As we approach Halloween, the glorification of death, goblins, ghosts, and all things macabre, it might be wise t know that eternity, whether heaven or hell is immediate at death, and indeed, is forever. Yesterday, our Covenant Bible Study focused on the story of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. It is found in Luke the sixteenth chapter, verses 19-31.
I quote from the English Standard Version of the Bible: 19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.[a] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 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.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Jesus was talking to the Jews of His day, and to us. When someone dies, don’t we often say, “Rest in peace”? If that person, indeed, if we, fail to learn the Scriptural lesson to prepare for the sure event of death, and commit to following God’s law, there is no turning back or paying for our sins and way of life after the second of our last breath.
Eternity’s judgment depends on what occurs BEFORE our last breath.
So, if we think goblins and ghosts are mere imagination and that Halloween is meaningless, perhaps we need to think once more about our destiny and learn from this parable from Scripture. The aftermath of death is eternal torment even begging for a drop of water. And the warning is the begging this man did to try to knock some sense into his brother who faced the same fate at the rich man who lived selfishly and lavishly. He had no thoughts of his eternal destiny, but we, who are reading this warning, have the means of changing ours.
I am heartened by these things in the last few weeks. Since the death of Charlie Kirk, hundreds, no thousands, have paid attention to their ultimate purpose in this life–that of worshiping God and committing to faith in Jesus Christ. Forty-one million Bibles have been purchased in the last month. Hundreds of new chapters of Turning Point have begun to worship on our campuses. As we pass houses with ghouls displayed, it might be a good time to assess our walk with or without God in our lives. Eternity is a long, long time. There is NO ESCAPE. Purgatory does not pay for sins of this life. There is no changing status. 
I know our church is full. We take turns watching the services livestream in a smaller space so newcomers can worship in our beautiful new sanctuary. Come and see what it’s all about, either in person or livestreamed. Make your choices before the choice is delivered at your last breath. I invite you to covenantpalmbay.org to hear the rest of the story. Halloween is not a joke, and Jesus doesn’t play games. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and yours is the decision to learn, listen, and act. You either live your life as you wish and suffer the eternal consequences, or you learn that Lazarus, who had little in this life to live for, but had eternity to enjoy in the “bosom of Abraham,” which was his understanding of God’s plan. Did you notice verse 31? Jesus knew He would rise from the dead, and even then, some would not believe. He is the only one who visited hades (hell)–eternal separation from God, the Creator, and was able to not only escape, but to rise from the dead and sit in the presence of God forever until He returns again to take His own with Him.
Will you be one of the rich man’s brothers and pay attention today? That was his wish for them, and for me–that you deal with your destiny while life’s breath is in you. When you breathe your last breath, your destiny is sealed, and there’s no turning back. There are no “do overs,” and Halloween is no joke. It is an opportunity to die eternally in torment, where even a drop of water in hell’s fire is a need, or to live with the saints in eternal praise to the Creator who offers eternal rest indeed. You may hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Mathew 25:21
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