Estoy seguro que la mayor\u00eda de nosotros alguna vez hemos pensado en cuando de como ser\u00eda morir. Muchos tratan de no pensar de ello, pero no podemos evitar el pensamiento completamente.
\nMost of us, I am sure, have at one time thought about what it is like to die. Many try not to think about it, but we cannot really avoid the thought completely.<\/p>\n
Los que dicen que han muerto y revivido en realidad no lo han hecho, porque si realmente hubieran muerto no habr\u00edan vuelto.
\nThose who have said that they died and came back, really didn’t, because if they really had died, they would not have come back!<\/p>\n
Una vez vuelto el alma a Dios qui\u00e9n lo dio, esta vida ya termino y nadie se revive de aquello.
\nOnce the soul returns to God who gave it, this life is all over and no one is revived from that.<\/p>\n
Los cuentos que o\u00edmos no son confiables, son distintos entre s\u00ed, y esto demuestra que no son confiables.
\nThe accounts we hear are not reliable, and differ from one another, showing that they cannot be depended upon.<\/p>\n
Pero, gracias a Dios que \u00e9l nos ha dado un reporte breve, pero digno de confianza.
\nBut, thankfully, God has given us a brief, but dependable account.<\/p>\n
Porque viene de Dios mismo, sabemos que es confiable. No es en cuanto de alguien que muri\u00f3 y regres\u00f3, sino habla de dos personas que murieron y no pudieron regresar.
\nSince the Son of God himself spoke it, we know it is reliable. It is not about someone who died and came back, but rather about two people who died and could not come back.<\/p>\n
Trata, por supuesto, del caso del L\u00e1zaro y el Rico que se encuentra en Lucas 16:19-31:<\/p>\n
19 Hab\u00eda un hombre rico, que se vest\u00eda de p\u00farpura y de lino fino, y hac\u00eda cada d\u00eda banquete con esplendidez. 20 Hab\u00eda tambi\u00e9n un mendigo llamado L\u00e1zaro, que estaba echado a la puerta de aqu\u00e9l, lleno de llagas, 21 y ansiaba saciarse de las migajas que ca\u00edan de la mesa del rico; y aun los perros ven\u00edan y le lam\u00edan las llagas. 22 Aconteci\u00f3 que muri\u00f3 el mendigo, y fue llevado por los \u00e1ngeles al seno de Abraham; y muri\u00f3 tambi\u00e9n el rico, y fue sepultado. 23 Y en el Hades alz\u00f3 sus ojos, estando en tormentos, y vio de lejos a Abraham, y a L\u00e1zaro en su seno. 24 Entonces \u00e9l, dando voces, dijo: Padre Abraham, ten misericordia de m\u00ed, y env\u00eda a L\u00e1zaro para que moje la punta de su dedo en agua, y refresque mi lengua; porque estoy atormentado en esta llama. 25 Pero Abraham le dijo: Hijo, acu\u00e9rdate que recibiste tus bienes en tu vida, y L\u00e1zaro tambi\u00e9n males; pero ahora \u00e9ste es consolado aqu\u00ed, y t\u00fa atormentado. 26 Adem\u00e1s de todo esto, una gran sima est\u00e1 puesta entre nosotros y vosotros, de manera que los que quisieren pasar de aqu\u00ed a vosotros, no pueden, ni de all\u00e1 pasar ac\u00e1. 27 Entonces le dijo: Te ruego, pues, padre, que le env\u00edes a la casa de mi padre, 28 porque tengo cinco hermanos, para que les testifique, a fin de que no vengan ellos tambi\u00e9n a este lugar de tormento. 29 Y Abraham le dijo: A Mois\u00e9s y a los profetas tienen; \u00f3iganlos. 30 \u00c9l entonces dijo: No, padre Abraham; pero si alguno fuere a ellos de entre los muertos, se arrepentir\u00e1n. 31 Mas Abraham le dijo: Si no oyen a Mois\u00e9s y a los profetas, tampoco se persuadir\u00e1n aunque alguno se levantare de los muertos.
