Eternal Consequences — July 24 [Description]Overview of the Passage:This passage reflects on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, emphasizing the eternal consequences of living selfishly and ignoring God’s word. The rich man, having lived a life of self-indulgence, realizes too late that he failed to prepare for eternity. Hoping to warn his family, he asks Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead. But Abraham responds that if his brothers won’t listen to Scripture (“Moses and the prophets”), even a miracle won’t convince them. The passage teaches that God has already given people enough light and truth in His Word to guide them—and ignoring it leads to hardened hearts and spiritual ruin. It also contrasts earthly wealth with heavenly riches, showing that spiritual faithfulness—not status—is what God values. The lesson applies both individually and corporately, as Christ used it to warn the Jewish nation that privilege without obedience leads to judgment.

Spirit of Prophecy Reading

Christ’s Object Lessons pp.264-268:365D 205.1

The rich man had spent his life in self-pleasing, and too late he saw that he had made no provision for eternity. He realized his folly, and thought of his brothers, who would go on as he had gone, living to please themselves. Then he made the request, “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him [Lazarus] to my father’s house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” But “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.”365D 205.2

When the rich man solicited additional evidence for his brothers, he was plainly told that should this evidence be given, they would not be persuaded. His request cast a reflection on God. It was as if the rich man had said, If you had more thoroughly warned me, I should not now be here. Abraham in his answer to this request is represented as saying, Your brothers have been sufficiently warned. Light has been given them, but they would not see; truth has been presented to them, but they would not hear.365D 205.3

Christ longed to let light shine into the darkened minds of the Jewish people. He said to them, “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God. This did not Abraham.” John 8:39, 40.365D 205.4

Christ recognized no virtue in lineage. He taught that spiritual connection supersedes all natural connection. The Jews claimed to have descended from Abraham; but by failing to do the works of Abraham, they proved that they were not his true children. Only those who prove themselves to be spiritually in harmony with Abraham by obeying the voice of God, are reckoned as of true descent. Although the beggar belonged to the class looked upon by men as inferior, Christ recognized him as one whom Abraham would take into the very closest friendship.365D 205.5