Five Minutes After Death

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Luke 16:19-31

There was a time when we did not exist, but there will never be a time when we will not be. Death is unavoidable, but it is not the end. Our eternal destiny waits for us five minutes after death.

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus shares a parable full of contrasts. This story stresses the importance of settling our relationship with Jesus Christ on this side of death.

First, Jesus points out the contrast in two men’s lives: one was rich, the other poor. (See Luke 16:19-21.) They were born into different classes and were part of different social hierarchies; one had much and the other had little.

Jesus also spoke of the contrast in their deaths. When the rich man and the beggar died, they were buried according to their manner of life.

Yet, this passage also shares the contrast of their eternities.

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16: 22-23).

Jesus pulls back the curtain to reveal the other side of death. The beggar was ushered to Heaven, while the rich man watched from Hell.

Describing the glories of Heaven, Jesus shares that the man who once begged for crumbs was now seated at the highest place of honor.

Adrian Rogers says, “Heaven is all that the all-beneficent loving heart of God would desire for you. Heaven is all that the omniscient mind of God could design for you. Heaven is all that the omnipotent hand of God could prepare for you.”

But Jesus also taught the agony of Hell and demonstrated it with His own death. The justice of God demands it, therefore, we cannot discard the doctrine of Hell.

Jesus reveals Hell to be a place of sensual, emotional, and spiritual misery; and because our spirits are eternal, the torments of Hell are eternal. (See Luke 16:24-29.)

But if we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, we can know, without a doubt, that He will save us and keep us for all eternity.

Apply it to your life

You don’t have to gamble with your destiny; come to Jesus today and be saved. Pray for your loved ones and share the Gospel with them before it is too late.