“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Sometimes we think if we could jump in the Way Back, we might be able to convince ourselves to act differently, or perhaps if we could jump in the T.A.R.D.I.S. and plead with those who’ve passed away without a relationship with Jesus, we might could make a difference… I don’t think we could. When Jesus is telling his disciples the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Rich Man is suffering in torment awaiting his eternal judgment. He wants to go back and tell his brothers the truth so that they would turn to Jesus. Abraham tells him (basically) that won’t do any good, if they won’t believe the Bible, they wouldn’t believe you either… besides, Jesus WILL come back from the dead!”
All we need to do is point to Jesus. He is the way. No DeLorean required.
