GOD'S GRACIOUS INVITATION TO LIFE — Part 5
Ho! Everyone WHO THIRSTS, Come to the waters; and you who have NO MONEY, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk WITHOUT money and WITHOUT price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear and your soul shall live; (Isaiah 55:1-3a).
In the conclusion from the previous devotion, we observed God was asking, why do you continue to search in the empty wells of this world system to attempt to quench your thirsty soul, when what you desperately need is to enter into a "saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!?'
So, now, this brings us to notice that the Lord also focuses His glorious invitation on the DESTITUTE. Notice the destitution of these individuals in the middle of verse 1, "And you, who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk, without money and without price." The Lord reveals, "His magnificent invitation only becomes 'good news' when a sinner begins to be awakened to their true lost, destitute, and needy spiritual beggar. They possessed nothing to buy what they so desperately needed. When the sinner comes to the personal conviction that, "their entire life of sin and rebellion has been committed primarily against God and His moral law, "they simultaneously begin to recognize their destitute spiritual condition!"
Then this sinner is pierced to the heart over their spiritual bankruptcy; over their spiritual destitution and desperation; and over the biblical truth that God the Son was being pierced for their transgressions and crushed for their iniquities they have committed, in the blackness of darkness of Calvary! For this reason, God's gracious invitation focuses on the person who is DESPERATE AND THE DESTITUTE!
Additionally, the Lord God focuses His invitation on 'THE DEBTORS'. Notice again that God invites, "You who have no money, Come buy and eat. Yes, come, but wine and milk without money and without price." A sinner must come to the stark personal revelation that he is weighed down with and under an overwhelming and incalculable debt, which he is utterly incapable of paying! His sin debt against God rises into the mega trillions of spiritual dollars. This debtor could spend a billion years in the abandonment of hell, and yet he would still not even begin to pay off his sin debt!
Furthermore, every unconverted sinner must give an account for this "mega mountain of 'sin debt' at the Day of the Great White Throne Judgment. On the final day facing the bar of Justice, the unconverted sinner has absolutely nothing to purchase one ounce of mercy. Oh, dear friend, it is to this desperate, destitute, and indebted sinner who is invited by the Lord God to "come and buy, without money and without price!"
This brings us to the next consideration: THE FINALITY OF GOD'S GRACIOUS INVITATION! The Lord begins to close His glorious invitation by issuing some personal commands, which every sinner must obey! He says, "LISTEN carefully to Me and eat what is good. and let your soul delight itself in abundance." The God of amazing grace and marvelous mercy is offering eternal life to any sinner and every sinner who will obey the Gospel commands. But you must listen diligently to His commands and personally obey them from the heart.
The Lord God is actively giving this mandate, "STOP! LISTEN! PAY ATTENTION! You must CONSIDER the value of your eternal soul! You must consider the condition of your eternal soul! You must stop and consider the destination of your eternal soul, and you must pay close attention to the desperate need of your eternal soul. Why is this so essential? For it is going to be your turn to die very soon. Dear friend, no one is ready to live until they are ready to die. And only a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ makes you ready to die, so that you are then ready to live. Are you heeding this mandate to 'STOP, LISTEN AND PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S INVITATION TO LIFE?'
GOD'S GRACIOUS INVITATION TO LIFE — Part 4
Ho! Everyone WHO THIRSTS, Come to the waters; and you who have NO MONEY, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk WITHOUT money and WITHOUT price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear and your soul shall live; (Isaiah 55:1-3a). With these words, God is announcing an urgent call: to listen carefully to Me, eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live…"
So today, we consider, "THE FOCUS of GOD'S GRACIOUS INVITATION." Is there a "specifically spotlighted group" on which this gracious and glorious invitation is directed? We have already stated that it is everyone. But let's look more closely at the definitive category God gives this unequivocal appeal in verse 1. "Everyone WHO THIRSTS, come to the waters…". What category of people is specified in this gracious invitation? It is those who are THE DESPERATE ONES- "Everyone who THIRSTS.
