Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Outbreak (04/07/11)
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TITLE: I Saw the Sores | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dee Washington
04/13/11 -
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A beggar with an outbreak of sores was laid at my door. He was a victim of the pestilence that was all around - spiritual poverty and moral depravity. His external eruptions were the effect of this internal, deep-seated disease. His sores symbolized the adversity and distress in his life, and the wounds were the result of a poor, spiritually void, poverty- stricken, sin-sick soul.
Because of my luxurious supply of the finest food, my illustrious shelter, and royal clothing, the beggar came to me "desiring to be fed with the crumbs… (vs. 21)” which fell from my table. Like many others, he knew his needs, and he came to me hungry for just a small taste of what I had been given.
During his ministry, the Lord Jesus, offered consolation and mercy to all the diseased that were placed before him. With a loving and merciful hand, he touched them and he healed them - of whom I was one. He gave me, and all his followers, his ministry along with “…power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases...to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2 NKJV).” He gave us supernatural resources and the best of heavenly riches, his compassionate and forbearing character, along with his word, faith, and prayer as the means to heal.
My arrogance was that the Lord gave me these riches and I could use them as my own. So I saved them up and spent them on myself. I had no care for the poor, the hungry, or for those who were affected by this pestilence of sin; I offered no compassion, no mercy, and no love. I left the man with the outbreak of sores for the dogs to lick his open wounds and so further his misery. I could have raised him up to take care of him as my brother, to feed and shelter him, to offer him a Balm for his wounds, and to tell him how to join me as a kingdom heir. I chose to close the door.
For me, the rich steward, the choice was lethal. I saw the sores, but did not share the good things the Master entrusted to me. I did not provide healing, or share the Lord’s material and spiritual resources, not even a crumb. Because I misrepresented the Master and wasted the Lord’s goods, my lot is a schism between me and the Kingdom that I cannot cross, and death has deprived me of any more opportunities. I was unfaithful and selfish with what was not mine, therefore, the riches I had in life, and misery in death will be my only reward.
But it is not too late for others. The pestilence is all around and the poor are still suffering. Those whose distress is bursting out are pleading, “Please, as you can see, my soul is diseased and I am in need. I have no one to care for me; I have no real food, no true shelter, and nothing to cover me. Would you share a small portion of the riches the Master gave to you - a serving of the Word of Life which makes one whole? Would you give me a mustard-seed helping of true faith so that I can be healed? Can you spare just a little bit of knowledge of how I may obtain this heavenly wealth?”
They have been laid at the door begging for as little as the crumbs that fall from the table. Just look at the sores.
Based on The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16 (NKJV)
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I don't think I would go as far as to say the rich man was a follower of Christ and given power to heal. As far as we know from the Scriptures, he was in hell. Be sure to represent the Bible accurately.
It's good writing and has a powerful message. Keep writing!
But this Lazarus is a whole different breed as you pointed out. He oozed with arrogance; even after he found himself in Hell he looked over and demanded that Father Abraham send the beggar that he stepped over while alive to dip his finger in water and place it in his mouth to cool him off. When that requested was denied he wanted someone to warn his brothers but would that really have helped? He didn't ask that his brothers be told of the true one and only God he just didn't want to see them in he'll too.
I remember looking at my minister and shaking my head I said it kind of sounds like he's sorry and my minister replied he's sorry where he ended up but he still has all of the arrogance to order Father Abraham around; he still thinks he's better than everybody
I said if I were in he'll I'd be sobbing and telling God I'm so sorry I messed up. My minister smiled and pointed at me and said "Exactly! You would get it, you wouldn't still order your servants around. "
I think sometimes when naive people like me hear that story we think that surely Lazarus must have repented eventually, surely it would knock his arrogance out of him. We know right away he was still arrogance in him but maybe he did start to repent. But one thing after witnessing He'll and seeing Father Abraham and knowing he messed up while a blind beggar landed on the other side I have to imagine he knew who God was he was just to arrogant to think the laws applied to him.
I still think you did a great job and part of writing fiction is imagining what might be in someone's mind. Whether you managed to mail his thoughts exactly or missed the mark completely you made people think and imagine what they might do in the MC's place. I know I don't think like most people do but I know my thoughts and words make others stop and possibly think in a new way.
You've done that here as well. Maybe the comments of others help us to stretch our minds even more. No one but God has all of the answers but we should keep on expressing ourPOV.