The Riches of Our Inheritance

All right. Well, the title of today's message is, The Riches of Our Inheritance. The Riches of Our Inheritance. We've been back from the feast now, I guess, a few weeks now, and we were reminded at the feast of this incredible calling that we have. You know, being one of the very few, the very few chosen that God has pulled in and pulled out of this world, grabbed on and pulled out of this world. And so we were admonished to be heated up by that knowledge there at the feast. Keep the heat up. Keep this as priority. So what would you say, then, is the worst spiritual condition that a chosen one of God can find themselves in? Where God says to those whom He's enlightened, don't ever find yourself in this spiritual condition. Let's turn over to Revelation 3 in verse 14. Revelation 3 verse 14. Here's where we have an admonishment here of those whom God has called. Revelation 3 verse 14, and to the angels of the church of Ladio-Sians write, these things says the Amen and the faithful and the true witness in the beginning of the creation of God. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth, because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. He says, I counsel you to buy from me the gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich in white garments, and that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, and that you may see as many as I love, I rebuke, and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Luke 1. But what is this condition?

It's the condition of those whom God has given this incredible calling to. This incredible calling to have an opportunity to a spiritual adoption, to an eternal inheritance to come. And to those then who he's given this to, he looks down and sees that those have, instead of having that as their priority, they have then held up the things of this world, the riches of this world, the things that speak to the self, where they hold those things equal to, or above, the eternal riches of God's inheritance, heated up by God's Spirit, but then cooled down because they didn't put that inheritance as first in their life.

And God says, I wish that that seat had never have landed, that you would have remained cold. Then for me to look down and see that you don't realize what the opportunity that I've given you, I've given you this riches of my inheritance, and you're choosing to focus on the things of the self, not being separate from, but instead taking in all the things that the world offers.

Luke Warm, this condition will be death of any of those called ones who don't put this call in his priority in their life. So today we're going to look at this challenge, we're going to look at those things, and look at specifically what our inheritance is so that we can be heated up by that knowledge.

We're going to speak about the importance of not allowing ourselves to become cooled down to this condition that is just detestable to God. It's detestable. And we're also going to review a parable today, a parable that has an extreme lesson of importance to us, those who are called in this lifetime. We're going to look at two individuals today, both of whom received the truth of God, both of whom were heated up and had their eyes opened, but both ended up with very different eternal results.

We're going to read how one put God's calling first in everything he did, and this world beat him up for it. This world that's turned their back on God. He made the sacrifices and he suffered, but those temporary sufferings we'll see then led him to an eternal inheritance, a glory that far exceeded this suffering. And then we'll read the fate of another man who didn't just the opposite. He allowed the world to cool him down to the point to where God couldn't trust him with this eternal inheritance, couldn't trust him with the eternal life.

And let me tell you, when we get to that, it's gut-wrenching, because we're going to read the moment in which that individual, that man, realizes the consequences of not putting this calling first and its eternal consequences. He shows the temporary riches of the world, which caused him to lose out on the eternal inheritance from God. But we'll get to those two men in just a moment. I think what is important first is for us to remind ourselves exactly what is our inheritance. What are we striving for?

What are we making sacrifices for? What does God's spiritual adoption then give us access to? What is our inheritance? Well, the answer might be closer to us physically than you think. Right under our nose and more accurately, right under our feet. Let's turn to Galatians 3 in verse 16. Galatians 3 verse 16.

This is the perfect place to start. We're going to see a promise of an inheritance here. And as we go through this, let's take an analysis and think about what we might be, consciously or even unconsciously, putting above this inheritance, where we're choosing the things of the self and the temporary riches of this world above what our inheritance is. So Galatians 3 verse 16. Paul is speaking to the Gentile-born converts here in Galatia. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.

He does not say, and to the seeds, but as of many, but as of one, as to your seed, who is Christ. Now skip down to verse 26. For you all are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free. There is neither male nor female. For you all are one in Christ Jesus. Now see here in verse 29. And if you are Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to a promise.

So first we see here that the Christian is not yet a possessor of his or her reward, only an heir. And so what a Christian is to inherit then, if saved, is this definite, specific promise from God. And those that, as verse 29 said, those of Christ or Abraham's seed, heirs to a promise made to Abraham.

