Abraham said to the rich man who was suffering in torment in Hades, “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us” (Luke 16:26).
Brother Palmer Wheeler once wrote, “Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late. There’s danger and death in delaying, accept God’s saving grace!”
The rich man learned this lesson in a most terrible way. He lived selfishly during his life. Then, when he so desperately wanted relief, he was told it was too late. He could not change his fate. He could not leave his place of righteous punishment.
He had worn the finest clothes and thrown lavish parties, but now he was miserable. He had lived for the moment, but now his eternity was set. We have been warned, “Weigh everything in the light of eternity. For if you do not, the things you most cherish now may simply be the idols that damn you.” The rich man learned too late that his earthly possessions were not worth his immortal soul (Matthew 16:26).
Time runs out. The days slip away almost unnoticed until we look back, wondering where all of those days went! The Lord informed us that our lives are merely a “mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). We know it to be true, yet we so rarely live as if we understand.
The rich man in Luke 16 encourages us to make the most of our opportunities – to stop wasting time with the frivolous and vain! He wanted relief – it was too late. He was concerned about his brothers – it was too late. He had wasted his time!
Paul warned: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). We must make the most of today since we do not know what tomorrow holds, and once we die, there are no second chances (cf. Hebrews 3:15; 4:7).
Today is the day for second chances; tomorrow is too late. We must be on the lookout for opportunities to share the Gospel with others and be aware of our own need to repent, knowing that on the other side of eternity, there are no second chances.
