They do not hear

 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 16:31 ESV

Jesus finished His story about the rich man and Lazarus with the above statement. Of course we know that even after Jesus was resurrected from the dead there were and are still those that refuse to believe that there will be a judgement to follow this life. Before His own resurrection Jesus had raised Jairus' daughter, Lazarus and the young man in Nain. So, we know that Jesus had told this story so that they would realize that even a miracle like, returning from the dead would not convince people of who Jesus was and that He came to bring forgiveness. He knew that some would not be convinced to change their lives before it was too late.

The human mind is so finite that for a lot of folks resurrection from the dead simply cannot be possible and are not convicted by the teaching. Their hearts and minds just don't want to accept anything other than their perception of reality being; that this life is all there is and when you're dead, you're dead.

They believe there is nothing to worry about or think about other than the here and now, they have no concept of a there and then.

What Jesus is talking about simply put is, there are those that no matter how compelling the evidence is that there is an afterlife and a final judgement, they will not believe and will not change their ways. Jesus wants His listeners to understand that this life is the only opportunity anyone gets to accept God and His ways. Once this life ends we will go where we deserve to go, for what we did in this life.

We as Christians must realize that it is our Job to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified, but it is ultimately up to the individual that hears that good news to make a decision as to what they will do with it. Lets do just as Jesus did, teach and preach and leave the response up to the hearer. If the soil is good, the seed we sow will grow with God's care, he will give the increase.

Preach on!

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman