In the 16th chapter of Luke Jesus describes a scene that is frankly terrifying. It is about a rich man who in his life did not trust the Lord but his wealth and position and is now in hell fire because he had never repented of his sins. It is at this time the Richman, who is beyond poor indeed, in complete destitution and in hell that he begins to pray like he never prayed before. In his life he had so many opportunities to pray but had better things to do with his precious time. But now he prays and yells at Father Abraham in his plea for help. He sees that his situation is fixed and fixed forever so he prays as a great evangelist for his five brothers who are still living on earth that Lazarus could be sent back to tell them not to come to this horrible place. It reads like this “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father (Abraham), that you send him to my father’s house for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ (Luke 16:25-26)
It is here that we see that he repents too late. And in his prayer, we find that it is a hopeless prayer. As long as he was alive, he had a chance with a hopeful prayer that the Lord could hear, but now he prays but it is a hopeless prayer, and this is why it is a hopeless prayer.
- It was at the wrong time! Dear reader, if you hear His voice do not harden your heart for this is the only time you have to repent. And if you are getting an opportunity to repent take it right away because you do not know how much time you have left.
- It was in the wrong place! Oh, dear reader know this, there is a place and time to repent but it is not in hell. There is no place to repent in hell and turn to Christ. You have a place to repent, and it is a place called in the land of the living after this life there is no opportunity to repent and find hope in Christ.
- It was too the wrong person! Oh, he pleads for his soul and his family’s soul in sincere prayer, but it is to the wrong person, it was to Abraham who was across a great chasm where hell could not reach him. I have often thought “why did he not pray to Jesus at this critical time?” It is because it was clear to him that he was in a “God forsaken place” and it was clear that a prayer to Christ was not even considered or possible.
Dear church now is the time, the place and Jesus is the person you must pray to and repent and turn from your sinful rebellion to Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul. While you hear His voice in your heart flee to Him and find a prayer full of hope in our dear Savior’s name! Pastor Mark