I think that the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is one of the most fascinating stories told in the four Gospels. I remember a striking thought as I read it through recently, and it says a lot about how our actions affect our afterlife. In the parable, there is a rich man who has all he wants in life, and a man named Lazarus, a poor sic beggar whose only comfort in life is the dogs that come and lick his sores. When both die, the rich man spends eternity in hell, while Lazarus is rewarded in heaven living next to Abraham. The rich man begs for his torment to be lessened, but Abraham simply replies, "Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us" (Luke 16:25-26).
It's important that Abraham draws upon each man's earthly life to explain the result of their afterlives. The rich man received good things in life but was punished in death, and Lazarus was in pain in life but found peace through death. Let me be clear here, I'm not saying that if you have a good life here on Earth you're bound for hell. Of course God wants us to enjoy our lives on this side of eternity, it is his gift to us! I think the danger lies in trying to focus only on this life without any regard to our life after death. The sentiment of some people seems to mirror the words of the old song. "Who knew heaven was a place on Earth?" Modern humanity is trying to turn this life into a perfect utopia, with its focus on wealth, environmentalism, and scientific advances. (Again, nothing wrong with these things, but they can detract us from out true goal of getting to heaven)
St. Therese of Lisieux said it best. "The world is my ship, not my home."
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