To Encourage You

Luke 19:12-14 “He said therefore, ‘A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, “Engage in business until I come.” But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to reign over us.”‘”

In the parable above from Luke 19, Jesus is speaking about the kingdom of heaven, i.e., His kingdom.  And although we often think about this kingdom as being “in heaven,” it’s important to note that God’s kingdom encompasses all of creation.  That’s why we are told to pray such things as “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”  Thus, Jesus’ point in Luke 19 is that He has given us commandments – all of us – and right here and right now He is to be obeyed.

You see, Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Servants of kings are to obey kings, so how much more are we obligated to obey the King of kings?  However, we know full well that most people on earth don’t view Jesus as a king, let alone their king.  In fact, most people largely disregard what He has commanded.

Jesus has told us “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  Conversely, if someone doesn’t obey Him, if they don’t give what He has said to us in His Word a second thought, they don’t love Him.  In fact, anyone who doesn’t obey Christ despises Him. Jesus made this clear when he said “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

You see, we all serve someone. We all have a master.  For some, that master is our self. For others it’s money.  Of course, anyone who serves someone or something other than Christ certainly doesn’t want “this man,” of all men, to rule over them.  They may follow someone else, or they may think they are “the master of their fate,” but they certainly don’t obey Jesus.  If any thought is given to Jesus, it’s in how to use His name as a profanity.  They are just like the Jews of the first century who condemned Jesus to death because He claimed to be the King of the Jews.  They of course didn’t accept that, and they hated Pilate for inscribing the cross with a sign to that effect.  Of this king, they could only say “Crucify Him!” 

So, where do you stand on this issue?  Do you love Christ and want nothing more than to obey Him and serve Him, or do you serve something or someone else – and thereby hate Christ, although you may have never thought about it in such terms.  Each and every one of us will find ourselves in the parable of Luke 19 someday. Each and every one of us will give an account of ourselves to God.  Are you ready for that moment?  Are you ready to face the King of kings?   On that day we are told by that great King that there will be a final reckoning. Some will hear these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” But others will hear these words: “You wicked and slothful servant . . . cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” (Matthew 25:21-30).  Those are the only two options Jesus gives. There is no middle ground.  May we live as if that day is really coming, for that’s what the King of kings has said.