Today's readings point to the importance of being aware of promise of the day of judgement.
First a commnand for all people to repent in Acts 17:22-31,
While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’Next the words of Jesus promise us the Spirit of truth who will be with us for ever and the promise that Jesus is coming.
John 14:15-21
‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.Thomas Tallis set it to music so well (using the KJV "Comforter" in place of "Advocate"),
‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’
I get the sense that when that Comforter and/or Advocate is really present in one's life, that one tends to not get too obsessive over the coming day of judgement.
Still, for those who remain in the world and have not received Him, the prediction of an impending judgment might make them want them to reconsider their position, in which case maybe a little time spent obsessing over these verses would be time well spent.
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Meaty post here. Lots said in few words.
ReplyDeleteI come from a dispensationalist background, where the Rapture and Second Coming get a lot of play. Yet, today, our Pastor who's been leading us through John 15 for the last 5 weeks, mentioned the Camping moron who was in the news, only to dismiss him as a kook. I cringe at the number of souls who tune out the Holy Spirit because of such publicity. Perhaps, they have those millstones waiting for them.
Many Bibles verses come to mind.
ReplyDeleteMatthew 24:35-37 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.
Luke 12:35-43 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and[a] not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
1 Corinthians 15:52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.
Acts 1:7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.
Be about your Heavenly father's business. Great post!
Thanks gentlemen,
ReplyDeleteGod remains in charge. He is the first and the last. Man should be in humble awe, but we keep trying to out smart him.
Never should have tasted that fruit.