So then if one is converted, regardless of race, color, man, woman, if one is of Christ, a Christian, then he becomes one of Abraham's children, an heir to the promise made to Abraham. So whatever a Christian is to inherit then is whatever was promised to Abraham.

So what was promised to Abraham? Good question. Let's find out. Genesis 12 and verse 1. Genesis 12 and verse 1. We'll see precisely here, begin to build the truth here of what was promised to Abraham. Genesis 12 and verse 1.

What was promised to Abraham? Now the Lord said to Abram, Get out of your country from your family and from your father's house to a land I will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Let's get down to verse 6.

Abram passed through the land, the place of Sesham, and as far as the Terabeth tree of Moray.

And the Canaanites were there in the land, and the Lord appeared to Abraham and said, To your descendants I will give this land.

And there he built an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him.

So what precisely did God promise to Abraham here?

It's the promise of land. Land. Let's continue. Abraham went to Egypt for a short period of time. There was a famine in the land, and he returned to Canaan. And we're going to see now that God reiterated this promise to Abraham and his descendants. Go forward to chapter 13 in verse 14. Genesis 13 and verse 14.

And the Lord said to Abram, After Lot had separated from him, Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are.

Northward, southward, eastward, westward, For all the land in which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, So that if a man could number the dust of the earth, Then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise and walk in the land through its length and its width, For I give it to you.

So for how long? Verse 15. Forever.

This is an eternal inheritance. It's a forever inheritance. What else do we see here? Verse 14. It speaks of actual land. Lift up your eyes, Abram. Northward, southward, eastward, westward, For all you see, all you see, I will give to you and your descendants, And your descendants will be numbered as the dust of the earth.

Incredible. So this land now has expanded.

We're about to see the incredible fullness of this promise. Let's turn over to Romans 4 and verse 13. Romans 4 verse 13.

This scripture is going to point us to the length and the width, the depth in which this promise is. Romans 4 verse 13.

Let's see this. It says, For the promise that he, Abraham, would be heir of the world, was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

So what Paul is saying here is that Abraham's faith was the basis of his righteousness. He's the father of the faithful. But what else is mentioned here?

What is this promise from God to Abraham, that he'd be heir to what?

Heir of the world.

Heir of the world. To Abraham and his seed, his descendants. Heir of the world. So what is this inheritance?

The entire world. The entire earth.

And this promise of airship to the world is not just a promise to Abraham. We're going to see and build to see that all true Christians, all true Christians, are promised the world, the earth.

It's getting exciting now. So let's build this understanding. Abraham had a son, Isaac. Let's see if this promise was passed down to Isaac. Go back to Genesis 26 here. Genesis 26 in verse 2.

Genesis 26 in verse 2. This is a scene at a time where there was another famine in the land and Isaac now went to king of Emilech here.

So let's see if this promise was passed down to Isaac. Genesis 26 in verse 2.

The Lord appeared to him and said, Do not go down to Egypt, live in the land of which I tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. For to you and your descendants, I give all these lands, and I will perform an oath which I swore to Abraham, your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven, and I will give to your descendants all these lands. And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice, kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

So the same promises of a promised land, all the land, were extended then to Isaac.

Well then, where they also extended to Isaac's son Jacob. Go forward a few chapters to Genesis 35 and verse 9.

Genesis 35 and verse 9.

See if they were passed down to Jacob. Then God appeared to Jacob again, and when he came from Paddam Aram and blessed him, and God said to him, Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel should be your name. For he called his name Israel. Also God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land in which I gave Abraham and Isaac, I give to you, and to your descendants after you, I give this land.

All right, well, we're seeing this incredible inheritance now being passed down throughout the generations here. What about Jacob's children? Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, had 12 sons, each one giving rise to the 12 tribes of Israel, the Israelites. Go back to Romans 9, verse 3.

Again, we're seeing this incredible inheritance being passed down through Abraham's descendants.

Romans 9 and verse 3.

For I could wish that I myself were a curse from Christ, for my brethren, my countrymen, according to the flesh, and see what verse 4 here says, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the surface of God, and the promises of whom are the fathers, and from whom, according to the promise of the Lord, and from whom, according to the promise of the Lord, the promises of whom are the fathers, and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is all over and eternally blessed God. Amen.

So here we are referring to the Israelites, to whom the promises pertain.

