Repair the Breach

There once was a rich man, who though interestingly was never named, lived a life of absolute luxury. And at his gate every day, laid a beggar named Lazarus, who only sought for the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. While the rich man dressed in the finest attire, Lazarus was dressed in wounds and sores that were licked by dogs.

These two men obviously lived completely different lives. But neither was spared from death.

When the day came that both Lazarus and the rich man died, angels brought Lazarus up to Abraham’s side. The rich man however, ended up in hell.

When the rich man looked up in agony from the fires of hell, he saw Abraham and Lazarus far away. He begged for Lazarus to bring him just a drop of water to quench his thirst.

But Abraham spoke up, reminding the rich man that he chose to have his pleasures in life and must now suffer. In contrast, Lazarus suffered on earth and could now be comforted.

“And besides all this,” Abraham continued, “between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”

But Abraham responded that there were already people on earth who could warn them.

The rich man begged one last time, “but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”

Abraham stood firm, saying that if they don’t receive from those on earth, then, “neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”

(Parable from Luke 16:19-31)

The Chasm

I would like you to notice one important verse in this parable: “a great chasm has been set in place”. Some translations call it “a fixed gulf”. The point is, it was a vast space, a breach, and this breach was permanent. It was fixed. It could not be undone.

As final as the fate of the rich man was, this is how final this breach was. This man had his chance and missed it. And nothing could ever be done for him to cross over into heaven.

Now understand that this chasm is only “fixed” when it comes to eternity. But when it comes to the chasm here on earth, the separation of good and evil, this gulf is not fixed. On earth, you still have a chance.

While this passage in Luke shows us that it is here on earth where we have our chance, Isaiah 58 teaches us what to do with that chance. It is in this passage that we are shown the power of the Lord when we are obedient to His will here on earth. It is here where God tells us that we will be called “the Repairer of the Breach.”

“Those from among you shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,” – Isaiah 58:12

We cannot repair the breach between heaven and hell. But we can repair the breach between the lost and their salvation. We can build up “the old waste places”, the decay and rot within this world. We can “raise up the foundations of many generations” and see our loved ones on fire for Jesus, never having to see the fires of hell.

But we must understand, our chance is now, here on earth.

Life is a Vapor

As the rich man saw (far too late), the pleasures on earth are nothing compared to what rewards wait in heaven. The man who lived a life of luxury begged for just a drop of water in hell. Even that would have surpassed the life he lived on earth.

Life on earth is the blink of an eye compared to eternity. And as Ecclesiastes tells us over and over again, it’s all vanity, anyway!

“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” – James 4:14

The grass withers. The flower fades. Only God is forever. (Isaiah 40:8) None of this will last. But eternity will. And which side of that fixed chasm will you be on?

Why spend your time now focused on you or your own pleasures? What is it really worth when it will all be gone tomorrow? Not “if”, when. Because it will be gone. And then what will be of you? Will you not be all that is left?

Now is your chance, not only for yourself but for others. Repair the breach so that others may see eternity as well.

As Abraham said, “neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”

Who is not persuaded by the life, death, and resurrection of Christ? Who are the lost? Where is the breach that needs to be repaired?

Find them. Find it. And seek the salvation of the Lord while there is still time.

Repair the breach before the great chasm becomes fixed.