Awaiting Jesus'
return!
I'm sure there have been times when someone you loved very much
was separated from you, and you longed so much to be together
again. It is nice to plan to have some special treat for your loved
one to enjoy when he or she returns to you.
What are you doing in preparation for the soon return of the
Lord Jesus Christ?
Let us hear what Jesus taught about this Himself, and I hope you
will be ready and eagerly awaiting Jesus'
return. 1*.
While Jesus' was here on earth He often spoke about His going away,
and of His returning again. 2*. He sometimes used parables such as this to
describe and explain His return:
"A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself
appointed king and then to return." 3*. Here was a picture that outlined Jesus' plans -
He was soon to leave this world and go "to a distant country"
called Heaven, and later to return as the "King of kings".
4*.
In the parable the nobleman, before going away to be made king,
"called ten of his servants and gave them 10 minas." A mina was
about three months wages. "Put this money to work," he said, "until
I come back." 5*.
During his absence they were to be busy doing their master's
business.
It is like that today. Jesus has His true followers all over the
world. The means that He has given to them to do business for Him
until He returns is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Jesus' instructions are that His Gospel is to be
preached to the whole world. 6*.
However, many preach a "different gospel" saying that their
religion can save you, or claiming that some other leader or
saviour today takes the place of Jesus! Those teachers are working
for their religion; they are NOT working for the Lord Jesus
Christ! 7*. The
only means we have been given to carry out the Master's business is
the clear and simple Gospel message - that Jesus is the only
Priest and Saviour for mankind. 8*.
Very many people today don't want to receive this good news! They
reject Jesus' teaching when He clearly says, "I am the Way… no one
comes to the Father except through me." 2*. They go off trying to get to God through many
other people and ways!! Such people are certainly not ready to
answer to Jesus when He returns!
I love putting the Gospel of Jesus to good use by telling it to
others while I'm waiting for His return as King.
In the parable when the king returned "he sent for the servants in
order to find out what they had gained" for his kingdom.
9*. To each of those
who had faithfully used what the master had given him he
said "Well done, my good servant!", and he gave to them new and
greater responsibilities in his new kingdom. 10*.
Are you eagerly awaiting Jesus'
return? Will you be one of those whom Jesus will receive and
commend because you believed His Gospel and faithfully tried to
share it with others while waiting for His return?
Read this parable in Luke's gospel chapter 19, verses 11-19.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Foototes. Bible quotations from
N.I.V.
1 Hebrews 9:28.
2 John 14:1-6.
3 Luke 19:12.
4 1st Timothy 6:13-16.
5 Luke 19:13-14.
6 Mark 16:15-16.
7 Galatians 1: 6-9. Acts
5:31-32.
8 Acts 10:42-43. Luke
24:45-48. 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21.
9 Luke 19:15.
10 Luke
19:17-19.
