What should you do
while you
wait for the unexpected?
When we look at the four simple rules of interpreting scripture the one that says "Jesus is BOSS!" is the most important to our belief system. Let me ask you a question then, Do you believe what Jesus said about the End of Time and what follows?
This November (2011) the Smithsonian will display the Jefferson Bible. Thomas Jefferson served as the third president of the United States of America. He also started writing what became know later as the Jefferson Bible. After he left the White House he finished it and had it published. What is so different about this Bible? Jefferson did not believe that the original Bible was inspired by God so he sat out to correct the problems he saw with it. Jefferson believed the Bible was useful for moral improvement, but he also saw it as just another great book. Because of his beliefs he removed the miracles, prophesies, angels, hearings. He removed anything that had to do with needing to repent from sin. He also removed the resurrection of Jesus. The last verse in his Jefferson Bible says, "There laid they Jesus, and they rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and departed." Jefferson did not believe in the resurrected of Jesus. I will return to the question about the Jefferson Bible at the end of this lesson.
Matthew 25 in only important when it is seen as following what has just been taught by Jesus in the 24th chapter. Jesus shows what the signs will be before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. (Matthew 24.4-35) Then he speaks about his return and the end of time. (Matthew 24.36-50) This is where we learn about the end of time:
- It is a secret that God has not told to anyone. Matthew 24.36
- That the signs are people eating and drinking, people getting married. Matthew 24.37-39
- That when it finally happens the wicked will go first and the righteous will be last to leave. Matthew 24.40-41
- There will be no second chance. The wicked will be punished and the righteous will be rewarded. Matthew 24.45-50
It will be about being READY
First he spoke about the ten virgins. Five of them were wise and five of them were foolish. There are long term believers who always ready and short sighted converts who think it doesn't matter and there is always more time. They were all found sound asleep because the time of Jesus' return is a secret. Those who were not ready were told that the master did not even know them.
It will be about how you LIVE
The parable of the talents is about how people use the gifts and abilities given to them by God. We all have received different gifts and some people have more than others. Those who use them for God will be rewarded while those who fail to use them for God will be punished. Those who have been faithful will be given more. While those who are worthless are thrown out into darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
It will be about how you DIE
Jesus stops mixing words and started talking about the last judgment. He compares the people that come before him as sheep and goats. Jesus says the righteous will be know how they lived their lives and what they did for him during their lives. The unrighteous will be know for how they lived their lives and what they failed to do for him during their lives. Then Jesus says that those who failed to live for him will go away into "eternal punishment" while those who lived for him will go away into "eternal life."
Making a Choice
This is where you have to make a choice about the end of time. The choice is between Jefferson and Jesus. Jefferson did not believer most of what Jesus said or taught. He did not believe in the resurrection and would not have expected Jesus to ever come back. Now a lot of people would not go so far as Jefferson did but they do the same thing he did. They are willing to believe in eternal life but they refuse to believe in eternal punishment. Now how is that possible. Do they only believe Jesus when it is to their benefit? How is that different than Jefferson?
Jesus said there is eternal life, and he also said there is eternal punishment. Remember the fourth rule of interpretation of scripture, "Jesus is Boss!"
Jesus says you need to live your life in such a way so that you will be ready to stand before God even if it comes at a time you are not expecting it to happen. Jefferson view says there is nothing to all those stories, you have nothing to worry about.
What you need to do to get ready
Make sure you have plenty of OIL. You need to be prepared for the long haul with the LORD.
Don't dig any HOLES. You cannot hide from God and you are responsible how you live you life whether you live it for him or not.
Do what SHEEP do. You serve Jesus by ministering to those you come into contact with every day.
We do not know when the end of time is but we do know that everyone will stand before the Lord and give an account on how they have lived their lives. Well, at least according to Jesus that is.
