Entering God's Everlasting Kingdom

In high school I remember being invited to a friend's house and it had features completely different from my home.  The first difference was an automated gate that required using an intercom to gain access to the driveway.  The house was perched on acreage overlooking the valley, and the property had a pool, a couple holes of golf and a tennis court.  As the gate slowly opened, it was like a whole different world opened up to you--by invitation only.  There was no way to drive down the driveway or enter the house unless your were a privileged guest.

It is special to be invited to an event like a wedding or party and find your name written on a card in anticipation of your arrival.  At such events it is not uncommon for some people to be unable to attend and for the seat to remain empty.  Drinks are poured, food is brought out, and it sits untouched unless it is taken by other guests or cleared by hospitality workers.  I find it sad for the host and the prospective guest, for both would have benefitted from the blessing to offer hospitality and the blessing of receiving it.

As special and exclusive as personal invitations can be, there is none that can really compare with the offer of salvation and a place at the table in the presence of God.  Jesus told a parable about the kingdom of heaven where a king invited his subjects to a wedding.  The day came when he sent servants to summon them to the feast already prepared only to find they would not come because they were busy or made light of it.  After executing judgment upon them, he commanded they invite anyone they could find so the wedding would be furnished with all manner of guests.  This the servants did.

Jesus said in Matthew 22:11-14, "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. ¹² So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen."  When the king came to see the guests, he saw a man without a wedding garment which would have been graciously provided for all guests.  For whatever reason, this man was fine to attend but refused to observe the dress code.  After being confronted by the king himself the man had no answer, was bound and thrown into outer darkness.

The man possibly bound with pride and self-righteousness on the basis of his invitation was rendered speechless because he had not submitted himself to his king.  One point Jesus made to His listeners is it is not enough to be invited or to accept an invitation, but for all guests to wear the suitable apparel the king provided for his guests.  The correlation is clear:  if any man will enter the kingdom of God, it must be through faith in Jesus Christ.  Those who trust in Jesus are adorned with a robe of righteousness by faith in Him.  Jesus gave His life so we could be invited and receive His offer of eternal life, and the irony is people can see it as a little thing--that our willingness to attend makes us worthy.  We are not worthy in ourselves and never will be, for the gift of God is all of grace.  If we will receive His gift of forgiveness and eternal life, we can only enter the kingdom of God one way:  by faith in Jesus.

The clothes guests wear to formal events matter to the generous host, and God does care if we are clothed with faith in Christ and humility.  Those who are born again are partakers of the divine nature and thus should be evidenced by virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.  2 Peter 1:10-11 says, "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

God Knows All Who Trust Him

It is not uncommon after a major disaster like a fire, tornado or cyclone that causes widespread, catastrophic damage to find homes spared in the midst of the ruin.  It seems almost arbitrary that all the houses on the block would be swept clean from the foundations while one remains standing and inhabitable.  I do not know if this constitutes a miracle, but I am sure to the people whose home was seemingly spared at random it feels like one.  What it does show without a doubt is God Who created the forces of nature can distinguish between those who fear Him and spare them in a day of judgment.

In the book of Nahum God described the judgment and destruction He would bring upon the city of Nineveh for their sin.  I find the first chapter remarkable, that within the fiery judgments there are lovely descriptions of God's goodness.  In the midst of the predicted overthrow Nahum 1:7-8 says, "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. ⁸ But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, and darkness will pursue His enemies."  We cannot say how or why a tornado destroys one house and leaves another intact, but we can know God is a stronghold in the day of people for those who trust Him.  His judgment will be as an overflowing flood no one can escape by hiding in a refuge of lies, and God will see to it all His enemies will be swept away.

God is a stronghold, a refuge for all who fear Him.  A good shepherd knows his sheep, and God knows every individual in His flock.  He protected Noah and his family from the great flood and delivered Lot and his family safely out of Sodom.  He is the God who parted the Red Sea so His people could safely escape the pursuing army, and He caused the walls of water to fall upon the Egyptians.  One likened to the Son of God stood with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and God sent His angel to shut the lion's mouths so they could do Daniel no harm.  Even when the stones found their mark upon the martyr Stephen, upon falling asleep he was ushered safely into the arms of the LORD Jesus to dwell in glory with Him for eternity.

How encouraging it is that God knows those who trust Him.  He is a stronghold in the day of trouble, and this means we do not need to be afraid whatever should God allow.  By faith in God we can experience personally what is written Psalm 91:1-2:  "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ² I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."  God knows all who trust in Him, and blessed is the one who makes our good God his confidence.  By faith in Jesus may we make our glorious God known.

Like People, Like Priest

The old saying goes, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."  The meaning behind this phrase is usually that children exhibit character or qualities also found in their parents.  One could also say, "Like father, like son."  The genetic information in the seeds of apples grow trees that produce the same variety of apples, and genetics are passed down in people as well.  While physical appearance, personality traits or mannerisms can closely resemble parents, every child is uniquely created by God.  It would be presumptuous to credit or blame parents as entirely responsible for their children's choices and behaviour.

It is assumed by some people are the product of their environment, family and society, almost fated by external factors to respond in a particular way.  There are so many exceptions to this I wonder how it could be assumed true.  Many people who have grown up in a worldly environment have been born again by faith in Jesus, and others who made a profession of faith and grew up going to church have abandoned any semblance of a life in pursuit of Christ.  God is glorious in His power to transform lives, while He still gives people the freedom to make a choice to heed Him or not.

Recently I was reminded of a principle God laid forth in Hosea that reverses the apple and tree cliche in regards to governance.  God revealed Himself to the children of Israel, lead them with His presence, provided for them in the wilderness, established them in the Promised Land, and gave them His laws.  Priests were tasked with teaching the people of God and His ways, upholding God's laws with justice.  In the book of Hosea, God noted how His people were destroyed for the lack of knowledge of God and His righteous ways.  Because the people were corrupted with hearts set on sin, God spoke forth His judgment in Hosea 4:9:  "And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds."  God would allow priests to minister who resembled the people who were base; that would be a reward to people for their iniquity before the LORD.

We see this on display before Hosea spoke those words, for Hophni and Phinehas were priests borne out of a day when everyone did what was right in their own eyes.  This was not foreign to the prophet Jeremiah either, for he said in Jeremiah 5:30-31:  "An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: ³¹ the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?"  When legislation is passed that is a grief to God-fearing people, it is wisdom to realise the problem is not primarily a political party or left or right-wing agenda:  sinful legislation that calls evil good and good evil is allowed by God to discipline a city, state and nation that have wandered from the fear of God.  God's people are not helpless or hopeless even when the wicked rule, for God is a hope and refuge for all who seek Him.

Daniel was a righteous man, and the best men are willing to view themselves in the worst light, confessing their own sin before the LORD.  It is a cop-out to decry those who rule as wicked without recognising those who rule are of the people--each of them one of us--and we also are not innocent of great transgression before the LORD.  For all who grieve over the godless state of our people and nation, let us humbly receive correction and pray as Daniel did in Daniel 9:17-19:  "Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. ¹⁸ O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. ¹⁹ O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name."

Be As Jesus Is

A way parents can undermine their credibility and respect of their children is to adopt a, "Do as I say and not as I do" approach.  It may be one thing concerning bedtimes or age-restricted activities by the government like drinking alcohol or driving a car, but entirely another when it comes to moral choices like cursing, lying or stealing.  A parent who scolds or punishes their child for swearing but does so all the time plays the hypocrite, and we can be guilty of hypocrisy at any age.

It is imperative we look to God and His word to guide us in our choices and conduct.  God never invokes a "Do as I say or do" approach but rather commands us to "Be as I am."  This goes to the heart of being born again and a new creation by faith in Jesus Christ.  This is what Paul was getting at in Galatians 6:15:  "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation."  There is no possible way we can successfully do what God does in the effort of our flesh, for we are not God.  Having been born again by faith in Jesus and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are divinely enabled to do God's will because we have been united with Him.

After the prophet detailed the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, following verses spoke of the Person and ministry of Jesus in Micah 5:4:  "And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth..."  These verses apply perfectly to Jesus revealed in scripture:  the Good Shepherd, identified Himself as "I AM," commanded His disciples to abide in Him and how the Father had given all authority in heaven and earth unto Him.  Jesus said in John 15:4-5, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."  As Jesus abides in the Father, so we abide in Jesus and His love (verse 10).

God who created the eye can see, and He who fashioned the ear can hear.  Because Jesus is risen from the dead and lives forever, He is able to give eternal life to all who are born again by faith in Him.  It is only because of our new identity in Christ Paul could write truly in 1 Corinthians 15:57-58:  "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."  Notice Paul says we are to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the word of the LORD.  This springs from who we are rather than what we strive to accomplish.  We ought to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, doing the good works God has prepared beforehand for us to do (Eph. 2:8-10).  This cannot occur before we are born again after the image of Jesus Christ, for this flows from Who He is.

Let us thank God who gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ, the One who makes us to stand steadfastly and to feed the flock by His grace.  By faith and obedience of His people may the name of Jesus be made great to the ends of the earth, and our efforts will not be in vain because Jesus is LORD of all.