Ready for Eternity
Jesus told saved people to be ready for His return. You don't need to be ready to die or to be raptured, you need to be ready to endure a time of trouble and stay in the plans of Jesus...to be hated by all people because they see you as they saw Jesus, yet still obeying Him in steadiness:
Mark 13:12-13 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
This trouble began for disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane...as a down payment.
What was planted in that garden has matured for the last 2,000 years. Just as Jesus came as a baby, and will come again in the fullness of His kingdom, Jesus planted His friends as a new born church, and the fullness of the hatred of the king will come against the mature church in the last days.
Jesus taught this in numerous ways. Every time he mentioned His return, He described the necessity of being ready. Many people who love Jesus, when they hear of His return, they say things like "I am ready whenever Jesus is ready"...this is great deception. This is the error of the disciples who abandoned Jesus, even though Jesus warned them how to avoid that response... Jesus told Peter he would stumble, but then also showed Him how to avoid it. Peter wouldn't listen. Peter was imagining an entirely inaccurate future, and so, in pride, He ignored the warnings of his beloved friend...the only one that knew the future. Jesus has given the same warning to the end time Church:
Matthew 24:9-14 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Many in this hour have more faith in their own faith than they do that Jesus' warnings are accurate and given for good reason:
Mark 14:29-50 Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be. ” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise. Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. ” Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.” As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then they all forsook Him and fled.
Jesus warned His friends. They wouldn't settle down and listen to His plan, and so they got ready for the wrong future. Fighting back wasn't the plan. Watching and praying was...feeding the other servants food at just the right time was. Because things didn't turn out as they imagined, those disciples began responding in fear and offense, which led to forsaking the one they claimed to never leave... even until death. Jesus hadn't planned their death, he had planned a very uncomfortable moment in their lives that required adjusting to. They forsook Him.
To forsake Jesus before the Holy Spirit was poured out was a restorable offense. Once the Spirit is given, to forsake Jesus is unrestorable:
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
For this reason, it is important to prepare for what is coming: anyone who stays loyal to Jesus...endures till the end... will be counted a criminal with Him. this is much more intense than many are willing to imagine. It requires readiness. You are not "ok" with the return of Jesus until your plan is to obey the same thing He told His disciples: watch and pray... the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
How long? Until it is finished. The disciples had an hour until the arrest... an hour to get ready.
How long do you have?
Mark 13:19-20, 35-37 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days...
... Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Mark 13:12-13 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
This trouble began for disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane...as a down payment.
What was planted in that garden has matured for the last 2,000 years. Just as Jesus came as a baby, and will come again in the fullness of His kingdom, Jesus planted His friends as a new born church, and the fullness of the hatred of the king will come against the mature church in the last days.
Jesus taught this in numerous ways. Every time he mentioned His return, He described the necessity of being ready. Many people who love Jesus, when they hear of His return, they say things like "I am ready whenever Jesus is ready"...this is great deception. This is the error of the disciples who abandoned Jesus, even though Jesus warned them how to avoid that response... Jesus told Peter he would stumble, but then also showed Him how to avoid it. Peter wouldn't listen. Peter was imagining an entirely inaccurate future, and so, in pride, He ignored the warnings of his beloved friend...the only one that knew the future. Jesus has given the same warning to the end time Church:
Matthew 24:9-14 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Many in this hour have more faith in their own faith than they do that Jesus' warnings are accurate and given for good reason:
Mark 14:29-50 Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be. ” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise. Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. ” Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.” As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then they all forsook Him and fled.
Jesus warned His friends. They wouldn't settle down and listen to His plan, and so they got ready for the wrong future. Fighting back wasn't the plan. Watching and praying was...feeding the other servants food at just the right time was. Because things didn't turn out as they imagined, those disciples began responding in fear and offense, which led to forsaking the one they claimed to never leave... even until death. Jesus hadn't planned their death, he had planned a very uncomfortable moment in their lives that required adjusting to. They forsook Him.
To forsake Jesus before the Holy Spirit was poured out was a restorable offense. Once the Spirit is given, to forsake Jesus is unrestorable:
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
For this reason, it is important to prepare for what is coming: anyone who stays loyal to Jesus...endures till the end... will be counted a criminal with Him. this is much more intense than many are willing to imagine. It requires readiness. You are not "ok" with the return of Jesus until your plan is to obey the same thing He told His disciples: watch and pray... the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
How long? Until it is finished. The disciples had an hour until the arrest... an hour to get ready.
How long do you have?
Mark 13:19-20, 35-37 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days...
... Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Comments
Post a Comment
I appreciate your comments.