\nThe account is, of course, that of the rich man and Lazarus which we find in Luke 16:19-31:<\/p>\n
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 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.’ 25 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. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house– 28 for I have five brothers–so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'”<\/p>\n
Este reporte es distinto que las par\u00e1bolas por los detalles que se da y la cantidad de conversaci\u00f3n que se menciona. Tambi\u00e9n, porque el nombre de la persona se da. Ninguno de las par\u00e1bolas que Jes\u00fas habl\u00f3 mencionaba una persona por nombre.
\nThis account is different from the parables because of the details given and the amount of conversation recorded. It is also different because the name of a person is used. None of the parables that Jesus spoke ever mentioned the name of a person.<\/p>\n
Este reporte es un estudio en contrastes, porque la vida y situaci\u00f3n de las dos personas son extremadamente distintas, uno viviendo en lujo notable, con la capacidad de gozarse de todo lo que ten\u00eda, y el otro en pobreza total, y sufriendo de enfermedad que no le permit\u00eda proveer para s\u00ed mismo.
\nThis account is a study in contrasts, because the life and situation of the two were extremely different. One living in remarkable luxury, able to enjoy all the material things that he had, and the other in complete poverty and suffering from illness that made it impossible for him to provide for himself.<\/p>\n
Es dif\u00edcil imaginarse de dos personas m\u00e1s distintas. No solamente son distintas en lo que tienen materialmente y en su salud, pero tambi\u00e9n son totalmente distintas en su situaci\u00f3n espiritual.
\nIt is hard to imagine two people more different from each other. Not only are they different materially and in their physical health, but they are also totally different in their spiritual condition.<\/p>\n
Pero, s\u00ed ten\u00edan algo en com\u00fan. Siendo humanos, los dos eran sujetos a la muerte f\u00edsica, y murieron.
\nBut, they did have something in common. Being human, both were subject to physical death, and died.<\/p>\n
Pero, aun as\u00ed vemos un contraste, pero al rev\u00e9s. \u00c9l que estaba sufriendo ahora est\u00e1 consolado y \u00e9l que hab\u00eda vivido c\u00f3modamente est\u00e1 atormentado.
\nBut, here again we see a contrast, but it is reversed. The one who was suffering is now comforted and he that had live comfortably is now tormented.<\/p>\n
Esto nos muestra muy bien el hecho que las cosas frecuentemente son muy distintas de lo que parecen ser.
\nThis illustrates well the fact that things are often very different from what they appear to be.
\nGeneralmente pensamos que tener cosas en esta vida quiere decir que estamos muy bien, y que ser pobre y enfermo ser\u00eda el opuesto. Pero esta escritura nos ense\u00f1a claramente que pensar en esta manera es totalmente equivocado.
\nWe generally think that having things in this life is synonymous with being \u201cwell off,\u201d and that being poor, materially speaking, and sick would be the opposite. But, this account teaches us very clearly, that to think that way is to be totally wrong.<\/p>\n
Jes\u00fas dijo en Lucas 12:15:
\n…Mirad, y guardaos de toda avaricia; porque la vida del hombre no consiste en la abundancia de los bienes que posee.<\/p>\n
Jesus said in Luke 12:15:
\n…”Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”<\/p>\n
\u00bfPudiera existir una mejor ilustraci\u00f3n de la verdad que lo que tenemos en el caso de estos dos individuos?
\nCould there be a better illustration of this truth than what we have in the account of these two individuals?<\/p>\n
Lo que el rico hab\u00eda logrado tener no le sirve ahora para obtener lo que m\u00e1s necesita, la salvaci\u00f3n de su alma.
