June 24, 2026 · Mark Bishop
No Second Chance
““There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.”
Luke 16:19-25 →
## The Different Me
A popular theme on talk shows talking about how a celebrity’s life was when they were young. Sometimes it features the person being made fun of because of their looks, or being bullied in school. Then they want to show the world, and often times the classmates who were on the other side, their transformation. Maybe the popular kid was worse off than the one they made fun of or the ugly became an attractive model. Time gives us an interesting perspective and we often see our mistakes. The thing about time is we can't rewind the clock. We look back and can often have regrets or wonder what could have been if we had done something different. When time ends for someone, then it causes us to reflect and it reminds us that time is real; our time can end at any moment. This rich man was wealthy within our time, but according to eternity where there is no time, he was poor and helpless. The poor man was poor and had physical problems within time, but to eternity he became rich and healed. The rich man would be the popular kid
that turned to a life of drugs; Lazarus would be the ugly or outcast kid that became a success story. You and I have one life to live within a specific time frame and we can't get it back. If we limit our life within this time, then we may miss out on the place where there is no time- eternity. We must live a life with eternity as our perspective, which causes us to see others the way God does.
## Self-Check
Tomorrow may be someone's end in time, but it also could be someone's success story in the realm of eternity. You may have the words and actions to lead them to a better life than the one confined to time. Live your life with eternity in mind. There is no second chance.
## Without Excuse