Now, what is this describing? " The word 'thirsts' is the Hebrew word that describes a caravan of people crossing a barren desert. These individuals would not have water to drink for many days. Their lips would have been parched with devastating dehydration. But suddenly, this caravan comes across an oasis amid this desolate desert. This wellspring is overflowing with an abundant supply of water. It is capable of quenching the thirst and replenishing the dehydrated bodies of the entirety of the caravan for anyone who drinks from its resource.
Friend, the Word of God depicts a powerful portrait using this term "thirst". There is a natural physical thirst, which can only be quenched by water. However, every person has a far deeper "soul thirst" which can only be quenched by "entering into a saving knowledge of the One who proclaimed, 'I AM the Living Water"! Are you aware, dear reader, that the most thirsty entity in all the world is the human soul?
We entered this spiritually "barren desert" possessing a profound "soul thirst" when we were born into this world. Whether one realizes it or not, (before conversion), all had a deep yearning and penetrating longing within our inner being. Augustine said, "God, You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you." As Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, "God has put eternity in their hearts." There is a vacuum, a void within the inner being of every person. This intense craving for satisfaction, significance, and security can only be experienced and enjoyed in the salvation provided by the Lord Jesus Christ. Every person on this planet is searching for something or someone that will satisfy this insatiable "soul thirst". The great tragedy of humanity is that "people attempt to quench this 'God given soul thirst' with all of the cheap, phony substitutes which this world system has to offer." Whether these things are considered to be morally good or morally evil, nothing but a saving relationship with Jesus can quench a thirsty soul!
Please note closely what the Lord asked in verse 2: "Why do you spend money for what is NOT bread, and wages for what does NOT satisfy?" Why are you attempting to quench a thirsty soul at the empty wells of the world? Cars, clothes, houses, iPads, iPhones, or any other of the plethora of trinkets and toys men seek after can ever quench a soul's thirst! The totality of all of the amusements, sports, entertainments, vacations, illicit drugs, alcohol, and sexual promiscuity of every sort will never satiate this gnawing void in the soul.
Moreover, I emphasize that personal accomplishment in your occupation or goals achieved can satisfy this soul's thirst. Personal prestige and position, within your particular status in society, will never appease this profound yearning of a thirsty soul. Even an applauding popularity among your peers or from the crowds will never assuage the penetrating longing of the human heart. Even a wonderful marriage and family cannot gratify this weighty emptiness within the inner person. Furthermore, the pretense of religious affiliation, religious attendance, and religious activity filled with good works (without a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus that has changed your life) is a barren fountain filled with contaminated, bitter sources that will never quench a thirsty soul.
Consequently, the Living God is crying out, "Why? Why? Why do you spend your life chasing after things that can never quench your soul's thirst, but will not come to Me so that you might have life?" The Living God has prepared a magnificent "salvation banquet feast" for thirsty sinners. But it is the most wicked insult against the Living God, for a parched sinner, amid a spiritual desert, to either reject or neglect this extraordinary wellspring of salvation!
GOD'S GRACIOUS INVITATION TO LIFE — Part 3
Continuing this new series on 'God's Gracious Invitation to Life,' look again at the words from the Prophet Isaiah, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy (Isaiah 55:1-2a)?
In the previous devotion, we began to glory in THE FOUNDATION from which God can justly give this universal invitation to a world of rebels who deserve His wrath. This precious and priceless merchandise God freely offers was paid for by God the Son! "The Lord (Jehovah God the Father) laid on Him (Jehovah God the Son) the iniquity of every sinner who will ever come to Christ in His terms. The Creator God, who lives above time and space, has stepped into time and space. He came to this cesspool of sin on God's great mission of salvation. The Son of Man came to seek and to save "a number of straying sheep that no man can number"!
Today, let us glory in the blessed truth that Christ Jesus has come into this world to save hell-deserving sinners, like me and you! The One who declared, "I am the Good Shepherd," lived a perfectly righteous life. He perfectly obeyed God's moral law, every second of every moment of every hour of every day. He perfectly loved God the Father with 100% of His heart, mind, soul, and strength. Then, the Good Shepherd voluntarily laid down His life in the place of His sheep. On that Cross, He hung between heaven and earth, in the supernatural blackness of darkness. During that sacred span of time, Jesus received and exhausted the full equivalency of an eternity of the undiluted wrath and unmitigated fury of Holy God, which was abiding over His lost sheep. Isaiah 53:10 states, "It pleased God the Father to crush God the Son, in the place of straying sheep.
The Perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, paid in full the wages for sin of every sinner who will ever come to Christ, until out of that blackness of darkness He cried, "My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me." The answer to that profound, anguishing cry is, "So that those who repent and believe in the Gospel might not be forsaken; instead, be forgiven; redeemed; justified; and one day glorified! Then on the third day, the Good Shepherd rose from the dead, so that believing sheep could have all of the wrath for all of their sins placed on Jesus' account; and Jesus' perfect righteousness placed on their account! Consequently, believing sinners, like me, could then have peace with God, peace with our past, and peace with our future! This, the Person and work of Jesus, is the sure and solid foundation for God's glorious invitation!
Fourthly, let's consider THE FULLNESS OF GOD'S GRACIOUS INVITATION!' Observe again, Isaiah declared, "Come to the waters; you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk, without money and without price." God invites sinners to come into a saving relationship with Him. He uses three physical beverages to describe the profound spiritual needs He promises to satisfy: Water, Wine, and Milk. The first is WATER, which symbolizes man's need for cleansing and purifying. None of us could enter God's holy presence in glory without being thoroughly cleansed from all our sins. However, when a person comes to the "Living Water" on God's terms, God washes them meticulously from their iniquities; He thoroughly and utterly bathes them from all their transgressions.
Secondly, He refers to WINE, which pictures God's solution for man's endless search for satisfaction, identity, significance, and fulfillment. The Gospel will be like spiritual wine to the soul of a believing sinner. If a person truly tastes of salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ, they will come to know authentic satisfaction in their soul, a genuine joy in their heart of hearts, and a lasting fulfillment in their life. Why? Because then that individual begins to fulfill the purpose for which they were created!
Finally, observe MILK, which is the next drink mentioned. Milk portrays spiritual nourishment for the soul. The Lord Jesus Christ is the True Vine who will grace them with all the spiritual sustenance and strength required to magnify Him. God gives them an insatiable appetite for the written word. His word brings abundant spiritual food to their soul. Are you recognizing more completely THE FULLNESS of God's gracious invitation? These three physical beverages represent Spiritual WATER—WINE —and MILK!
GOD'S GRACIOUS INVITATION TO LIFE — Part 2
Continuing this new series on 'God's Gracious Invitation to Life,' look again at the words from the Prophet Isaiah, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy (Isaiah 55:1-2a)?
Yesterday, we began this particular set of devotional thoughts by noticing 'THE FERVENCY OF GOD'S INVITATION' as He used the word "HO!" Additionally, we took note of the 'FREENESS OF GOD'S INVITATION' in the phrase, "EVERYONE who thirsts, come to the waters." With this in mind, let's recall the Lord's evangelistic encounter with the Samaritan woman in John. This woman had been divorced five times and was presently living in another adulterous relationship. The Lord Jesus gave her a similar invitation to the words found within this Isaiah passage, "But WHOEVER drinks of this water that I shall give him will never thirst."
Moreover, consider the final invitation in the concluding chapter of the New Testament. John writes, "And let him who thirsts come. WHOEVER desires, let him take the water of life freely." Friend, can you recognize the freeness, the openness, and the universality of God's gracious invitation? Our Lord's invitation to enter into a saving knowledge of Him is a free and open invitation.
Next, consider the 'FOUNDATION for GOD'S GLORIOUS INVITATION'. Friend, it is no accident that this divine invitation, found in Isaiah 55, follows on the heels of the spectacular truths revealed in Isaiah 53! In the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, God unveils the astounding price that God the Son would pay to purchase this precious and priceless merchandise God freely offers to sinners. In those verses, the word of the Living God is pointing over seven centuries through the timeline of human history, to the moment when God the Son would step into time and space to be the sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on behalf of every sinner who will ever repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This monumental chapter paints such a clear and concise picture of the crucifixion of our Lord as if we are standing at the foot of the Cross!
Observe the description: "But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." This passage begins by revealing that the "entire human race" is like one flock of straying sheep, who have sinfully and selfishly wandered away from their Creator's purpose; commandments; will and ways! The written word clearly proclaims that the Living Word created us for Himself. So that we might glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, as our great and glorious Shepherd; as our Supreme Love; and as our Sovereign Lord! And that we might be one of His sheep who follow His Person, His word, His will, and His ways. Yet all of us, like dumb and foolish sheep, have gone astray from the purpose for which we were created.
