Was there ever a time when someone, perhaps your teacher or
father, asked you to do something for him while he went away
somewhere? But during his absence you got involved in other things!
How surprised and ashamed you were when he suddenly returned and
you had not done as you had been told!
How very surprised and ashamed many will be on the day the Lord
Jesus Christ returns if they haven't been doing as He told them
to!
Jesus used a parable to teach us more about this great event. He
told of "a man of noble birth" who went to a distant country to be
officially appointed king before returning to reign. While he was
away "his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to
say, 'We don't want this man to be our king!'" 1*.
Many are saying something like that about the Lord Jesus Christ in
His absence? But, He is soon to return as the great King of all
kings. 2*.
While Jesus was here on earth He claimed to be equal with God,
3*. and to be the
only One who could get sinners to Heaven and God. 4*. He also told in advance that He
would die and rise again after three days just as the prophets had
said. His death would be for our sins so that He would be able to
forgive those who would put their trust in Him. 5*.
Without realilsing it, the message many are sending to God today
about Jesus is - "We don't want this man to be our King!" They do
not accept that Jesus is the only Priest and Saviour that He
claimed to be! 6*.
Instead they have chosen other priests and saviours for their
souls!
How terrible for those who continue to rebel against King Jesus and
His Word during His absence.
In His parable Jesus made it clear that there will be no escape for
them when the King returns to judge those who refused to obey
Him.
"Bring them here and kill them in front of Me," the king ordered.
7*.
Jesus, the coming King, will soon
reappear and He has warned already that many people are to be
destroyed at His coming! 8*.
In the parable, during the king's absence, one of his own servants
had behaved in an unfaithful and selfish way. He had not cared
about his master's business that he had been trusted with. I think
this could be a picture of a true Christian who knows and trusts
the great King and who believes He will surely return. But while
waiting for the returning King he is not interested in making good
use of the Gospel that he has been entrusted with. Instead of
sharing the good news with others he has simply received it for
himself and then hidden it away so that no one else can benefit
from it! Jesus described this servant as a "wicked servant" and he
was not given any "rewards" for service for his master, or
entrusted with any special responsibilities in the king's kingdom.
9*.
Christian, when Jesus returns He will reward those who faithfully
preached His Gospel to others. 10*.
Read about the coming King Luke
chapter 19, verses 11-27.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Footnotes. Bible quotations from N.I.V.
1 Luke 19:14.
2 Revelation 19:11-16.
Philippains 2:9-11.
3 John 10:30-33.
4 John 14:6. 3:16-18.
5 Luke 24:44-48.
6 Hebrews 7: 24 -27. Acts
4:12.
7 Luke 19:27. Revelation
20:11-15.
8 Revelation 22:20. Jude
14-19.
9 Luke 19:20-26.
10 Acts 10:42-43. 2nd
Timothy 4:5-8.
