I don't want to hear it ...

I think we have all been the one who at times hears something or sees something that we intentionally tune out. Perhaps it's something like pretending you don't hear your wife calling you from a different floor as your watching that last play on the last drive with :08 left; Hypothetically of course. Then of course there are those things, that when confronted, out of our defensive nature, we deny, push away, or ignore them all together. Perhaps it's ignoring that one line item on your 1040 that you know you should fill out; but with all the other real problems in the world, you feel you have a right to win a few sly deals now and then. Or perhaps it's that last really important text you need to send when you promised to yourself that you are done texting and driving.

There are hundreds of examples; and while we should always try work on making the right decision for our own character development, and ultimately reflect Christ, there is one bit of news we don't want to ignore ...

And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’

Jesus told this parable about two individuals (now dead to the world) separated by an chasm in eternity that couldn't be crossed. One side was with God (and Abraham happened to be there in this story for illustration), and the other side was in torment (Hell). The one in torment tried to ask someone on the other side to send word back to his living family members so that they could learn the truth and avoid the same fate.

But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

The responsibility is pushed back on those living; they know the truth. They may not want to hear it or believe it, but they have that choice.

And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

After all, an individual coming back to life to give a warning should surely be enough proof, right?

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.’”

... (Luke 16:27-31 ESV)

Spoken by Jesus Himself, who later raised a man name Lazarus, and later Himself; how little things change. I imagine some today are on the other side of that chasm, begging at least for their family to find out. When all along; we have the truth. I almost hear Jesus saying: "They weren't convinced when I rose from the dead either ..."

While I could take a perspective of "they're never going to change", that's not what I hear from God. The story is told so we can place ourself there, imagine ourself in that position. Let us not wait until we are on one side of that chasm or the other to make His Truth known.

~Matthew