We Must Issue the Warning

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’” Luke 16:27-28 NIV

In one of the many stories published after the death of the lead singer of Black Sabbath (a band many a runner has or has had on their playlist) Tuesday, Variety magazine reported the following: Ozzy Osbourne, a founding father of British heavy metal, a latter-day solo star and a new-millennium reality TV luminary, died Tuesday after a yearslong struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 76. Osbourne’s death was confirmed by the BBC. He had performed just two weeks ago at what was billed as Black Sabbath’s last concert, a festival titled “Back to the Beginning,” in his and the band’s hometown of Birmingham, England, that amounted to a massive tribute to the legendary band, including from such legendary spiritual offspring as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Alice in Chains and more. A statement from his family reads: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”

Sadly, while Ozzy may have been surrounded by love at his passing, any feelings of tenderness and warmth he felt were quickly replaced by feelings of agony and affliction. You see, unless the singer had repented before his death, all outward appearances indicated that Ozzy was not a believer in Jesus Christ. And because of that, Ozzy immediately entered into the “place of torment” known as hell upon his passing. This is a place so awful that, the rich man pleaded that Lazarus (the beggar he had once ignored) would come and apply a drop of water to his tongue to ease the agony of the fire he was feeling. When the rich man was told by Abraham that this was impossible, “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment

So, if you’ve said to yourself, “Hell can’t be that bad.” Think again by friend. Think hard. Hell is a real place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, total separation from God, and eternal physical and mental torture, distress, and suffering beyond what the human mind can comprehend. Knowing that, I hope (if you haven’t already) that you will choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior today before it’s too late, that you might receive the gift of eternal life in heaven… a place of never-ending comfort, joy, and fellowship with the Father. And if you are a believer, I hope that you’ll boldly implore the lost to be reconciled back to God before it’s too late.  

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that Hell is a real place reserved for all who choose to not accept You before they breathe their last breath. Father, help us to be bold in preaching the Truth in love that none would perish and go to Hell on account of our silence. Help us to be remember that we will be held accountable for not sharing the Gospel at every opportunity. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.    

Happy Running!