Out Our Way: Gehenna and Paradise

Luke 16:19-31

Out our way, there are many cattle trails crossing the pastures, but only one large road leading from the upper to lower pasture and back again. One fall, as winter was starting to move in, Charlie and I saddled up to move the herd from the upper summer pasture down to the lower winter pasture.

The lower pasture had not been touched since early spring, so the grass was lush and plentiful. The reservoir was full and deep with flowing water, and, best of all, close to the ranch. Thus we had easy access to the herd to haul in extra feed if the snow got too deep and to break up the ice if the chinooks didn't come and open the waterways quickly enough. It was also where we could get out every February in calving season to help with tough deliveries. It was a good place for winter.

But there were always a few jugheads who refused to take the big trail to the hood pasture and, every fall, after rounding up the main herd. Charlie and I had to hunt for the strays. I recall one autumn when no matter how hard we tried, a rebellious few refused to be gathered. They broke from the herd and took other trails that led nowhere. The two of us tried, but we simply couldn't keep them together. In the end, it took five more herders to bring in that unruly bunch. Had we not, they would have starved, died of thirst, or frozen to death in the hills of the Tiger Ridge area. Considering the skeletons I have found along the scattered trails, the reality is even the best crews cannot always get the jugheads to the good pasture, and those who manage to avoid following the trail end up paying the price.

That is the point of the parable "Lazarus and the Rich Man" (Luke 16: 19-31) In Jewish theology, the place of dead (SHEOL in Hebrew, HADES in Greek) is where we await the final resurrection. In the Jewish theology, Sheol is divided into two separate areas: "Gehenna," the place of torment, and "Paradise," the lush garden of green pastures and still waters (Psalm 23 rings a bell?) In cowboy parable theology, "Gehenna" is the dried out summer pasture in winter where there is no feed, water or shelter. "Paradise," on the other hand is the lush untouched winter pasture with plenty of food, water and shelter.

Now why is the rich man in Gehenna? Why are there skeletons of strays who died from hunger, thirst or freezing up on the Tiger Ridge upper pastures? Because they all chose to go "their own way," rejecting the way that leads to life because "they knew better." 

Why is Lazarus in Paradise with Abraham? Because he chose to follow the trail that had been made and heeded the words of the prophet, "This is the way! Walk in it!" (Isaiah 30:12). Until the resurrection and our final entry into Heaven, the dead enter into the pasture they have chosen in this life. Like the "Rich Man," some have chosen to follow the trail of self worship that leads to the barren lands of Gehenna; while others - like Lazarus - followed the trail in which "You shall love the Lord your God, and therefore treat your neighbor as you want to be treated," leads to "the Garden of Eden restored."   

Happy trails, Pard!

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].