“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12)
We relate more closely to some in the Scriptures than others. Those who serve in the military that know Jesus Christ as Savior will relate towards the mighty men of valor spoken of in the Word, many of them mentioned in 1 Chronicles. Those whom the Lord has blessed with wisdom, towards King Solomon and especially the Book of Ecclesiastes. Many women see themselves akin to either Mary or Martha, and those who seek to be pleasing in the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ will endeavor to be the mirror of the Proverbs 31 woman.
How many of you though see your life as Lazarus, who sat at the rich man’s gate?
There are many different aspects of this saint’s life that are worth more than this humble writer of letters is gifted to expound upon, but I would ask you to contemplate these in this man’s life. He was sick, lame and diseased, with little strength of his own. Much of this would infer a sense of being tired almost continuously, along with the pain of the flesh, his mind may have drifted many times towards frustration, even anger at times as he watched those in the world pass by him each day, probably without a second glance.
He had become as much a part of the surroundings as the gate that he laid at each day, barely noticed, if at all, rarely if ever given a second glance or thought.
Is this you? Do you know physical pain, hunger, the knowledge that you will never walk amongst those that pass you by each day. Does your mind continuously wander from that frustration and grief back to the praise and adoration of the Father?
Can you thank Him for the crumbs?
There is another thing about this man, “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” (Luke 16:25) Who finally was rested after his flesh was destroyed, when he found solace resting on Abraham’s chest.
He needed people.
He could not walk, at least not well enough or far enough to get to the place of poverty, outside the doors of the man of wealth. Apparently, he somehow found out that outside that gate food would be offered to him, but he could not get there. Much like the man at the pool of Siloam, “The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” (John 5:7) Lazarus had friends, friends that were willing to make time in their day to not only carry him there, but back home again each day.
We are not told for how long this went on, or if it was an everyday occurrence, but notwithstanding that, the fact is without his friends, he would not be at that gate.
Do you need friends? Is it impossible for you to do something without the assistance of another? Do you find yourself leaning on the everlasting arms almost continuously, is the Lord covering you with the shadow of His wings, is He your Strong Tower?
There is one other thing about Lazarus that I believe to be true, he did not complain, at least not very much and probably only rarely to even the closest of his friends. “But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10)
Can you see the scars on Paul’s back? Can you see where they pierced our Lord? Do you think this man Lazarus’s name is worthy of Hebrews chapter 11? “(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” (Heb. 11:38)
Where you are is where the Almighty wants you to be, in that place, praise His name, make a joyful noise in your heart to His blessed name, for your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)