\nWhatever the rich man had acquired is of no use to him now to obtain what he needs most, the salvation of his soul.<\/p>\n
\u00bfNos sorprende, entonces, que Jes\u00fas nos ha dicho en Mateo 6:19-21?:
\n19 No os hag\u00e1is tesoros en la tierra, donde la polilla y el or\u00edn corrompen, y donde ladrones minan y hurtan; 20 sino haceos tesoros en el cielo, donde ni la polilla ni el or\u00edn corrompen, y donde ladrones no minan ni hurtan. 21 Porque donde est\u00e9 vuestro tesoro, all\u00ed estar\u00e1 tambi\u00e9n vuestro coraz\u00f3n.<\/p>\n
Is it any surprise, then, that Jesus has told us in Matthew 6:19-21?:
\n19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<\/p>\n
Alguien ha dicho, \u201cNo lo puedes llevar contigo, pero puedes mandarlo por delante.\u201d
\nSomeone has said, \u201cYou cannot take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Esto parece estar de acuerdo con la idea que Jes\u00fas expres\u00f3.
\nThis seems to agree with the sentiment of what Jesus said.<\/p>\n
Por lo menos L\u00e1zaro ten\u00eda en su vida algunas migajas de la mesa del rico, pero el \u201chombre rico\u201d ya no tiene nada, ni aun una gota de agua para refrescar su lengua. Ahora \u00e9l desea misericordia, una caracter\u00edstica que claramente hab\u00eda faltado en su comportamiento hacia L\u00e1zaro. El pide comodidad, pero nada se le puede dar.
\nAt least Lazarus had, in his life, some crumbs from the rich man’s table, but the \u201crich\u201d man now has nothing, not even a drop of water to cool his tongue. He now desires mercy, a characteristic that had been so noticeably absent in his behavior toward Lazarus. He requests comfort, but none can be given to him.<\/p>\n
Tal vez muchos pensar\u00e1n que el \u201crico\u201d fue condenado por ser rico y que el \u201cpobre\u201d fue aceptado por Dios por ser pobre y por haber sufrido tanto. \u00a1Pero ser\u00edan equivocados!
\nMany might think that the \u201crich\u201d man was condemned because he was rich and that the \u201cpoor\u201d man was accepted by God because he had been poor and suffered so much. But, they would be wrong!<\/p>\n
La condici\u00f3n espiritual de un hombre no se base en que sea rico o pobre, pero m\u00e1s bien, sino si su coraz\u00f3n ha sido cambiado para que sea como el coraz\u00f3n de Dios.
\nA man’s spiritual condition is not based on how rich or poor he is, but on whether the person’s heart has been changed to be like God’s.<\/p>\n
Es obvio que el \u201crico\u201d no amaba, y no cuidaba de las cosas espirituales, en cuanto de su alma, o en cuanto de las almas de los que estaban alrededor de \u00e9l.
\nIt is very obvious that the \u201crich\u201d man did not love, and he did not care about spiritual things, about his soul, or about the souls of those around him.<\/p>\n
Su coraz\u00f3n no era como el coraz\u00f3n de Dios.
\nHis heart was not like God’s heart.<\/p>\n
Evidentemente, L\u00e1zaro, durante de su vida, hab\u00eda aprendido amar, cuidar, y cambiar su coraz\u00f3n para que sea en armon\u00eda con el coraz\u00f3n de Dios por su atenci\u00f3n a la palabra de Dios.
\nEvidently, the \u201cpoor\u201d sick man had learned, during in his life, to love, to care, to change his heart to be in harmony with God’s heart through giving attention to God’s word.<\/p>\n
Llegar a ser como Dios no requiere dinero, posici\u00f3n, ni influencia, sino solamente un coraz\u00f3n que busca a Dios y obedece a su palabra.
\nComing to be like God does not require money, position, or influence, but only a heart that seeks God and obeys His word.<\/p>\n
\u00a1Qu\u00e9 bendici\u00f3n estaba echado a la puerta del \u201crico,\u201d si solamente \u00e9l hab\u00eda tomando el tiempo necesario para conocer a aqu\u00e9l hombre \u201cpobre.\u201d Tal vez hubiera recibido de L\u00e1zaro mucho m\u00e1s que \u00e9l le haya dado a este hombre pobre y enfermo.
\nWhat a blessing lay at the gate of the \u201crich man,\u201d if he only had taken the time to get to know that poor man! The rich man might have received of Lazarus more than he would have ever given to this poor sick man.<\/p>\n
Finalmente reconociendo que su situaci\u00f3n no ten\u00eda remedio, sus pensamientos volvieron a sus cinco hermanos.
