Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus back to talk to his family. This is Abraham’s reply:

Luke 16:29-31 NKJV – Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ “

“Neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”

This parable taught by Christ preceded Himself being risen from the dead. Why He taught this was to show that once He was risen. Those that have sought after money. Those that seek to be rich would never listen to what is taught within the Word of God. This has been seen as true. For most would rather keep their earthly wealth and even seek after more. Bringing the reality to these verses:

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Most don’t understand that by keeping and seeking after money they chose to follow what is earthly over what is heavenly. Most can’t even conceive of an eternal existence. They just seek after earthly comforts and pleasures. Most don’t even spread the Good News. This in turn brings in another parable:

Matthew 25:14-30 NKJV – “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.”

Most qualify for this title of “unprofitable servant.” Because they bury their talent. They covet their salvation and refuse to share it with anyone.

They proudly profess their personal salvation. They refuse to share how others can become a servant of Christ. Also, very few give away their earthly wealth. So few that you never hear of it for decades if not centuries. This is why Jesus Christ said this:

 Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV – “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

What is required to enter the narrow gate IS difficult. It is difficult to downsize. It is difficult to live a needs-only existence as instructed by the Bible itself:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

“Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

This verse teaches a needs-only existence. Yet, how many the moment they accept Christ as their Savior downsize?

I know of none. In fact, I didn’t myself until I thoroughly studied the Word of God for myself. Then it took years to downsize properly once I entered into a needs-only lifestyle. That is why I know it is difficult because I have lived it personally.

Does this guarantee to me that I am on the narrow path through the narrow gate? I will only know that answer to that on the day I awaken in the presence of God. For as I have shown in past studies of the Word of God none can know for sure they are going to heaven. Any that say they are, are saying they are living without sin. In addition they have called Jesus Christ Himself a liar.

1 John 1:8-10 NKJV – If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

This is also a part of the difficult journey. The path to eternity.

Jesus Christ makes it very clear in all His teaching what is required to take the narrow path. The key element. Follow His teachings. This is seen in the sermon on the mount. This is found within all His teachings. With key elements like not praying in public. Spreading the Word of God. Living a needs-only lifestyle. What is most important of all is not living a lawless lifestyle.

Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

James 2:26 NKJV – For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Those that teach people that it is by faith alone, that they are OSAS, teach lawlessness. They teach people to break the least of the commandments. They teach people to take the wide path and enter into the wide gate. They don’t teach salvation, but damnation. They willingly ignore the difficult path and avoid the narrow gate.

Why?

Because it is too difficult for them. It is too hard for them.

They don’t want to surrender their comforts, their homes, their pleasures. Because they cannot nor do they understand the concept of eternity.

They can’t see past 100 years. That is why they ignore the narrow path. That is why they refuse to enter into the narrow gate.

Jesus promises treasures in heaven. That we are to seek after our eternal rewards. Treasures that will last for billions upon billions upon billions of years.

100 v 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

It is like the odds of Jesus Christ fulfilling all the prophecies foretold within the OT. Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies. Therefore, heavenly rewards that will last for billions of years are true as well. But here is the rub.

Gold has so much value in the new earth that it is used to make roads. It has the same value as asphalt.

Revelation 21:21 NKJV – The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Therefore, our riches are not materials or possessions. It will be something greater and more glorious than any will ever know. That is until we enter our immortal body and begin to live our immortal life.

Seeking after the narrow and difficult path is just that. But most start down the path and find it too demanding. They do as the Spirit inspired Peter to say in his second letter.

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

They would rather live in this world and embrace possessions. To live a needs-only existence is beyond what they have been told and taught what is required to live their earthly existence. Because to them this is all there is. For there is no eternity. However, they don’t realize the moment they deny eternity they deny their Savior Jesus Christ and so in turn they deny their own salvation.

God Bless