A man selling umbrellas outside an arena was trying to convince women going in to buy an umbrella. The sun was shining bright that day. He kept urging them with this pitch: “Ladies, it’s gonna rain.” He was trying to persuade them that even though the sun is shining now, one day it will rain and you will need an umbrella. That salesman was up against a tendency many people have today. They find it hard to think ahead and plan for a rainy day. That is what Jesus was explaining when he related the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus found in Luke 16: The rich man lived in luxury in this life, never considering what lay ahead after he died/Lazarus suffered in this life, but his fortunes changed for good after he died. The rich man ended up in hell pleading, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.'” Abraham replied, “‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.” This is a sober warning for each of us: We should consider what our future holds after death.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
