Two Beggars, Two Gates and Understanding Your Eternal Destiny

Listen, I need you to buckle up for this word because what I'm about to share is going to shake your understanding of eternity. Today we're diving into a story you may have heard before, but I promise you, you've never heard it quite like this.

The Critical Choice: Two Births or Two Deaths?

Here's the reality that most people miss: except for Adam and Eve, everyone came through a womb. And except for Enoch and Elijah, everyone else died. But here's where it gets important, the Bible teaches about a second birth and a second death.

So the question facing every single person reading this is simple but profound: Do I want to be born twice, or die twice?

Let me break this down clearly because your eternity depends on understanding this.

Understanding the Two Births

Jesus made this crystal clear in John 3 when He said, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot ever enter the kingdom of God."

The first birth is natural, when a woman's water breaks and you enter this physical world. The second birth is spiritual. When you accept Jesus as your Savior and the Holy Spirit enters your life.

Jesus put it plainly: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Understanding the Two Deaths

Now let's talk about the two deaths, because this is where most people get uncomfortable. Revelation tells us clearly: "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death."

The first death? That's natural, when your spirit leaves your body. The second death? That's the eternal flame. That's eternal separation from God.

So neighbor, let me ask you directly: do you prefer two births or two deaths? Because you're going to experience one or the other. There's no middle ground.

The Story of Two Beggars That Changes Everything

Now let me take you to Luke 16, where Jesus tells a story that was absolutely shocking to the religious people of His day. It's about two men, two completely different lives, and two eternal destinations.

The Rich Man's Daily Life

"There was a certain rich man who was habitually dressed in expensive purple and fine linen, and celebrated and lived joyously in splendor every day."

Now before we go further, let me be clear: God is not against you being rich. The question is, what do you do with your riches? This man wore purple (that's royalty) and fine linen (which was worth its weight in gold). He celebrated every single day. His life looked perfect from the outside.

Lazarus at the Gate

"In contrast, a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores. He eagerly longed to eat the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores."

You know you're in bad shape when even the dogs have pity on you. Lazarus wasn't asking for a seat at the table, just the scraps. And every single day, this rich man stepped over Lazarus. Every. Single. Day.

The Great Reversal

Then something happened that will happen to all of us, they both died.

"The poor man died and his spirit was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man died and was buried."

Notice the difference? Lazarus was carried. There are designated angels assigned to escort you home when you know Jesus. The rich man? He was just buried. No escort. No angels. No glory.

Let me give you a revelation: when you understand that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, it changes your entire perspective on death. You'll blink your eye and you're in glory.

But if you don't know Jesus? You just die.

The Conversation Across the Chasm

What happens next is chilling. The rich man opens his eyes in torment and looks up, yes, your eyes work in hell. He sees Abraham far away, and he recognizes Lazarus.

That means you have memory in eternity. You can distinguish people. And part of hell? It's seeing the person you didn't like sitting in heaven. It's watching the person you stepped over now sitting at the banquet table while you're in torment.

The rich man cries out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue!"

Wait... The man you stepped over every day? That's who you're calling on now? The person you treated like he was beneath you? Now you want his help?

But here's what Abraham tells him: "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus likewise bad things. But now he is comforted here, and you are in agony."

Then comes the devastating truth: "Besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us."

It's fixed. You can't fast your way in. You can't pray your way in after death. You can't beg your way in. The distance between that chasm is just a breath but once you've taken your last breath here, your eternal destination is sealed.

What This Story Reveals About Your Heart

Now, I need to address something important because some of you reading this have had harder lives than you expected. You've gone through brutal relationships, addictions, abuse, abandonment. And you're looking at God saying, "Lord, what did I do to deserve this?"

Let me help you understand something: Lazarus's suffering had nothing to do with his sin. Sometimes God allows strong soldiers to go through storms, not just for you, but so people can see that you can praise God anyhow.

Your money may be funny. Your relationships may not be right. Your kids may not be acting right. But if you know God, you can still bless His name.

Job never got an answer for why he suffered. But he made a decision: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

David said it this way: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

Paul learned: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

You have to make up your mind that what you're going through is temporary, but your eternal home is permanent. So you're not going to complain about your season, you're going to bless the Lord at all times.

The Warning We Cannot Ignore

The rich man then begs Abraham: "Send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them not to come to this place of torment!"

But Abraham responds: "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them."