Friends, this concept of "going your own way" is the self-centered attitude at the root of our sins against our Creator God. It is the wicked "heart disposition", with which we were all born, which stubbornly says, "I want to go in my own ways; and not your ways, God. I want to call my own shots; not you, Lord Jesus. I want to be the king of my own life, not you, King Jesus. I want to live a life centered on me, not you, Christ. The prophet declares that every one of us (before our conversion to Christ) had lived a life of wicked sinfulness and willful selfishness.
Consequently, we all deserved the unmitigated wrath of God and eternal separation from God in the eternity of hell. Dear reader, the essence of sin is "man substituting himself for the Lord God". Oh, but the essence of the glorious foundation for God's invitation is "God substituting Himself for man", in the sinless, substitutionary sacrifice of God the Son! For in those three hours of the "blackness of darkness" Jehovah God the Father laid on Jehovah God the Son the iniquity of "any sinner and every sinner who will place penitent faith in the Lord Jesus Christ"! This glorious substitutionary sacrifice is the foundation of God's glorious invitation!
GOD'S GRACIOUS INVITATION TO LIFE — Part 1
Today, we begin a new series on 'God's Gracious Invitation to Life.'
The words from the Prophet Isaiah, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; …" (Isaiah 55:1-3a).
Throughout the pages of scripture, God continually invites sinners to partake of the wonderful provision He has made for the eternal salvation of their souls. However, the incredible truth concerning this particular invitation that was given by God over seven centuries before the incarnation, life, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ! Yet, this is one of the most precise and compelling invitations in God's Word. The Living God (through the Prophet Isaiah) invites needy sinners to come to the One who is the Living Water, and to partake of the precious blessings of salvation, which the Lord Jesus Christ purchased through His sinless life, His wrath-bearing death, and His triumphant resurrection from the dead.
Notice first, "THE FERVENCY OF GOD'S INVITATION." "Ho! Everyone who thirsts come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat." In this passage, God portrays Himself as an ancient merchant giving away merchandise in an open street market. He speaks as if He has constructed a booth in a public marketplace, and is offering His precious and priceless merchandise to all passing by! The term "HO!" is a word that contains a passionate fervency within its announcement. Like a drill sergeant calling out to his soldiers, "ATTENTION!" Or as an intense football coach gathers the starting eleven together and shouts, "LISTEN UP!" Friends, the Creator God of the universe is issuing this call to each person as they walk through the world's marketplace of life.
So, He is crying out, "ATTENTION! LISTEN UP!" Who will embrace this glorious offer of salvation? Who will personally respond to this gracious invitation to life?" God has supplied the magnificent provision to rescue your soul from the penalty of sin; to redeem your soul from the power of sin; and to restore your soul, by drawing you into a saving knowledge of Himself, so that you may begin to fulfill the very purpose for which God created you! Friend, never has anyone been capable of an offer that can compare to this incredible offer.
Secondly, carefully consider the "FREENESS OF GOD'S INVITATION". "EVERYONE who thirsts, come to the water." This is a free and open invitation to ALL who are thirsty. This invitation is universal to anyone and everyone to come and drink of the water of life! In other words, every sinner is invited to partake of God's wonderful, gracious provision, which can save and satisfy a thirsty soul!
A careful survey of the scriptures reveals that this free and universal invitation is found throughout the pages of the Word of God. For example, "For WHOEVER calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." The word "whoever" certainly includes you. Therefore, this fountain of salvation is open to all ranks and races of people, without exclusion.
Furthermore, this invitation is open to you, dear friend, no matter who you are, where you are from, or what you have done or failed to do! "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
Why is understanding this 'FREENESS of GOD's INVITATION' essential? Because God's invitation excludes no one who does not exclude themself. This invitation rejects no one who comes to Him who does not reject the offer themself! "If ANYONE thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." If any person recognizes their abject spiritual bankruptcy; lostness; guiltiness; and neediness; if any person realizes their desperate need for salvation, which is found only in the Person and work of Jesus alone; if anyone will approach the only Source for this provision and pardon, in repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, they will find abundant salvation for their soul.
