HELL IS A PLACE

Reformed Perspectives Magazine , Volume 9, Number 47, November 18 to November 24, 2007 "HELL IS A PLACE" Luke 16 (Inspired by the poem "Dives and Lazarus") By Bobby Gawthrop One day it went down this way: Ol' Lazarus was laid he down, down at the rich man's door, linen and livin in luxury fine, surely, his riches to share with a beggar so poor But the rich man bedecked, he in purple dressed, and said: ‘all mine' Ol' Lazarus was laid he down, down at the rich man's wall, linen and livin in luxury fine, surely, his riches bestow, cooperation not stall But the rich man bedecked, he in purple dressed, and said: ‘all mine' Ol' Lazarus was laid he down, down at the rich man's gate, linen and livin in luxury fine, surely, his riches bespeak no miserly hate But the rich man bedecked, he in purple dressed, and said: ‘all mine' Then the rich man sent his servants out, to stone ol' Lazarus gone, but the stones like their rage fast melted away, and the plot for his bruising was done Then the rich man released the hounds, to bite ol' Lazarus thru, but the beasts where he lay, his sores licked away, not a bone of his body was chewed One day it went down this way: ol' Lazarus worsened and died, the angels, they came, he was carried away, to Abraham's bosom and side One day it went down this way: the rich man up and died, his soul stripped away by the demons who prey upon the tormented dead as they cry The rich man's eyes did rise, to spy across the chasm, grey, there he saw him, ol' Lazarus, in Abraham's bosom he lay From torment, in agony of flame, he cried for a cold drop of grace, ‘If only Lazarus' finger would dip with its tip, for now I know, hell is a place' But father Abraham replied: "recall your life upon earth's globe, your linen and livin in luxurious ways, and now likewise, Lazarus in turn, and everlasting agony your days' ‘I beg you father Abraham, I now know hell is a place, send Lazarus to my father's home, so my brothers avoid this tormented space' "But Abraham said ‘They have Moses and the prophets'" ‘Father Abraham, no!, I pray you, relent, if a dead man goes back, they're sure to repent' Abraham replied: ‘If Moses they do not prize, nor prophets in his train, no bended ear if the dead should rise, not even for a crucified man' And that's the way it went down