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I have been an Elder at the Community Bible Church in Minneapolis Kansas. For 35+ years.  During that time I have been writing these thought...

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

"Preparation for Life to Come"


Victory Can Be Yours!

Article # 54 – “Preparation for Life to Come”

            It has been mentioned before that life on this earth is a time of preparation for the next life or eternal life with Christ.  It is a time for us to prepare to meet Jesus face to face at the judgement seat of Christ.  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good of bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10)  So, the point is, what do we want for an outcome of this judgment?

            Jesus told a parable about a nobleman who went to a distant country (Luke 19:12-27).  Before he left he called ten of his servants together and gave them ten minas, each mina was equivalent to about three months wages, a significant responsibility.   In giving them one mina each, he told them to do business with it until he returned.

            On his return he called the slaves together to see what each had earned from doing business with what he had given them.  One servant had earned 10 minas for his master and the master said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.” (Luke 19: 17)  Another servant reported that he had gained five minas and again the master rewarded him with authority over five cities.  Another of the servants was called before the master and handed him a handkerchief with the master’s original mina in it.  He had put it away so that he might not lose it.  The master asked why he didn’t at least put it in the bank so it would earn interest.  He then said to those close by to take the mina from him and give it to the one who had the ten minas.  “For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be take away from him.” (Luke 19:26)

            The parable is a picture of Jesus as the nobleman, His ten slaves are His followers, and He has given us the Holy Spirit and other gifts to use on His behalf while He is gone.  “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2 Pet. 1:3)   What are we doing with what He has given us?  Are we preparing in this life for the life to come?  He has given all the tools required to carry out His purpose on earth.  Like the nobleman’s slaves, we will be called upon to account for what we have done with what we have been given.  Are we preparing ourselves to be ready to meet face to face with Jesus at the judgment seat of Christ, to be judged according to our deeds whether good or bad?  Paul states, “Each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.  If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  If any man’s work is burn up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Cor. 3:13-15)  We are talking not of temporal rewards but eternal ones!

            You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow.



Lowell Parrish

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