise Him for your salvation. When
you finish thanking Him, then take the time to pray for your family and your acquaintances that are lost.
Get a hold of God for them and pray that they will be saved! Time is running out and death is stalking
every person in this world. The time for salvation is now, 2 Cor. 6:2.
I. V. 19-21 A CONTRAST IN THEIR EARTHLY EXPERIENCE
A. One Man Lived A Bountiful Life - These verses tell us that the rich man enjoyed the best that life had
to offer. He lived for himself, with no thought for the needs of his fellow man. He was his own man, just
enjoying life to the full. It appears that he was living for the now, with no thought for the future at all.
Even after his death he was still self-centered, v. 24. He cared only for himself and not one of the millions
who were there with him! (Note: There is nothing wrong with having money and material things. Just
being rich does not automatically condemn a person to Hell. But, Jesus did indicate that a life lived in
dependence on material riches will end in Hell - Matt. 19:16-26.) (Note: This rich man is a picture of a
person who cares only for himself. He does not care about God or His Word. If he had, he would have
ministered to Lazarus, Pr. 14:21; 31. He lived a good life, but it was a lost life!) (Note: Do not begrudge
the lost their earthly pleasures and treasures! This is the only Heaven they will know! We should rather
pity them because while they trust in their riches and the things that this world has to offer, they are
steadily marching headlong into Hell.)
B. One Man Lived A Burdened Life - While the rich man prospered, Lazarus suffered daily. He did not
have the riches of the world. He could not afford medical treatment for his ailments. He could not afford
food to eat. His only friends appeared to be the dogs which came and licked his sores. His was a
wretched existence made bearable only by the knowledge that this world was not his home! (Note:
Here, Lazarus is a picture of the believer. While the lost men of this world live it up and indulge every lust
of the flesh, the redeemed make a conscious decision to separate themselves from this world. They carry
within their heart burdens for the very souls of the men around them that are perishing. Surely, none of
us have or probably ever will suffer as much as Lazarus did in this life, but if we are living as we should
before the Lord, our lives would appear to be burdensome to those who do not know the Lord.) (Note: I
am not implying that we have it rough! If you listen to some Christians, you would think God had died
and they were the most miserable people alive. In contrast, I say that we are blessed above all men!
However, when you get saved, your priorities will change! Your goals and aspirations will change! You will
live a life that is markedly different from the lost folk around you! That is because you are a New
Creature - 2 Cor. 5:17!)
II. V. 22 A CONTRAST IN THEIR EXIT EXPERIENCE
A. One Man's Death Was Alone - We are told that when time ran out for the rich man, death came to
claim him. His money, his friends and his family could not go with him through that awful experience. His
time of living it up was ended and he died and was buried. And, if things held true to form, his family
immediately began the process of taking everything he had left behind for themselves! (Note: I can
imagine living without God, because I have done it! I would never want to do it again, but I have been
there. I can understand why people live for their flesh. However, I cannot imagine having to die alone!
No God, no grace, no hope! Just utterly, eternally alone! Yet, that is the experience of every person who
lives and dies without Jesus. We refer to a "death angel", but there is no such thing in the Bible! We hear
talk of the "Grim Reaper", he doesn't exist either! When a lost man dies, "the devil" doesn't get his soul
either! That is superstitious nonsense! The devil is headed to the same Hell; that the lost man is headed
to. The only difference is that the devil is afraid, whereas the lost man could care less, James 2:19. No,
when death comes to claim the lost man, he dies absolutely alone, cut off from the living and the dead,
with nothing before him but and endless eternity to experience the undiluted wrath of God!)
B. One Man's Death Was Attended - In contrast, when Lazarus died, his death was attended by some
angels. They received him and took him to dwell in Paradise. He did not die alone, but he died in the
presence of God. No one may have cared for him in this word, but God was keenly interested in him and
when he died, God dispatched angels to conduct him into a place of eternal rest! (Note: The saint
doesn't die alone! (Ill. Psa. 116:15; Pro. 14:32; Rom. 14:8; Phil. 1:21; Psa. 23:4) He may be parted from a
season from the living, but goes to be with the One Who redeemed him from his sins, 2 Cor. 5:8! (Ill. The
Thief on the cross - Luke 23:43.)
III. V. 23-31 A CONTRAST IN THEIR ETERNAL EXPERIENCE
A. One Man Found Pain - The Bible tells us that the rich man went to Hell when he died! From all we
know about that place, it is far more horrible that we could ever imagine. Notice just a few of the things
the Bible says about Hell:
1. A Place Of Punishment - Matt. 25:41
2. Unquenchable Fire - Mark 9:43; Luke 16:24
3. Memory And Remorse - Luke 16:25 (Ill. He wanted his brothers spared too - Luke 16:27-31. He
experienced regret too!)
4. Thirst - v.24-25
5. Misery And Pain - Luke 16:24,25,28; Rev.14:10-11
6. A Place Of Undiluted Wrath - (Ill. Jesus, rainbow, Hab. 3:2) (There will be absolutely no mercy!)
7. A Place Of Frustration And Anger - Mt.13:42; 24:51
8. A Place Of Eternal Separation From God - 2 Thes. 1:8-9
9. A Place Of Eternal Separation Form All That Is Good And Right - Rev. 21:8
(Note: many people believe that all these truths concerning Hell are just symbolic! You had better hope
not! That which is real is always beyond the power of the symbol to convey! If the truth about Hell is
worse than what I have shared this morning, then it is awful beyond description. Even though what the
Bible says about that place is true and accurate, we need to know that our ability to explain it,
understand it and imagine it all fall far short of what Hell really is! Friend, if you are lost this morning, I
beg you please don't go there! Be saved and turn to Jesus before it is too late!)
B. One Man Found Peace - While the rich man suffered, Lazarus was a rest! He had ceased from his
burdens and he free from his diseases. He was finally at peace. (Note: Just as surely as Hell awaits the
lost person, Heaven awaits the saved person! And everything that Hell is, Heaven isn't. It is a place free
from the cares of this world and from the pain of that world, Rev. 21:4. It is a place of incomparable
beauty, Rev. 21-22. It is the place where God Himself dwells, and where His people will see His face, Rev.
21:3; 22:4. It is a place where sin, sinners and Satan are forever banished, Rev. 21:27. It is a glorious city
prepared especially for those who know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior - John 14:1-6. It is a place
the redeemed long to be. It is the place we call home, Phil. 3:20!)
Conc: What a difference in the experiences of these two men! Of course, these two men are still
represented within the human race this morning! The self-centered rich man is here, still headed for
Hell. The saint of God is still here too, headed for Heaven. Which represents you today?
Friend, this is no game we are playing! This thing is definitely real! You will spend eternity in one of the
two places I mentioned today. You will go either to Heaven, or you will go to Hell! Which depends on
what you do with Jesus Christ, 1 John 5:12. If you are not saved, remember that nothing is worth going
to Hell over, Mark 9:43-48; Mark 8:36-37. Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from your sins. If you
want to be saved, you can come to Him today, trust Him as your Savior and He will save your soul! I pray
that you will do just that!
If you are saved, then I challenge you to come before the Lord to praise Him for your salvation. When
you finish thanking Him, then take the time to pray for your family and your acquaintances that are lost.
Get a hold of God for them and pray that they will be saved! Time is running out and death is stalking
every person in this world. The time for salvation is now, 2 Cor. 6:2.