\nRealizing, finally, that his situation had no solution, he turned his thoughts to his five brothers.<\/p>\n
Parece que reconoce que su situaci\u00f3n de ellos no es nada mejor que lo suyo y que ellos necesitaba cambiar para que no sufran el mismo fin.
\nHe seems to realize that their situation is not any better than his and that they needed to change in order not to suffer the same end as he.<\/p>\n
Qu\u00e9 triste que todos los d\u00edas de su vida, no dio suficiente atenci\u00f3n a sus propias necesidades espirituales ni a los de sus hermanos. Durante su vida, atendiendo a las cosas materiales, no hab\u00eda pensado en forma suficientemente serio en cuanto de la realidad de cosas espirituales.
\nHow sad that all the days of his life, he did not pay enough attention to his spiritual needs, nor to those of his brothers. All his life, attending to material things, he had never thought seriously enough about the reality of spiritual things.<\/p>\n
La soluci\u00f3n que sugiere para la situaci\u00f3n de sus hermanos, al igual al pedido que hizo para s\u00ed mismo, envuelve un pedido por la ayuda de L\u00e1zaro.
\nThe solution he suggests to the situation of his brothers, like the request he made for himself, involves a request for Lazarus’ assistance.<\/p>\n
Pero, Abraham le dice que provisi\u00f3n ya ha sido hecho para advertir a sus hermanos. La expresi\u00f3n \u201cA Mois\u00e9s y a los profetas tienen….\u201d no refiere a Mois\u00e9s y los profetas personalmente, sino a la escritura que Mois\u00e9s y los profetas hab\u00edan entregado al pueblo por la inspiraci\u00f3n del Esp\u00edritu.\u201d
\nBut, Abraham tells him that provision has already been made to warn his brothers. The expression, \u201cThey have Moses and the prophets….\u201d refers not to the Moses and the prophets, personally, but rather to the Scripture that Moses and the prophets had delivered to the people by the inspiration of the Spirit.<\/p>\n
El \u201crico\u201d contesta que si alguien aparezca de entre los muertos, que seguramente esto les impresionara m\u00e1s eficazmente.
\nThe \u201crich\u201d man counters that if someone would appear to them from the dead, that surely it would impress them more effectively.<\/p>\n
Abraham contesta que si la palabra de Dios no les cambia, aun una resurrecci\u00f3n de entre los muertos lo har\u00eda.
\nAbraham answers that if the word of God does not change them, even a resurrection from the dead would not do so.<\/p>\n
Aqu\u00ed, Dios est\u00e1 revelando el hecho que su palabra es el \u00fanico poder necesario para cambiar el coraz\u00f3n de una persona.
\nHere God reveals to us that His word is the only power needed to change the heart of a person.<\/p>\n
Por esto, tenemos escrito en Romanos 10:17, \u201cAs\u00ed que la fe es por el o\u00edr, y el o\u00edr, por la palabra de Dios.\u201d
\nFor this reason we have, recorded in Romans 10:17, \u201cSo faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
La gente hoy com\u00fanmente cree que algun \u201cmilagro\u201d se requiere para cambiar el coraz\u00f3n de la persona. Est\u00e1n equivocados.
\nPeople today often think that some \u201cmiracle\u201d is required to change the heart of a person. They are mistaken.<\/p>\n
No hay otro poder, como Pablo, el ap\u00f3stol nos explica en Romanos 1:16:
\nPorque no me averg\u00fcenzo del evangelio, porque es poder de Dios para salvaci\u00f3n a todo aquel que cree; al jud\u00edo primeramente, y tambi\u00e9n al griego.
\nThere is no other power as Paul, the apostle, explains to us in Romans 1:16:
\nFor I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.<\/p>\n
Si las personas se salvan, no ser\u00e1 por el poder de se\u00f1ales, prodigios, o milagros hechos por los manos de hombres. Ser\u00e1 porque han escuchado la palabra de Dios y lo han aplicado a si vida al obedecerlo. Esto es la \u00fanica esperanza.