THE SUPREME AMBITION OF THE AUTHENTIC FOLLOWER OF JESUS — Part 11
THEREFORE we make it our ambition, whether present or absent, to be WELL PLEASING TO HIM. For we must ALL APPEAR before the judgment seat of Christ, THAT EACH ONE MAY receive THE THINGS DONE IN THE BODY, according to what he has done, whether GOOD or BAD (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).
As we conclude this series on the supreme ambition of believers, think of the "Great Commission" in relationship to the words "good or bad" from verse 10. Let's discover some further essential principles (concerning the Bema Seat evaluation) using 1 Corinthians 3:6-15. The apostle Paul testifies, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own REWARD according to his own LABOR."
Notice believers find themselves at the Bema Seat evaluation that is mentioned once again! Again, these verses inform us of this 'coming Divine evaluation of our labor'. Paul continues to remind us, "We are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it."
Oh, brother and sister in Christ, watch the phrase in that verse very closely: "But let each one take heed HOW HE BUILDS ON IT." Notice that our Lord is not only concerned with the quantity of your evangelistic outreach. He is also carefully observant of the QUALITY of your evangelistic outreach, both about the MESSAGE proclaimed and the MEANS you employ! I have repeatedly said, "It is not enough to do God's work! Believers must do God's work, God's way, for God's glory!" Why?
"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Note the clarified materials, "Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, or precious stones (notice that this is the (WORTHY MATERIAL)", which was described in the previous devotion. However, it is now being portrayed in the context of your evangelistic outreach.
Furthermore, Paul then speaks of "WORTHLESS MATERIAL" as he employs other materials, "wood, hay, straw." When one carries out God's great mission of evangelism by heralding God's ordained message (a Christ-centered message) and employing God's ordained means, this will always result in WORTHY MATERIAL (gold, silver, precious stones). However, when one attempts to carry out God's great mission of evangelism by declaring a "man-centered or felt-need centered message" and by using "flesh-concocted techniques and tactics," this will always result in WORTHLESS MATERIAL (wood, hay, and stubble)!
Carefully notice, Paul says, "Each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is." The Lord's final examination is not so much concerned with SIZE as man is infatuated over (the quantity of numbers). His divine evaluation is far more concerned with the SORT (the quality of employing God's prescribed message and means to carry out God's great mission)!
Cautiously observe verse 14: "If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward." Endures what? The Holy Fire of God! Then the apostle continues, "If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." Ministry (evangelistic outreach in this context), which was initiated by God, maintained by God, and could only be explained by a work of God, will be worthy material, resulting in an eternal reward. But ministry which was initiated by the flesh; so then it must be maintained by the flesh; and could be explained by a work of the flesh will be worthless material, and it will result in a loss of eternal reward!
Oh, may every believer have as their supreme ambition to be pleasing to the Lord in all things. May the message they share, the methods they use, and the motives of their heart be well pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then on that Day, these will receive a reward.
THE SUPREME AMBITION OF THE AUTHENTIC FOLLOWER OF JESUS — Part 10
THEREFORE we make it our ambition, whether present or absent, to be WELL PLEASING TO HIM. For we must ALL APPEAR before the judgment seat of Christ, THAT EACH ONE MAY RECEIVED THE THINGS DONE IN THE BODY, according to what he has done, whether GOOD or BAD (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).
We are presently considering THE PRIZE of the supreme ambition of the disciple of Jesus Christ. Believers must consider this Bema Seat appointment in light of their supreme ambition to be well pleasing to the Lord in all their life parameters. These parameters include their labor for the Lord, both in serving the body of Christ and in evangelism of the lost. Friend, the Christian co-laboring (in which they are called to invest their lives) will face a divine examination by the Lord! Also, the METHODS by which they carried out these areas will be thoroughly evaluated. In addition to their methods, the MOTIVES that compelled their hearts while carrying out this Christian labor will be appraised by the penetrating inspection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God's word is announcing that there will be a sacred scrutiny of how every believer cooperated with the "good works" that the Lord Jesus had prepared for them to walk in! If one has been saved by grace, through saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, then they are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has prepared for them to walk in. My Lord and Savior has "good works" for me to walk in. All of these holy labors (both in the evangelism of the sinner and the edification of the saints) are to flow from my vital union and living connectivity to the Lord Jesus Christ. I rejoice in the reality that "His prepared works for me" have taken me all over this globe and around this nation for over 37 years!
