In Luke 16:22-24, Jesus provides a glimpse into the world of the dead. The passage is a part of the story of the rich man and Lazarus that Jesus told in the same chapter.

A very rich man lived in luxury and dressed in fine clothing while a man named Lazarus lived in poverty. Lazarus sat at the rich man’s gate covered in sores and begging for the crumbs that fell from his table. The unnamed rich man refused to share from his wealth with the poor man.

When Lazarus died, he went to the paradise part of Hades. The phrase “Abraham's bosom” in verse 22 is a reference to paradise. The rich man, on the other hand, found himself in hell. He was in the torment of God’s punishing fire.

Hades is the place where souls go when we die, and they wait there for the resurrection day. It is divided into two realms: paradise and hell. The Greek word translated “Hades" corresponds to the Hebrew term "Sheol" both of which refer to the world of the dead. In this realm, disembodied spirits are gathered, having been separated from the physical bodies they were clothed with in this life (James 2:24).

The poor man endured hardship during his earthly life, but he died with faith in God. This was evidenced by him being "carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." Now, he found comfort in paradise. As for the rich man, he had an abundance of material possessions and indulged in pleasures. However, he realised that his wealth could not be taken with him when he departed this world. This means, they were of no use to him.

The lesson of this passage goes beyond simply the fates of the two men being reversed after death. Rather, it teaches the truth that man’s first priority should be the salvation of their soul, not the pursuit of worldly riches. Our soul is more valuable than all the material wealth and possessions the world can offer. Jesus emphasized this point in a poignant rhetorical question recorded in Matthew 16:25, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" The rich man, unfortunately, learned too late that the salvation of his soul should have been his primary focus. His priorities were the wrong ones.

Jesus Christ offers the salvation of the soul. No one else can provide it. We learn from the Gospel of Matthew that the angel appeared to Joseph and told him that Mary would give birth to a son, who would be named Jesus, and that He would 'save His people from their sins' (Matthew 1:21). Jesus’ mission on earth was to save us from our sins.

On one occasion, Jesus reiterated the truth about His mission when He taught Zacchaeus, saying, "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) If we are to be faithful disciples of Christ, we must learn and accept the lesson that the purpose of Jesus' coming into the world was not to provide us with earthly riches, comfort, or status. Rather, His mission was to rescue us from the bondage of sin.

The way Jesus provided salvation was by dying on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Through His sacrifice, He has given us something far more precious than material wealth. He has given us the gift of salvation. Salvation is more valuable than silver and gold. The Apostle Peter said, "you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your  fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (Peter 1:18-19)

Furthermore, salvation is beyond measure. The Apostle Paul describes it in Ephesians 3:8 as “the unsearchable riches of Christ." The term “unsearchable” means that it is so valuable that it cannot be quantified. It is an infinite, priceless treasure that surpasses all earthly possessions.

Only Christians have this kind of riches. When we are baptized into Christ and have our sins washed away, we become richer than the wealthiest person on earth. As Christians, we possess something that the richest person on earth cannot buy from all the money they have.

Too often, we can become consumed with chasing material things or accumulating them, forgetting that the salvation we have in Christ far outweighs anything this world has to offer.

Let us learn from the mistakes of the rich man and ensure that the saving of our souls becomes our top priority. Remember, there is a heavenly salvation that we have yet to secure.

The word "salvation" has three different meanings in the New Testament. First, it refers to the gift of forgiveness of sins that we receive immediately when we are baptized into Christ, and our sins are washed away (Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16). Secondly, it denotes the backsliding Christian confessing their sins and praying to God for His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). The third usage of the term is in reference to the salvation that awaits us in heaven, which we do not yet possess as we are not yet in heaven. The Apostle Peter describes this heavenly salvation as "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for [us]" (1 Peter 1:4).

Though reserved for us, the heavenly salvation is for those who would live faithfully, keeping God as their top priority until their departure from this life.

Constant Coulibaly