Consolation in Eternity (Isaiah 66:13)
Glory be to God
Consolation in Eternity
"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem" Isaiah 66:13
In the epistle to the Galatians eternity otherwise Jerusalem which is above when we say concerning it, it is mentioned as the mother of us all (Galatians 4:26). Therefore regarding the comfort in eternity if it is received from God it is understood as the comfort of a mother. The ransomed of the Lord shall return with songs and joy and come to Zion everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness. Not only that their sorrow and sighing shall flee away (Isaiah 35:10). As such when we pay attention about the comfort they receive we see it as the experiences there in New Jerusalem in eternity (Revelation 21:2-5). The experiences of the souls those who die in the Lord is said as they will rest from their labours (Revelation 14:13). It is the experience of rest after we leave this earth therefore (Daniel 12:13) even at the end of our lives we too will receive the comfort as the mother comforteth in Jerusalem.
This comfort is the experience in eternity or the experience after our death even Jesus makes us to understand through the incident of the rich man and Lazarus.Jesus says as it is not the story but as the true incident. It is because in all other parables Jesus never said about anyone's name but in this incident alone it is clearly pointed out the person's name. We could see this incident as the experiences which happened to their souls after the death and burial of the rich man and Lazarus. It is said through the words of Abraham when the rich man experience torment in the hell whereas Lazarus is comforted in the bosom of Abraham. This they received according to their experiences when they were in the earth (Luke 16:25). Therefore in order to receive comfort in eternity we need to have such experiences and live accordingly in this earth.
When we learn about the experiences of the rich man and Lazarus more than two persons it is understood as two state in our life. We have two personalities outer man and inner man as such two experiences (2 Corinthians 4:16). If so let us think about the life of the outer man of the child of God is the state of the rich man and the life of the inner man with the experience of Lazarus. When we see about the rich man he was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously. In the twenty fifth verse Abraham the father says as it as the goodness he received. Any person eat and drink and enjoying good through all their labours is the goodness which is gift of God (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13).
More than the times of our fathers our God blessed us and the church thereby God gave abundance of goodness to the servants of God and to the children of God.Therefore today aren't we all changed to live wearing valuable garments, with all sensuality living luxuriously? Nowadays have we not changed as those having no time to pray, to fast, to read the word of God even we have changed our sunday services for a tradition sake. As Jesus says we serve mammon (in tamil substances in the world), desiring more the things of the world (Matthew 6:24).Our life has changed to covetousness (in tamil materialistic) (Ephesians 5:5). With surfeiting and drunkenness with the thought of the cares of this life of what to eat and drink thereby became as those thinking how to enjoy life with all luxury (Luke 21:34). Along with that desired and stir up to wear silk and purple garments thereby we see that they are cared about in what to cloth (Matthew 6:31). The pride,fullness of bread and abundance of idleness are said as iniquity (Ezekiel 16:49). The abounding of the material treasure with sensuality living at rest changes to forsake God (Job 21:7-15). Such life without fear of God become iniquity.
When we live in iniquity the state of our inner man is like the life of Lazarus.Since iniquities are gone over the head no soundness in the flesh, and the state of wounds stink and are corrupt because of foolishness (Psalm 38:3-5). Earthly treasures luxury makes us to have life of backsliding spiritually. The experience of the backslidden is from the sole of the foot unto the head is putrifying sores only head or whole mind is sick and the whole heart faint (Isaiah 1:5-6). In spiritual life the state of being completely backslidden from God.There is no children of God to help either no divine care like the life of dogs licking the wounds. Otherwise along with the backsliders and the life like them with their help. Lazarus being desired to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table (Luke 16:21). It is the state of dogs attempting to eat of the crumbs which fall from the master's table (Matthew 15:27). They are the children of God who need to live with the divine experiences as enjoying delicious food. Since they were brought up in scarlet and grow in sensuality become the state of backsliders like dogs who embrace dunghills (Lamentations 4:5). Like Lazarus desired to satisfy his hunger with the crumbs fallen from the master's table they desire as well (Luke 16:21). However we do not know whether Lazarus got even so we do not know whether they'll get or not. Like the younger prodigal son who left his father's house none gave him anything as such it is possible for them as well not to receive anything? (Luke 15:16).