However, the Lord God also has a plethora of good works for all believers to walk in within the immediate sphere of the influence of their life. These good works are not the root of your salvation, but these good works will be the manifest fruit of one's authentic salvation. That is why believers are to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify God."
This Bema Seat evaluation will involve a Divine evaluation of those good works, "WHETHER GOOD OR BAD." This vital phrase unlocks an essential door of understanding considering this Bema Seat examination. The term "good" represents "worthy material." This worthy material is the total of the works one was involved in, which had ETERNAL VALUE! For this reason, the worthy material will receive an eternal reward from Jesus, the Lord and Savior. Meanwhile, the word "bad" depicts "worthless material." Worthless material describes things that involve your time and energy, which have NO ETERNAL VALUE, so that will result in a loss of eternal reward.
All should consider the following queries. Are you exhibiting a worthy testimony for Christ in your life and from your lips? When called to suffer for Jesus' name sake, do you suffer in a trustworthy manner? Do you conscientiously serve your local body with a godly demeanor? Are you involved in generous and joyful grace-giving with a humble and gracious attitude? Are you a faithful steward of your excess time so that you are expending most of that extra time on things with eternal value? Do you employ your spiritual gifts with an acceptable attitude to the Lord? Do you take opportunities and make opportunities to herald the "bad news and the good news" to needy sinners (both in proclaiming a message along with the means you employ) in a posture that is well pleasing to the Lord? Do you possess an inner yearning and longing for the Lord's appearing, not with an outlook that you are only yearning to arrive at a place called Heaven, but with a heart and passion that is longing to see the face of your Lord and Savior?
THE SUPREME AMBITION OF THE AUTHENTIC FOLLOWER OF JESUS — Part 9
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. THEREFORE we make it our ambition, whether present or absent, to be WELL PLEASING TO HIM. For we must ALL APPEAR before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:8-10).
We have considered 'The Priority' and 'The Parameters' of this supreme ambition. Today, we begin to uncover the third central truth in these two powerful verses, 'THE PRIZE OF OUR SUPREME AMBITION.'
NOTICE, "We (believers) MUST ALL APPEAR before the judgment seat of Christ." One must realize that Paul is writing to a local church when he pens these sobering words. Paul could sincerely testify that "His ultimate motivation to be well pleasing to the Lord in all things, was so that he will be 'well pleasing to the Lord' in his dying and home going!" Friend", this is one of the challenging verses in the New Testament. The Word of God declares that a 'day of examination and evaluation' is coming for every authentic follower of Jesus Christ!
This implies that every born-again believer, including myself, has a future appointment in which I will stand before the Bema Seat of our Lord Jesus Christ. On that day, a divine evaluation of our Christian labor, service, and ministry (both in the edification of the body and the evangelism of the lost). Our Christian works will be examined by the Omniscient, penetrating gaze of the Lord Jesus Christ! Daniel Webster said, "The greatest thought that has ever entered my mind. I will have to stand before a holy God and give an account of my life." In light of that powerful statement, I would add that every born-again follower of Jesus Christ should live with a "Bema Seat mindset."
The words in 'Bema Seat' are translated as the "Judgment Seat." That terminology was taken from the ancient Greek Olympics. Upon the conclusion of a particular event, the athlete would ascend to the Bema platform to receive his reward. Dear friend, every born-again believer is headed toward a promised appointment with the Lord Jesus Christ. The believer's Christian labor for the Lord will be evaluated to be rewarded or loss of rewards. The reality of this inevitable and unavoidable appointment should alert the heart of every Bonafide disciple of Jesus, "FOR WE" MUST ALL APPEAR."
Think of it: every" pastor, every evangelist, every deacon, every Sunday school teacher, and every layman will face this examination. All born-again believers will stand before the Lord, from the most well-known to the most obscure believers. The word "appear" literally means to bring to light, to make known, or to be made manifest. On that day, there will be a divinely thorough and exhaustive examination of the Christian's works, from the moment of conversion to the completion of our lives on this earth.