So what we've established through Scripture so far is, first, that the world, the entire earth, was promised to Abraham and his descendants. We've seen this promise, now specifically, passed down.

It's an eternal promise made from God.

So now let's look at Luke 3, verse 23. This is important. Luke 3, verse 23. This Scripture is important because now it's going to give us proof that Jesus Christ himself was a descendant, a seed, of Abraham.

Luke 3, verse 23.

Now Jesus himself began his ministry at about 30 years of age, being the son of Joseph, son of Eli. And it goes through the lineage here, but skip down to verse 34. We started with Christ, and now verse 34.

The son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.

Let's stop there.

So he, Christ, came from the tribe of Judah. One of the sons of Jacob, or Israel, the son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. So Jesus Christ himself was a descendant of Abraham.

I know what you're thinking. Well, that's wonderful. That's great.

But what about us? What about us? How does one who is not a direct descendant of Abraham by birth, then become heir to the promises that were made to him? Let's turn back to Galatians 3, verse 28. Galatians 3, verse 28. I know this is a lot of scriptures, but it's so important for us to have this study and see it step by step. This is our inheritance. This is the internal inheritance that we're fighting this world for. That we're putting first in everything that we do, making the sacrifices for.

So important to understand this. This understanding is what keeps us hot.

Not allowing anything of the self to motivate us. Not allowing anything of the world to be a part of any of our actions that we do. We read this earlier, but in Galatians 3, verse 28.

There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free. There is neither male nor female. For you all are one in Christ. And if you are Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.

So we know that all people who haven't descended from Abraham through Isaac, through Jacob, are Gentiles in the Bible. So Paul went on to show here to the Galatians and to you and I.

The only way that we can become heirs to this promise made to Abraham is to become a child of Abraham, a seed of Abraham. And the only way to do that is through the spiritual adoption through Jesus Christ.

And so we must become of Christ, then, to be adopted into sharing the promise made to Abraham.

And look up at verse 7 here.

Galatians 3 is 7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

So Paul went on to further explain this to the Ephesians, who were also Gentile Christians before their conversion. Turn back to Ephesians 2, verse 11, really quickly.

A few chapters, a few books over. Ephesians 2, verse 11, where it says, Ephesians 2, 11, Therefore, remember that ye once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcised by what is called the circumcision, made in the flesh by hands, that at the time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope without God in the world.

So as Gentiles, you and I, we were strangers to these promises. No hope, zero hope, without Christ and his sacrifice. Then we, after that sacrifice then, are brought near. We're brought to this incredible promise made to Abraham.

Skip down to verse 19.

And therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. So today, in every nation, one can become an heir to the promises made to God, that God made to Abraham, by becoming a seed through Jesus Christ. They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

So if you are a converted Christian, then Abraham is your father. You will inherit whatever God promised to him. All true Christians are heirs with Abraham to inherit what?

The promise of an eternal inheritance of the entire world, the entire earth, turn over to Hebrews 11, verse 8.

This is Hebrews 11, verse 8. This is one of my favorite scriptures here.

We're actually going to see that this understanding that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, they were sojourners, just like you and I, temporary inhabitors on what was not yet given to them. Hebrews 11, verse 8.

By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called out to go to the place with which he would receive as an inheritance, which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith, he dwelt in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he waited for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Have they received the promise already somehow? Have they already obtained their inheritance? Verse 13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises. Not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers in pilgrims on the earth. Skip down to verse 39. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise. And God, having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. That's so cool. That's so cool. What's the Scriptures telling us? These promises made to our forefathers, they have not yet obtained. They will not be made perfect apart from us. They will not obtain this inheritance apart from you and I. Think about that.

We are with all these men. It's our inheritance, too.

And we know this is our inheritance, and so this is what this knowledge is, what we can't be lukewarm about with regards to this truth. Let's have our complete dedication. We must do a continual and a regular analysis to make sure that every thought, every action, every decision we make has that eternal inheritance in mind, and that there's nothing of the self that's directing any of those things that we do. Nothing of anything of this temporary world, and the riches thereof.

When we get to that parable, and that man who lost it all after he had his eyes opened, it's a great warning to us.

And we know Christ came preaching the good news of the kingdom of God, kingdom of God, which is to occupy this earth. And as we read in Revelation 21, a new heaven, new earth, holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven now to be established upon the promised earth.