\nIf people are to be saved, it will not be by the power of modern-day signs, wonders, or miracles done by men’s hands. It will be because they listened to God’s word and applied it to their life by obeying it. That is the only hope!<\/p>\n
El relato termina ac\u00e1. Pero es obvio que hemos aprendido mucho de ello. Primero, que lo espiritual es tan real, y de hecho m\u00e1s importante que lo material, porque esta vida es por corto tiempo, y la eternidad es para siempre.
\nThe account ends here. But, it is obvious that we have learned much from it. First, that the spiritual is just as real, and is indeed more important than the material, because this life is for a short time, and eternity is forever.<\/p>\n
Segundo, \u00a1el tiempo para preparar es ahora! Despu\u00e9s de la muerte, no hay manera para prepararnos o cambiar nuestra situaci\u00f3n delante de Dios. Ninguna cantidad de oraciones, donaciones, o ritos cambiar\u00e1n nada despu\u00e9s de la muerte.
\nSecondly, the time to prepare is now! After death, there is no way to prepare or change our situation before God. No amount of prayers, donations, or rituals will ever change anything after our death.<\/p>\n
Tambi\u00e9n hemos aprendido que lo m\u00e1s importante en la vida no se compra con dinero. Est\u00e1 disponible a aun el m\u00e1s pobre entre nosotros. Dios nos lo da libremente. Ninguna cantidad dinero puede salvar a nuestra alma. \u00a1Solamente la sangre precioso de Cristo puede hacer esto!
\nWe have also learned that what is most important in life is not bought with money. It is available even to the poorest among us. God has given it to us freely. No amount of money can save our soul. Only the precious blood of Christ can do that!<\/p>\n
Y la sangre de Cristo esta disponible si aprendemos la palabra de Dios, el \u00fanico poder para cambiar el coraz\u00f3n, y si lo obedecemos. Es evidente tambi\u00e9n que si vamos a hacer algo por nuestra familia, amigos, y la gente con quienes vivimos dia por d\u00eda para mostrar el amor de Dios hacia ellos para salvar su alma y advertirles de lo que viene, tenemos que hacerlo ahora. Alg\u00fan d\u00eda la oportunidad ya no habr\u00e1.
\nThat blood is available if we learn God’s word, the only power to change the heart, and if we obey it. It is clear also that if we are to do anything for our family, friends, and the people we live with day by day to show God’s love toward them to save their soul and warn them of what is coming, we must do it now. Someday, that opportunity will be gone.<\/p>\n
Finalmente, podemos decir que esta escritura nos ha mostrado lo que realmente importa en la vida, y que si perdemos esta oportunidad de llegar a ser como Dios y hacer su voluntad, habremos perdido totalmente la raz\u00f3n de la vida, no importa cu\u00e1les cosas hayamos gozado ac\u00e1.
\nFinally, we can say that this account has shown us what is really important in life, and that if we miss this chance to become like God and do his will, we will have lost it all, no matter what we may have enjoyed here.<\/p>\n
Como Dios nos dice en Marcos 8:36, \u201cPorque \u00bfqu\u00e9 aprovechar\u00e1 al hombre si ganare todo el mundo, y perdiere su alma?\u201d
\nAs God tells us in Mark 8:36, \u201cFor what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00bfEst\u00e1s ganando o perdiendo en la vida? Cuando todo se haya acabado, \u00bfqu\u00e9 ser\u00e1 su destino eterno?
\nAre you winning or loosing in life? When it is all said and done, what will your eternal destination be?
\nConsiderando todo lo que hemos estudiado, \u00bfcu\u00e1les camb\u00edos debe hacer en su vida para considerarse exitoso?
\nIn the light of what we have studied, how should you change your life to really consider yourself successful?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Estoy seguro que la mayor\u00eda de nosotros alguna vez hemos pensado en cuando de como ser\u00eda morir. Muchos tratan de no pensar de ello, pero no podemos evitar el pensamiento completamente. Most of us, I am sure, have at one … Continue reading