At present if our spiritual state is being in this state even there is hope in it. After Lazarus died angels took him to Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22). We see here when that poor died. We need to die as the heirs of the kingdom which is promised to them that love God though they are poor in this world yet rich in faith (James 2:5). Therefore now itself let us turn our hearts and return back before we leave this world through death. Let it happen for us to turn from the wicked ways and from not hearkening to the voice of God but only acknowledge our iniquity and return to our God (Jeremiah 3:13-14). Then our God take us to Zion and appear before God (Psalm 84:7). If so before God, it is possible we will be comforted in Jerusalem. It is said that departing and turning away from our backsliding ways by acknowledging our transgressions and sins will be pleasing unto God (Ezekiel 33:10-11). Therefore we should not be living only to say Lord Lord but leaving our backsliding state and sanctifying our lives yielding ourselves for the will of God and live then we can enter into the kingdom of God and be comforted (Matthew 7:21).
Again when we think about the rich man and Lazarus in another aspect we can learn in a special manner. The name of the rich man is not mentioned (Luke 16:19). This shows there is no much importance for our earthly life in the presence of God. But if we give importance to it and live as worldly ones like the rich man we'll reach the place of torment, the hell (Luke 16:25). It is because the rich man stirred himself to receive goodness only in this life. As such if we live by having hope only in this life in desiring to receive only earthly goodness then we will be changed most miserable of all men (1 Corinthians 15:19). Become twofold worthy of hell (Matthew 23:15). But our spiritual life is like Lazarus whose name is clearly mentioned. We have the spiritual life in which our God redeemed us by calling by our name and made us as His own (Isaiah 43:1). Through the repentance of baptism redeemed and freed from sin becoming servant to God and the life which we receive at the end is eternal life (Romans 6:3-5,22). Such ones like Job receiving testimony from God as the servant to God being perfect, upright, one that feareth God and escheweth evil (Job 1:8). We could see they are included in the church whose names are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:23). Since their names are written in the book of life they are worthy to enter into the kingdom of God (Revelation 21:27). But those names which are not written in the book of life and like the rich man whose name is not written in heaven will be cast into eternal fire (Revelation 20:15).
Not only that as Lazarus received evil things in this earth we too should be ready to receive evil things (Luke 16:25). Even Job in his life was willing to receive evil from the hands of God (Job 2:10). Because of which in the body of Job like Lazarus was afflicted with boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown (Job 2:7). Everyone forsake him and became the state of none to help him (Job 19:13-19). In further when we see the friends who came to comfort Job says that Job counted them as beasts (Job 18:3). Isn't like the dogs to Lazarus? They are experienced to Job as miserable, grieving comforters (Job 16:2). But from the hands of God or all evil which is allowed by God is truly working together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).Our God led us through evil ways that He might humble us and prove us to do good at the latter end (Deuteronomy 8:16). Sometimes we might have amissed before we are afflicted with sufferings. But God is good and the one who doeth good therefore in our sufferings we ought to pray that God's statutes should be instructed to us. If then it is good for us that we are afflicted. Thereby we will learn the statutes of God and keep the words of God (Psalm 119:67-68,71).
Spiritually when we learn this state in this wilderness journey the world our God humble us thereby to know whether we will keep His commandments or not and to prove us and to know what is in thine heart are the ways that God led us (Deuteronomy 8:2). As the people of Israelites were fed with manna our God gives us His heavenly words that is His commandments and laws. It is for that we should live with the word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord not with bread only (Deuteronomy 8:3). Therefore to humble us and prove us and to know that we keep His ways thereby to do good in the latter end (Deuteronomy 8:16) in this worldly life the permitted evil which is allowed for us and the temptations we should endure joyfully. Therefore let us endure temptations and become blessed and good ones. Otherwise we are seen as those that love God, that keep God's words (John 14:15). So that in the latter end in eternity God will give us the goodness which is the crown of life (James 1:12). Therefore when we go through trials like Job let us sanctify us the more by knowing God and His words the more (Job 42:5-6).
God calls us unto Him and says in two aspects He will give comfort (Matthew 11:28-29). Firstly in our earthly life because of sufferings and difficulties when we labour and having heavy laden it is probably for us to go to Him. Then He careth for us when we cast all our care upon Him thereby it will happen for us to receive comfort (1Peter 5:7). Secondly Jesus says that He will give rest to our souls. As Lazarus was comforted in the bosom of Abraham in the after life even so in the eternity for our souls as one whom his mother comforteth we will receive comfort from Jesus. For that Jesus says to carry His yoke upon us and learn with Him. As the good part Mary hath chosen which shall not be taken by anyone, sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing His words let it happen for us to say that one thing is enough. Let us not travail to live a life like the rich man so that let us forsake the life of caring and troubling with many things (Luke 10:38-42). Let it happen for us to be willing and obedient to hear His words.Then we shall eat the good of the land or God will do good in the latter end in eternity (Isaiah 1:19). Therefore let it happen for us to comfort one another with these words in our earthly life (1Thessalonians 4:18). Let our Lord God bless everyone of us.