The meek shall inherit what?

The earth. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Not the kingdom in heaven at that time anymore. It won't be in heaven anymore. The kingdom of heaven, which is now established here on this promised earth, on this inheritance of ours.

So the question, what things of this physical world are we willing to give this up for?

What are we willing to sacrifice? Are we willing to sacrifice the riches of this world for the inheritance that is to come, to make that our priority, to be heated up, to not allow anything to cool us down to that state which is detestable to God?

It's the worst state to be in. He'd rather you be hot or cold. Don't be lukewarm. Don't be cooled down to that temperature. Whatever you do, God says. And we know that Christ will raise up those who set their eyes on God and have those priorities straight. And this will be the first resurrection consisting of those who overcame in that lifetime. Let's just turn to one Scripture here, Matthew 24 and verse 30. One Scripture with regards to the first resurrection here. Matthew 24 and verse 30.

Another one of my favorite Scriptures.

Matthew 24 and verse 30. And the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other.

So we see this role that the angels will play at the sound of this trumpet. They're going to go out to all four corners and gather up all those who remained hot in this lifetime to take them to obtain the promise made to Abraham, made available to us through Jesus Christ. They'll gather them up and take them to realize that inheritance.

There's another resurrection to follow. We know this is the second resurrection when all those whose eyes weren't opened will be raised up in this second resurrection, and they'll have the opportunity to learn God's truth, to repent, therefore also receive this inheritance. But that's not us. That's not us.

Our eyes have been opened.

Our judgment on these matters is occurring now.

Take hold of it.

We can't back down from making the sacrifices necessary, and it will cause some suffering to do so.

But the suffering is nothing compared for what is to come.

So there is a third resurrection that will take place near the conclusion of God's plan. This will be a resurrection to a physical life of those who were aware of God's truth, aware of that purpose, aware of this eternal inheritance, but then willfully chose to put other things first. They were heated up, yet they still didn't make the sacrifices necessary to put that calling first. They still just took in everything of the world. They still held those things equal to or above the riches of God's inheritance. Can you imagine? Let's turn to Hebrews 6 and verse 4. Hebrews 6 and verse 4.

We'll read just a few scriptures with regards to this third resurrection here. Hebrews 6 and verse 4.

Hebrews 6 and verse 4 says, Go forward a few chapters to Hebrews 10 verse 26. Hebrews 10 verse 26.

For if we sin willfully after we've received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God under foot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace. Those are powerful words there.

Trampled the Son of God under foot, meaning they didn't respect Christ's sacrifice.

That made it possible for us to then have this eternal inheritance to come.

They didn't honor it. They treated it as just some common thing, equal to the importance and priorities to the things of this world.

Didn't treat it as special.

So for no sacrifice for sins is left, only a fearful expectation of judgment, raging fire will consume the enemies of God. It's great knowledge for us. It's great motivation.

But you know God's will is that none of those to whom he's opened their eyes, none, not one, shall perish. Not one.

And so he makes a full commitment to us, a full commitment, including the sacrifice of his very Son, so that he could then give us the power to help us obtain this eternal inheritance. That's his commitment.

It's an incredible commitment. He's giving us all he has.

And now he's looking to see the level of our commitment.

Malachi 4, you don't have to turn there, Malachi 4 speaks of the day, burning like an oven. All the proud, yes, the wickedly, will be stubble.

It says the Lord of hosts who will neither leave them root nor branch. That's the lake of fire. You know, there's no mention of torture. God wouldn't do that to his children, no matter how much they rejected him.

But they will be burned up, cease to exist. This is mercy, keeping them, those from living in the misery that their choice would bring.

So with that, let's not leave anything up for chance. We have to have that full evaluation regularly. Where are my priorities? Where are my priorities? Not indulging anything, making sure nothing of the self comes in.

So we have this understanding. Let's get to those two men that I spoke of. And again, through this story, we'll see two men, and we're going to see the power and the consequences that our choices in this lifetime, with having our eyes opened, can have. The choice to honor this knowledge that we've had our eyes open to, to put it as priority, to always be looking toward that future, or the choice to treat this calling as something common, not being heated up about it. Luke 1, not making the priority, choosing the riches of this world over the riches of God's inheritance. Let's get to this parable. Let's turn to Luke 16 in verse 19. This is the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.

