Dear Members & Friends of Immanuel:

     As we begin another church year with the season of Advent, our eyes are focused on the two comings of Jesus Christ.  As God tore open the heavens and sent His own Son to us to die on a cross for mankind’s sin, He will tear the heavens open again on the Last Day.  This time Jesus will come as Judge of the living and the dead.  In Advent, while we prepare to rejoice in the Savior’s birth at Bethlehem, we also prepare to rejoice at the “trumpet call of God and the voice of the archangel” when Jesus comes in great power and glory.

     But until He comes on the Last Day …

     Jesus tells a parable of the ten minas (a Greek measure of money worth slightly more than 3 months’ salary) in Luke 19.  A certain nobleman in the story gave money to his servants and told them to use it, do business with it, “occupy till I come” (KJV).  Now to all His servants the Lord gives certain gifts – material goods, talents of body or mind, and spiritual gifts.  Above all these, He has given us His precious Word.  He tells every one of us, “Until I return, use these gifts according to My instructions to build and expand My kingdom, and to help others.”  All of His servants receive these gifts; the Lord forgets no one.  He gives them freely; we do not earn or deserve them.  He expects us to use them and gives ample opportunities to do so in light of the day of His appearing.

     In the parable, Jesus condemns the sins of omission.  The slothful servant did nothing evil with the money.  He hadn’t cheated others.  Didn’t waste it in careless living.  He simply did nothing with the gifts received.

     The other servants had not worked with equal results, but they worked.  God knows which gifts we can use; that’s the mina we get.  He knows in what measure we can use His gifts and does not deal harshly with us if we can’t point to all sorts of brilliant achievements.  But there is one thing that will disqualify us in His kingdom – if we don’t use His gifts according to His will.  This is not to say that good works will save us.  But a lack of good works resulting from unbelief will condemn us on the Last Day.

     Remember the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16?  The rich man was not accused of doing something wicked to Lazarus, the beggar at his gate.  He simply did nothing, felt nothing, gave nothing.  So he woke up in hell.  Finally, the rich man wanted to do some missionary work (five brothers still living), but it was too late.

     How many times have we wrapped up our mina in a handkerchief and hidden it in the ground?  Material goods? Squandered or hoarded.  Talents of body or mind?  Wasted on laziness or serving ourselves.  Spiritual gifts?  Undiscovered and untapped.  God’s word of the Gospel?  Kept to ourselves.  Even when we do our best, much will be left undone.  This the Lord will, in His love, forgive for the sake of Christ who came to wrap us up in His righteousness, taking away our sin.

     Repenting of our unprofitable opportunities, our neglect and indolence, may we be strengthened this Advent season in the “new man” to make good use of the time we have left … serving Christ in His kingdom, building up and expanding the Church of Christ, and holding on to the glorious inheritance of the saints: life everlasting.

     “Occupy till I come!” (KJV) 

 

Dear Members & Friends of Immanuel:

     As we begin another church year with the season of Advent, our eyes are focused on the two comings of Jesus Christ.  As God tore open the heavens and sent His own Son to us to die on a cross for mankind’s sin, He will tear the heavens open again on the Last Day.  This time Jesus will come as Judge of the living and the dead.  In Advent, while we prepare to rejoice in the Savior’s birth at Bethlehem, we also prepare to rejoice at the “trumpet call of God and the voice of the archangel” when Jesus comes in great power and glory.

     But until He comes on the Last Day …

     Jesus tells a parable of the ten minas (a Greek measure of money worth slightly more than 3 months’ salary) in Luke 19.  A certain nobleman in the story gave money to his servants and told them to use it, do business with it, “occupy till I come” (KJV).  Now to all His servants the Lord gives certain gifts – material goods, talents of body or mind, and spiritual gifts.  Above all these, He has given us His precious Word.  He tells every one of us, “Until I return, use these gifts according to My instructions to build and expand My kingdom, and to help others.”  All of His servants receive these gifts; the Lord forgets no one.  He gives them freely; we do not earn or deserve them.  He expects us to use them and gives ample opportunities to do so in light of the day of His appearing.

     In the parable, Jesus condemns the sins of omission.  The slothful servant did nothing evil with the money.  He hadn’t cheated others.  Didn’t waste it in careless living.  He simply did nothing with the gifts received.

     The other servants had not worked with equal results, but they worked.  God knows which gifts we can use; that’s the mina we get.  He knows in what measure we can use His gifts and does not deal harshly with us if we can’t point to all sorts of brilliant achievements.  But there is one thing that will disqualify us in His kingdom – if we don’t use His gifts according to His will.  This is not to say that good works will save us.  But a lack of good works resulting from unbelief will condemn us on the Last Day.

     Remember the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16?  The rich man was not accused of doing something wicked to Lazarus, the beggar at his gate.  He simply did nothing, felt nothing, gave nothing.  So he woke up in hell.  Finally, the rich man wanted to do some missionary work (five brothers still living), but it was too late.

     How many times have we wrapped up our mina in a handkerchief and hidden it in the ground?  Material goods? Squandered or hoarded.  Talents of body or mind?  Wasted on laziness or serving ourselves.  Spiritual gifts?  Undiscovered and untapped.  God’s word of the Gospel?  Kept to ourselves.  Even when we do our best, much will be left undone.  This the Lord will, in His love, forgive for the sake of Christ who came to wrap us up in His righteousness, taking away our sin.

     Repenting of our unprofitable opportunities, our neglect and indolence, may we be strengthened this Advent season in the “new man” to make good use of the time we have left … serving Christ in His kingdom, building up and expanding the Church of Christ, and holding on to the glorious inheritance of the saints: life everlasting.

     “Occupy till I come!” (KJV)