Selected Scriptures
Rev Dr Jose Trinipil Lagapa
“…better be prepared and be not left behind!…”
~5 min read
Jesus is risen! Our Lord and Saviour has conquered death! He is alive! “…Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
After His resurrection He ascended back to heaven. “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11). Let us be ready for His soon return! He will not delay, better be prepared and be not left behind!
The Lord’s Coming
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
(Luke 12:31-41)
Some may have knowledge of the Lord’s return but fail to prepare for His coming; they will face severe consequences. Those who are unaware will face lighter consequences. Jesus concludes that “to whom much is given, much will be required.” As Christians, we are taught these truths; if we are genuine believers, we do not wish to be punished.
Let us remain watchful as we await His second coming. Those who do not hold the value of eternity in their hearts will lack the motivation to anticipate the Lord’s return. Their focus is on earthly things, and they prefer to pursue material wealth rather than spiritual treasures in heaven. Their inability to see beyond this world stems from spiritual blindness; they lack the spiritual insight to appreciate God's eternal Kingdom. To them, these concepts are merely illusions for the minds of the devout. They cannot perceive because they are not yet regenerated and remain dead in their sins. They must be born again through faith in Christ to truly see the Kingdom of God.
Jesus began the parable by instructing us to keep our loins girded and our lamps burning. These are external signs of individuals who are active and alert. To gird the loins means to prepare for action by tightening the garment around the waist, signifying readiness for work. Keeping the lamps burning indicates a person who is prepared to continue their task even during the late hours of the night.
When Peter asked the Lord whether the parable was meant for them or for everyone, the Lord continued to describe the blessings of the servants who are faithfully watching for His return. This indicates that the message was not only for them and their generation but also for us today, who may be the generation to witness His coming, especially as we observe the signs He mentioned being fulfilled before our eyes. It is not for us to question, like Peter did, to whom this parable is addressed; rather, we should be watchful and heed the Lord’s command.
The central theme is to remain vigilant for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before sharing the parable, the Lord urged His disciples to pursue the Kingdom of God. This narrative is crucial for those who long for the Lord's return. The exhortation was directed to the flock of God, referring to those who have genuinely attained the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Lord has reserved the Kingdom for them, and they should not live in fear but rather trust in God's promises. Their courage and faith in God's word should be reflected in how they value eternity above the riches of this world. Heavenly treasures will never fade, and if their hearts are set on them, they will certainly be watchful for the Lord's coming. The servant who is found faithful in waiting, watching, laboring, and toiling will be appointed a ruler by the Lord. He will receive abundant blessings from God as he faithfully anticipates his Lord’s arrival.
Thus, Jesus’ parable urges His disciples to be prepared, as no one knows when the Lord Jesus will come. We must always be ready, for if we labor and dedicate our lives to serving His Kingdom, He will usher us into the Kingdom of God, where there will be eternal joy for all who are present. However, if we become complacent and entangled with worldly matters, we may be left behind. Let us not grow weary but continue to work diligently until He comes, which may be sooner than we think.
Are you among those who can see? Do you recognize the significance of our Lord's coming? Blessed are your eyes for they can look ahead and perceive the Kingdom of God. Give thanks to the Lord for that spiritual insight. Not everyone is granted the vision to understand eternity in God’s Kingdom. Stay focused on it and do not let your eyes be drawn to the false allurements of this world.
With love in Christ,
Rev Dr Jose Trinipil Lagapa
True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church
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