Luke 16 in verse 19. Let's read through this once, and we'll then come back to analyze each verse. And as we're reading through this, let's see if we can't pick up on some of the things that we've studied today in reference to this parable. And the imagery of this parable is just, it's so powerful because it speaks to you and I. Luke 16 in verse 19.

Two men. There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. There was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell, from the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died and was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in the torments of Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off in Lazarus and his bosom.

Then he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me. 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 in your lifetime you received your good things. Likewise, Lazarus, evil things. But now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all of this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot.

Nor can those from there pass to us. And then he said, I beg you therefore, Father, that you would send him Lazarus to my Father's house. For I have five brothers that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. And Abraham said to him, They have Moses. They have the prophets. Let them hear them. And he said, No, Father Abraham, but if one goes from the dead, they will repent.

And he said to them, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead. So let's go through this. So back up to verse 19. There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linens and fared sumptuously every day. Well, this man, this rich man, he was rich in the things of the world.

That's where his riches were. That's where his priorities were. That's where his focus was. Even though his eyes were opened, we'll see, to God's truth, he allowed himself to be cooled down by what was in front of him by the temporary riches of the world. He didn't make the sacrifices to go against it. He lived sumptuously in this world, took it in everything. He blended in. So verse 20. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with crumbs, which fell from the rich man's table.

Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. So here's Lazarus. He represents just the opposite. Lazarus was a man who was completely scarred. He didn't go in the motion of the world. He fought against it, and therefore the world beat him up because he had to make sacrifices. He was poor physically.

He didn't take in the things of the riches of the world. But we'll see that he was rich spiritually. He made the sacrifices to be separate from the world. So one man rich in the world and one man rich put his riches in God's inheritance.

So verse 22. And it was that the righteous man, the beggar, died and was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom. What does that sound like? Being carried by angels to Abraham's bosom. Abraham, to whom the promise of the inheritance, the promise of salvation, has now been made to and available through Jesus Christ to us.

And we remember the role that the angels play in the first resurrection, don't we? Well, they'll be sent out together up, all of God's elect, to take them to inherit, to obtain, to realize this inheritance made to Abraham, gathered up. So Lazarus here, symbolically, here in this parable, is then gathered up to be taken to obtain those promises there in the first resurrection. Let's continue. End of verse 22. And the rich man also died and was buried, and being in the torments of Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Let's stop there. So Hades here, it simply means the grave. In the Old Testament, the word for grave is sheil. In the New Testament, the word for grave is Hades here. So symbolically here, this rich man now rises up and out of the grave, and he's looking up, and now he sees Lazarus as part of Abraham, close to Abraham, part of those promises here.

He's looking up from the grave, so he now begins to remember. He's just starting to realize that even though his eyes were opened during his lifetime, he chose the riches of the world. So symbolically here, he's beginning to realize the judgment. He's realizing the resurrection in which he's been judged to. Verse 24. And he cried. That's a big statement. Can you imagine what's symbolically being given to us here? And he cried. And he cried.

It's incredible regret here. This is heart-wrenching, this moment. And he said, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me. Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I'm tormented in this flame. So there's verse 24 here, have mercy upon me that Lazarus may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. He sees his judgment and he's saying, have mercy upon me. And he says, have Lazarus dip the tip of his finger. Let's talk about this for a moment. You know, he's not burning at this moment in this part of the parable in this scene, or else he would ask for buckets of water. We remember he's still looking up from Hades, which simply means the grave. So physically, he's not asking for coolness for water. He just asked for mercy from God. And so the word tongue here can be better translated to the word speech or words. So the rich man's saying, have mercy upon me. Send Lazarus down to give me the words that I can say to somehow have this judgment reversed. Tell me what I can say.

Give me the words and I'll say it. I want to be part of that promise, that resurrection. I want to be taken up by angels to be there, part of that promise, not where I find myself here now.

So pictured here, he now realizes that his indulging in the riches of the world has now earned him a spot in the lake of fire. And now Lazarus has a part of this promise made to Abraham. So verse 25, but Abraham said, Son, remember, that's a big word, you chose, your eyes were opened.

