In the opening scenes of the film “Gladiator” RussellCrowe shouts these words “What we do in this life echoes in eternity!” toencourage his troops. Think about those words for a moment. What we do, what wesay, how we act, how we feel and now let’s put the little word others withthose phrases. What we do to others, what we say to others, how we act towardothers and how we make others feel. What we do echoes into eternity.
Luke16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple andfine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: There was a rich man thatwore very expensive clothes and every day was like a party to him. This manenjoyed life and had the money to make it happen but like all mankind if youlive then you must die.
Luke16:22…..the rich man also died, and was buried; Well, whathappened when this man died?
Luke16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments,… What we do in life echoes in eternity;what do we see echoing? There is misery, pain and torment; but there is muchmore. The first thing I see is that he is still concerned about himself.
Luke16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tipof his finger in water, and cool mytongue; for I am tormentedin this flame. My, look at thepersonal pronouns! The second thing I see is his concern for his brothers.
Luke16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thouwouldest send him to my father’s house:
Luke16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lestthey also come into this place of torment. Go tell my brothers for ifyou don’t they are coming to this place of torment. He wanted his brothers toknow so they would stay out of this awful place; he would have told themhimself but he didn’t listen when he was being told. It was easy not to listenwhen he had plenty. He could have had a thought like “all they want from me ismy money.” Money is not the issue, God doesn’t need our money, matter of factit is God’s anyways. We must be careful what we do in this life for it willecho.
Galatians6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reapcorruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap lifeeverlasting. We must be careful what we sow; if we do like the rich manand sow to ourselves then we will reap to ourselves and it will be corruption.If we sow to the Spirit then we will reap life everlasting. As we leave thehouse this morning; as we pick up our bag of seeds what kind of seeds will bein our bag? Will the seeds be those that will make things better for us or willthey be seeds that will help and encourage others. Will our words be kind orhateful, will we be patient or impatient, will we be bossy and want everythingour way or will we be considerate to the concerns and feeling of others? Willwe pray and ask God to help us be more like Him and to doour best to view others the way He would. Or will we be just concerned aboutand for our own selves? Stop and think for “What we do in this life echoes in eternity!”
