by David Brenneman
"And He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time. At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him some of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he proceeded to send another slave; and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. And he proceeded to send a third; and this one also they wounded and cast out. The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the vine-growers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard it, they said, “May it never be!” But Jesus looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” Luke 20:9-18.
The response: "The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them." Luke 20:19.
There's two kinds of responses to the return of Jesus that's coming. Those who believe it's coming and those who reject the idea. People range from excited to those who could care less. Some, when it's talked about, get irate and anger mounts. Some are so convinced that their lives show it.
Question is: which are you?
Are you living your today's like this could be your day to step into eternity? Are you among those offended by the truth of God's word?
In a world beset with an unhealthy slant on identity...there's only two that matter...all the rest are worthless. You are either saved in Christ Jesus or you are not. Your destination after death is determined by your choice in the here and now physical world.
If you are a Believer, are you living for Jesus or you? Are you more convinced of your need for self preservation or are you trusting in your Savior for your present and your future?
Jesus points out the path that the Jewish leaders took and it wasn't towards the Holy God of the Old Testament. He informed them, and they fully understood, that what He just said was about them and there was no denying their understanding. Many things that Jesus taught, the understanding was withheld from the audience at hand, other times, the understanding was immediate and fully grasped.
When we read of the Disciples questioning Jesus on His words of prophesy concerning the Temple they were walking in. Those words came true not long after the crucifixion. Jesus said that not one stone would be left upon another. History records it was utterly destroyed.
Many Pharisees and Sadducees had no choice but to begin to believe and many did...when very much noteworthy miracles took place. The extremely sad points are when when the Spirit showed up for healing and they were so cold hearted that they didn't recognize God.
When you look at your life, does it reflect a life that recognizes the work of the Spirit of God in it?
Does your life reflect a relationship with Jesus?
Are you believing everything that the Word of God says or do you pick and choose what you want to believe?
The point in being a disciple of Jesus Christ was to set aside personal beliefs and practices and take up the beliefs and practices of the Master that was being followed.
On at least one occasion Jesus outright told the Jewish leaders they were of their father the Devil.
No doubt there were those who were such as Nicodemus who sought true understanding from Jesus regardless of the consequences. Nicodemus could easily have been ostracized, cast out, even had a death sentence for publicly acknowledging the truth about Jesus.
People who are saved in Christ Jesus are not to hide their affiliation under a basket. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. This is a directive. Not a "if it feels good then give it a whirl" idea.
When Saul was silent after his meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, he wasn't brooding. He was getting his Spiritual eyes opened to the reality of all that he had been taught. All the learning he had received only then became alive. All that he thought he knew was rubbish compared to what it all now meant in knowing Jesus.
Are you awaiting the return of Jesus with eager anticipation? Are you afraid?
Yes, it's been over 2,000 years, but with good reason. Jesus isn't willing that any should perish but that all would come to Him for salvation. Add to this, there were and are prophesies that were and are coming true to the letter.
As Jesus said His return will not be with signs to be observed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, that fast. Zero time to get ready. None. Zilch.
You have been blinking your eyes many hundreds of times in reading this post. His return will be faster than a single blink of your eyes!
There will be many millions of people crying out for Jesus to come back all because they doubted and would not come to Christ for salvation. There will be many more people who will die in that twinkling of an eye because of where they were when people vanished. No time to ask anyone anything. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth across the world. For many others the Rapture of the Church will be the final tipping point where they finally do come to Christ for salvation. These Tribulation saints as the Bible calls them will be brutally hunted down.
All the evidence that anyone needs concerning the truth of the Gospel message can be easily found.
I am so ready for Jesus to come back. Much of what I do as a hobby is more for those left behind than it is for me now.
There's so many people wanting a better life that they forget to live. They're so convinced that recreating their identity will cure their lives. They go as far as to accuse God of making a mistake concerning who they were born to be. There are those who are so concerned about offending others that they neglect to see they are offending the God whom they claim to be their Savior and Lord.
Are you more offended than you realize? Does it bother you at all that which bothers Jesus?
Are you looking for the return of Jesus or are you living like it's way off in the future?
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. A fraction of a fraction of a second...you could either be ruptured or could simply breathe your last.
I have had days where my life was irrevocably altered in a second. One such morning all was good, had plans for the day, the week. In a split second a driver ran a red light and changed the course of my life for many months to come.
A friend's husband merely stood up to get more coffee and fell to the ground dead before he hit the floor.
Jesus IS returning and as He pondered...would He find the faith when He does?
Our only identity is either found in Jesus Christ or its not. The only Spiritually legally protected states are to be sealed in the Spirit or not.
To die without salvation sends the individual to Hell. No purgatory. No waiting area. Painful endless days in torment in Hell separated from God.
To die with salvation in Christ Jesus sends the individual immediately into the presence of Jesus. To forever be with Him. Never again to suffer anything anymore.
One path leads to destruction one to life. The choice of being excited or offended is yours to make.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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