“A Great Gulf Fixed”
165
Those who heed Moses and the prophets will require no greater
light than God has given; but if men reject the light, and fail to appre-
ciate the opportunities granted them, they would not hear if one from
the dead should come to them with a message. They would not be
convinced even by this evidence; for those who reject the law and the
prophets so harden their hearts that they will reject all light.
The conversation between Abraham and the once-rich man is
figurative. The lesson to be gathered from it is that every man is given
sufficient light for the discharge of the duties required of him. Man’s
responsibilities are proportionate to his opportunities and privileges.
God gives to every one sufficient light and grace to do the work He
has given him to do. If man fails to do that which a little light shows to
be his duty, greater light would only reveal unfaithfulness, neglect to
improve the blessings given. “He that is faithful in that which is least
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is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also
in much.”
Luke 16:10
. Those who refuse to be enlightened by Moses
and the prophets and ask for some wonderful miracle to be performed
would not be convinced if their wish were granted.
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus shows how the two classes
represented by these men are estimated in the unseen world. There
is no sin in being rich if riches are not acquired by injustice. A rich
man is not condemned for having riches, but condemnation rests upon
him if the means entrusted to him is spent in selfishness. Far better
might he lay up his money beside the throne of God, by using it to
do good. Death cannot make any man poor who thus devotes himself
to seeking eternal riches. But the man who hoards his treasure for
self can not take any of it to heaven. He has proved himself to be an
unfaithful steward. During his lifetime he had his good things, but
he was forgetful of his obligation to God. He failed of securing the
heavenly treasure.
The rich man who had so many privileges is represented to us as
one who should have cultivated his gifts, so that his works should reach
to the great beyond, carrying with them improved spiritual advantages.
It is the purpose of redemption, not only to blot out sin, but to give
back to man those spiritual gifts lost because of sin’s dwarfing power.
Money cannot be carried into the next life; it is not needed there;
but the good deeds done in winning souls to Christ are carried to the
heavenly courts. But those who selfishly spend the Lord’s gifts on