The rich man insists: "No, Father Abraham! But if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!"

And here's the sobering truth: "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead."

You see, Jesus already knew that even when Lazarus (a different one) rose from the dead, people still didn't believe. Even when Jesus Himself rose from the dead, people still rejected Him.

You will not stand before God and say, "I never heard about You." The invitation has been given. God stands at the door of your heart and knocks. The question is: will you answer?

Don't Let Your Riches Become Your Ruin

Let me share another story Jesus told about a rich man. This man had so much that his barns couldn't hold it all. So he said, "I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years; rest, eat, drink, and be merry!'"

But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you. Now who will own what you have prepared?"

Here's the reality: you could save all your money, and some joker is going to blow it. You can buy all the stuff you want, and somebody's going to be wearing your clothes after you're gone.

Solomon said it: "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity."

The Egyptians tried to take gold into the afterlife, guess what? The gold is still here.

What God Expects From the Blessed

Now, if you live in America and you have lights at work, running water, hot water, multiple TVs, cars, clothes on your back, listen to me, you are rich by global standards.

That hungry lady from Africa who's only had one meal a day her whole life, who walks 10 miles to church and praises God? She's going to stand right next to you before the same God.

So when you complain that your house isn't quite right, remember: you have a house. People are swimming across oceans and risking everything just to get here.

Here's what God says to the rich, and that includes most of us:

"Instruct them not to be conceited or arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."

The Power of Generosity

The Bible is clear: "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously will also reap generously."

And it's not just about money. You can give:

• Encouragement
• Love
• Your time
• Peace
• A kind word
• Letting someone in during traffic

"How you doing today? You look great!" "You are such a blessing to my life!" "Thank you for letting me in!"

There are so many ways to be generous beyond just money.

And here's the promise: "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good work."

When you're generous, you get grace. That's how grace comes, through generosity.

The RSVP That Determines Everything

Let me close with this story. Imagine there's a special event at the most exclusive club in town. Only certain people get invited. John and Shirley Smith are so excited, they got an invitation!

They get all dressed up and arrive at the event. The maître d' asks for their names.

"John and Shirley Smith," they say proudly.

He looks down the list. "I'm sorry, I don't see your names here."

"But we got an invitation!" they protest.

"Yes," he responds, "but did you RSVP? Did you send back your response?"

The husband looks at the wife. The wife looks at the husband. Neither of them responded to the invitation.

"I'm sorry," the maître d' says, "it's RSVP only."

God Has Been Inviting You

Here's the truth: you're not going to stand before God and say, "You never invited me."

The Bible says He stands at the door and knocks at your heart. He's been trying to chase you down. He's been inviting you for years.

But death comes like a thief in the night. Life is but a vapor. Jesus will return like a thief in the night, you will not have time to get ready when it happens.

This is my clarion call to you: It's closer than you think.

For all my older folks reading this, didn't life go by fast? Weren't you just 15 years old? It happened like that. In a blink.

It's closer than you think.

Your Decision Today

If you have not made Jesus your Lord and Savior, today is your day. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.

Maybe you used to walk with God, but life happened. You got mad. You blamed God. You walked away.

But isn't it interesting that Lazarus, the man who had life happen to him in the worst way is in heaven? Don't abort what God has you going through. He might be setting you up for a great finish.

It's not how you start the race, it's how you finish.

2 Timothy 4:7 says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Notice Paul never said "win." He said "fight." Do not grow weary, for in due season you shall reap what you've sown, if you don't give up.

Make Your Decision Right Now

This is the most important decision of your life. Tomorrow is not promised. Every day is a gift.

If you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, pray this with me right now:

"Father God, I thank You for Your son Jesus, who died for me and rose for me, that I may have life and have it more abundantly. Holy Spirit, come into my life. Guide me, lead me, fill me. Jesus, I surrender. I make You my Lord and my Savior. In Jesus' name, amen."

That's your second birth. That means you won't have a second death.

Remember This Truth

Much like the thief on the cross who said, "Lord, remember me," you can make that decision today. The thief had lived his whole life in sin, but in his final moments, he chose Jesus and Jesus said, "Today you will be with Me in paradise."

It's never too late while you still have breath.

But here's the reality: you may leave here today and this might be your last day. You don't know.

Make sure you are right.

Fight the good fight. Finish your course. Keep the faith.

It's closer than you think.

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