Where will this judgment occur? The Lord Jesus is the only One qualified to give this evaluation. The Omniscient Son of God can examine the ministry you were involved in and your methods and motives. Only Jesus is solely and sovereignly equipped to search to the very core of each work they were engaged in for Him and His great mission.
Notice, "EACH ONE" may receive the things done in the body." Individuals, one by one, will stand "BEFORE "THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST." I am "not going to stand before my Lord with my denomination. I am not going to stand before the Lord with my local church. I will not even stand before the Lord with my spouse or other family members. I will give a "one-on-one" accounting of my service to the saints and my witness to the lost. So this will be with every person who has been born from above. For this reason, it is essential to have as your ambition to be well-pleasing to the Lord.
THE SUPREME AMBITION OF THE AUTHENTIC FOLLOWER OF JESUS — Part 8
"Therefore we make it our aim, whether PRESENT or ABSENT, to be WELL PLEASING TO HIM" (2 Corinthians 5:9).
Today, we continue considering the 2nd essential principle, the Spirit of God, which has graced me to mine from the treasure trove of these two verses. This principle is "THE PARAMETERS of this SUPREME AMBITION. In these words, Paul has been challenging us with the profound truth that the totality of the believer's life is to be a well-pleasing act of worship to the Lord Jesus! With his great exemplary witness, he testified that whether he abides in his homeland of Heaven or remains on this earth as a resident alien, his whereabouts do not modify his aspiration. His blazing passion to be well pleasing to his Lord and Savior in every parameter of his life stood steadfast!
Most certainly, every born-again follower of Jesus should join in with Paul's truthful declaration and proclaim, "Lord, when I consider my thought life, I am fully aware that You are the primary audience; so, I desire to please you in my 'thought life'! My King, when I scrutinize what I set before my eyes, I will purpose to set no wicked thing before my eyes because I long to be pleasing to You. Oh, Sovereign Master, when I contemplate using my tongue, I desire to employ this tongue to exalt You, evangelize sinners, and edify the saints. So, I yearn to bridle my tongue for Your purposes! My glorious Redeemer, when I reflect on my family life, I want to walk within my house with a blameless heart. Oh, Head of the church, when I examine my church life within the family of God, I pray that my attitudes, affections, actions, and reactions would please You, the Lord of the church."
Moreover, "My great and final Prophet, when I regard my personal devotional life of Bible study and prayer, I purpose to spend daily time, quality time, priority time and consistent time, 'beholding Your glory in the written word,' and responding to You in worship, praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition and intercession! Furthermore, Lord, I desire to be faithful in 'my evangelism' (both in its message and its methods)! I commit to be faithful to "take opportunities and make opportunities" to proclaim Christ Jesus the Lord to unconverted sinners within my sphere of influence.
"Then, Lord, when I evaluate the stewardship of 'my free time,' I want to be faithful and give most of that time to things with eternal value and spiritual significance. Lord, as I examine the stewardship of 'my excess money' (beyond my basic needs), my desire purpose is to invest the vast majority of those extra funds in such a manner that "when I die and leave this planet, there will be friends to welcome me into my heavenly home," because of my wise investments in the eternal treasures of the Word of God and the souls of men!"
"Lord, even when I must walk through the dark valley of adversity', I want to consecrate my heart to adopt an attitude of joy in the valley. I have the certain promise that You will not work against me in the valley. You are working this valley together for my ultimate good and Your glory. So, I long to submit myself to Your refining purposes in this valley of adversity. I aim to seek You for wisdom in the valley. But I am not seeking wisdom to find the nearest escape from the valley; I am seeking Your wisdom to walk through the valley of adversity in a manner that would be "well-pleasing" to You, my Redeemer!"
Are these similar to the heart of your prayers? David Brained (a faithful missionary to the American Indians) echoed this supreme ambition with these words, "I do not go to Heaven to be advanced but to give honor to God. It is no matter where I shall be stationed in Heaven, whether I have a high or low seat there. My Heaven is to PLEASE GOD. My Heaven is to glorify him; and give all to Him and to be wholly devoted to His glory."