One day it is going to happen. The doors will close and the train will head for eternity. How it will happen and what is going to happen is beyond my understanding. But I do know that it is going to happen.
“When the full number of Gentiles has come in,” Jesus says.
No one knows when that will happen, but Jesus teaches us that everything will be going on as usual, just like during Noah’s time when the floodwaters came.
Maybe you’re one of those people who put things off. Like the five virgins Jesus taught about. They believed in Jesus, but they didn’t have any oil for their lamps. The Spirit wasn’t there and the train left without them. THEY DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO REPENT, OR TO RECEIVE FOREGIVENESS AND THE SEAL OF THE SPIRIT. Everything happened so fast. They would have been pardoned if they had called on grace in honest faith. But they just didn’t have time!
What surprises me is Christians who have been saved for a long time, but who backslide. They are gambling with eternity. They are living in some sort of hope that everything will work out. The question I ask myself is:
What are they doing with all of the teaching that Jesus provides in the Gospels?
The Word, Jesus says, will either set you free or judge you.
Then he tells several parables, and teaches from many different perspectives. My question to those of you who have become lukewarm is:
If Jesus comes tomorrow, will his Word be your savior or your judge?
None of us can live a perfect life; that’s why we have mercy. It rescues us when we fail. When you really are trying. When you get tired of yourself, because you can’t live up to your ideal, Jesus. Jesus knows that. He helps you in secret, he prays for you and his mercy sets you free. His goal is for you to spend eternity together with him. AND HE IS PREPARED TO FIGHT FOR YOU! The only thing he wants is your yes, your heart that says:
I am trying, Jesus. I am doing my best.
That’s good, Jesus says. Then I will do the rest.
But when you purposefully and willfully ignore the church. When you think there is something wrong with the pastor, the elders, the cell groups, not just in one church but in every church. Instead you get half drunk on wine on Saturday evening. On Sunday, when others come together to praise God, you are mowing the grass, speaking about the ones in church behind their backs and are actually quite depressed. If you were to look at yourself as reflected by the word of God, what would happen then? Who does that make you?
Because that’s what I think is going to happen the day you stand before God. He won’t judge you, but his Word will be your mirror. You are going to judge yourself! To an eternity with God or to an eternity in darkness.
My plea to you is to rethink your life! Mercy is on your side. Bow your knee now, swallow your pride and your big ego and let Jesus lift your burden away. Your pride is not worth an eternity in darkness.
Have you done that Tommy?
Yes, many times. I lie on the floor and call out for mercy.
Does it come?
Yes, always. Because his Word sets me free. That is the problem for many people. They call on mercy, but they don’t want to let themselves get set free by the Word. They set the conditions themselves.
His mercy is unlimited, but Jesus’ loving Word in the Gospels is uncompromising. It will either be unto your salvation or your judgment.
