Saturday, 6 August 2011

The Prayer of a Certain Rich Man


Have you ever been in a difficult and undesirable situation which you wish you hadn’t? Experience they say is the best teacher. However, it is not always refreshing to learn through experience. Learning through experience means learning the hard way, this as we all know is not something invigorating to do. At least, most of us had learned a lesson or two the hard way. We have learned from our mistakes, we have learned from our past experiences and past relationships with people. It should be stressed that, to some of us, most of what we know now are things we have learned the hard way.

While learning the hard way can be very beneficial, sometimes it can lead to deteriorating effects which are usually irrecoverable. For example, a young lady experimenting with sex may end up acquiring HIV/AIDS or Chlamydia which are incurable sexually transmitted diseases. The bottom-line is that the young lady may eventually learn her lesson the hard way, but she also may have already suffered an irrecoverable damage (i.e. her contraction of the STDs).

Often times when we go through difficult times we don’t only from our experience but we also become advisors and saviors for others, warning and advising them to learn from our lesson and experience, and not go through similar difficulties.

Well, it happened that a certain rich man found himself in an irrecoverably hard situation and having learned his lesson the hard way, he desired and prayed that NO ONE should be made to go through the same pain he went through and probably is still going through right now. Here’s the rich man’s prayer: 

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” – Luke 16:27-28

The preceding scriptures to the above give a detailed report about the suffering of the rich man which led to his prayer. Read the full report below:

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
-         Luke 16:19-26

The next time you think about hell, about its existence or non-existence, bear mind that someone is already there, and praying that you should not join him. There have been many revelations of Heaven and Hell to variety of people; from Mary K. Baxter (a renowned Pentecostal pastor) to Colton Burpo (a 4 year old), as well as Choo Thomas (a housewife). These revelations, I believe, are direct answers to the rich man’s prayer.

Dear reader, It is up to us to take these revelations serious and remember our creator whiles it is still day (Eccl. 12).

On a more serious note, where do you fall? Are you for Heaven or Hell? Should you die today, where will your soul be? Please, search deeply within your heart. If your answer to the above questions is NO, then I want to invite you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you were traveling to see someone in another city, you will need the direction to find the way that leads to that person’s house. Jesus is the way that leads to Heaven and the Bible is the direction that helps you to find the way (John 14:6).

As you read this, God is knocking at your heart, He want to save you, He want to give you everlasting life. You can be saved today; don’t wait until tomorrow because tomorrow may never come. Accept Jesus today, believe in Him with all of your heart. Please pray this prayer:

Lord Jesus I come to you this day
I am a sinner and I call on your name today.
I believe with all of my heart that you’re the Son of God
I believe you died for my sins. Today, I accept you as my Savior.
Please forgive me of all my sins. Cleanse me and make me whole.
Write my name in your Book of LIFE.
Teach me your ways and help me to serve you all the days of my life.
Thank you for saving me, in your name Jesus, I pray. AMEN!

Congratulations if you just prayed the above prayer. Click here for more information. God richly bless you.
Related posts: 
Discover What Sin Really Is and How to Overcome It