地獄來的呼聲 (卓爾君牧師)
如果說,帶領我們走向天國道路的關鍵人物是耶穌,那麼,帶領我們走向地獄道路的關鍵人物很可能就是我們自己。儘管對地獄的描述在聖經中占有極大的篇幅,但這個話題卻很少被人宣講,也是一個被聖經學者所遺忘的一個學說。
如果我們將走十字架的道路當作像是模特兒走伸展台,那麼我們就會逐漸忘記耶穌所要求基督徒的責任,我們會忘記天國的原則以及地獄的可怕。人在地獄中的痛苦難以形容,但關鍵還不是那痛苦的感覺,而是那個沒有期限的永遠,沒有人可以跨越鴻溝再次進入通往天國的道路。
羅馬書3:23說「因為世人都犯了罪,虧缺了神的榮耀。」神賜給我們財富是要我們去分享及幫助,顧念到神的心意、榮耀神。
財主進入地獄並不是因為他生前擁有財富,而是因為他們沒有認知到他對周遭人的義務及神對他的託付和使命。我們也要思考,自己的言行、內心的思想是否虧缺了神的榮耀。我們是否緊緊地抓住自己的財富,抓住自己的救恩,吝嗇與他人分享?
路加福音16:19-31 (和合本)
- 有一個財主穿著紫色袍和細麻布衣服,天天奢華宴樂。
- 又有一個討飯的,名叫拉撒路,渾身生瘡,被人放在財主門口,
- 要得財主桌子上掉下來的零碎充飢;並且狗來餂他的瘡。
- 後來那討飯的死了,被天使帶去放在亞伯拉罕的懷裡。財主也死了,並且埋葬了。
- 他在陰間受痛苦,舉目遠遠的望見亞伯拉罕,又望見拉撒路在他懷裡,
- 就喊著說:我祖亞伯拉罕哪,可憐我罷!打發拉撒路來,用指頭尖蘸點水,涼涼我的舌頭;因為我在這火燄裡,極其痛苦。
- 亞伯拉罕說:兒阿,你該回想你生前享過福,拉撒路也受過苦;如今他在這裡得安慰,你倒受痛苦。
- 不但這樣,並且在你我之間,有深淵限定,以致人要從這邊過到你們那邊是不能的;要從那邊過到我們這邊也是不能的。
- 財主說:我祖阿!既是這樣,求你打發拉撒路到我父家去;
- 因為我還有五個弟兄,他可以對他們作見證,免得他們也來到這痛苦的地方。
- 亞伯拉罕說:他們有摩西和先知的話可以聽從。
- 他說:我祖亞伯拉罕哪,不是的,若有一個從死裡復活的,到他們那裡去的,他們必要悔改。
- 亞伯拉罕說:若不聽從摩西和先知的話,就是有一個從死裡復活的,他們也是不聽勸。
Luke 16:19-31 (NIV)
- “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
- At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
- and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
- “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
- In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
- So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
- “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
- And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
- “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,
- for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
- “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
- “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
- “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”