Remember that in your lifetime you received your good things. Physically, you may have been rich in that lifetime, in your physical life. You took it all in sumptuous way. You weren't separate from it. And likewise, Lazarus' evil things. In other words, it may have seemed like he was poor, but he was rich. He was rich. He was heated up spiritually. So the end of verse 25. Now he is comforted and you're tormented. In other words, now you're in anguish because you realize your fate, mentally tormented. So verse 26, now here's Abraham continuing to speak to the rich man. And besides all this, between us and you, there is a great gulf fixed so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those pass there pass to us. In other words, once the judgment has been fixed, of which resurrection you will be judged to, there's no change in it. And then verse 27, this part gets me. It's almost like he symbolically here realizes he did remember his choices. And in a way, he's almost kind of accepted it. But now the thought of his family now comes to the forefront of his mind here. Imagine this feeling. Verse 27, he said, I beg you therefore, Father, that you would send him, Lazarus, to my father's house, that I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.

He now saw, he accepted his own fate, but now he sees that his brothers may be leading to the same judgment. Maybe he'll send Lazarus. Maybe he'll be able to convince them to change their ways. Verse 29, and Abraham said to him, they have Moses and the prophets, they have the law, they have the truth. Let them hear them. And he said, No, Father Abraham, if one goes from the dead, they will repent. Surely they'll repent. And he said to him, if they don't hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead. It wouldn't make a difference. Even if I did send Lazarus. This is what's symbolically being said here. It wouldn't make a difference. Their heart is in the world. They've heard Moses and the prophets. They had the law. They had the truth. They're making the same choices that you did. Nothing will change their mind, even if I sent Lazarus. They've been given that way of life, and their choice is to not live it. So we don't want this regret. If I can give a message quickly to those younger generations, you know, I look back at my life. I grew up in the church, knew the truth, knew all these things that were speaking about the internal inheritance. God opened my eyes to it. And even with that, I can't tell you the colossal amount of time that I spent lukewarm in my 20s and 30s.

Colossal amount of time, lukewarm. I was a good person. I would come to church. I would shake people's hands. I would smile, and I would say, that was a great sermon. Where do you want to go for dinner tonight? Pretty much summed up my temperature for many, many years. Completely indulging in the world's riches. My money I would spend on new shoes and clothes. Never was satisfied. I had to get a new car pretty regularly. I always needed another bedroom on the house. I was the epitome of lukewarm, and I didn't even realize it.

Everything was about me. Everything was about how can I just take from these riches of this world?

Imagine, instead of me spending $130 on a new pair of shoes I didn't even need, imagine if I would have taken that money, put it in an envelope, wrote on the outside, I hope this blesses you. And what if I would have slipped that in someone's purse or someone's briefcase who I knew really needed it? That would have been producing heat. What if I'd have been satisfied instead of increasing my debt on things of me every year? What if I would have taken that increase and done something good with it? Help those in need. Those would have been moments of heat. And the time I spent focused on working up the corporate ladder, gaining status of the world gives. And what if I would have worked just as hard in this? Trying to make myself as best of an instrument as possible for God to use. Best servant, preparing myself.

A colossal amount of time, being lukewarm, and I still thank God to this day that he didn't just completely spew me out of his mouth because I deserved it. Don't spend another day being lukewarm.

Don't miss out. Everything you do, every decision, every thought, needs to have the eternal inheritance to come in mind. Everything. Stay hot. Everything we do. Down to your shoes.

And if I could speak to the older generation for a moment, I want to thank you for being a spiritual foundation. And I'd like you to keep reaching out to the younger generations and do it more. They need a relationship from you. They need to hear how you've been able to remain hot through all the years. They need to hear those stores of heat. They need to hear that your boss told you that if you go off to the feast, don't worry about coming back because you won't have a job. And you knew you had $20 in your pocket. And then you told the boss, what's been nice knowing you?

Because I'm heading to the feast. And you were scarred and beat up by those decisions.

But God pulled you through every one of them. Pulled you through every one of them. And you have ended up living a life that's more full than you could ever imagine. They need to hear those stories of heat. Get to know some of the younger generations. Build a relationship with them and then share those. It's a vital role that you serve in the church. What an incredible promise we've been given to inherit the earth. An earth that will have the very throne of God established on it. It's a promise that's been made to each and every one of you. Let's continue to dedicate ourselves to it until that day when we'll become part of those who are gathered up by the angels to be taken to obtain the riches of our eternal inheritance.