ALCATRAZ PRISON 

        In March, 1963, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was closed after 29 years in operation.  It was called “The Rock” and was located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay in California on a small island.  It was designed to be the most secure prison in the world, and now is a public museum and a major tourist attraction.  The prison claims there were no successful escape attempts, but 36 prisoners made 14 attempts.  23 were caught, six shot and killed, two drowned, and five are listed as ‘missing and presumed drowned’.

        “Words from Above” in the Bible tell us that there is a place in eternity that is far worse than a prison, and is far more secure.  Jesus speaks about this place in Luke 16, where he tells about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus.  He describes the rich man dressed in the finest of clothing and living a life of luxury on earth, but when he died, he ended up in hell.  There he looked up and saw Lazarus, who also had died, but who had been carried by the angels into the bosom of Abraham.  The rich man begged Abraham to have mercy on him, and to allow Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water so he could cool his tongue.  He admitted to being tormented in the flames of hell.

        Abraham explained to the rich man that Lazarus was carried daily and laid at the gate of his estate, hoping to be fed with the crumbs which fell from his table.  He also told him how Lazarus was plagued with sores, and that dogs came and licked his sores.  So, the Abraham’s point was that the rich man lived a good life, but Lazarus did not, but now things were now reversed.  But the worst news of all was that there was what Abraham called a “great gulf” between the rich man and Lazarus, and that no one could pass from one place to the other, making escape impossible.  Of course, no one was wanted to cross over to where the rich man was suffering.

        At this point, the rich man wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to speak to his five brothers still living at home with their father, to warn them about the terrible place called hell.  Abraham pointed out that they had been told about Moses and all the prophets of God, and they should have known about hell.  The rich man insisted that someone returning from the dead could convince them to repent, but Abraham believed otherwise.  This story is very sobering, but the bottom line is that we all need to repent.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.