“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. (Luke 12:35-37)
These few verses are so rich with information that we may not initially appreciate, because Jesus is using an analogy that's not very common to us today. Basically, He's saying we are always to live our lives prepared to die (waist be girded and your lamps burning); not wanting to die, not rushing to die, not planning to die, but prepared to die. We've studied in several lessons that Jesus continues to prepare His disciples for His departure, for His death on the cross, then after that, for His resurrection. But as the angel told the disciples after His resurrection, at His ascention, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
What is Jesus going back to heaven to do? We will study in more detail in a future lesson; but briefly, Jesus said, ...I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3) Jesus is ...The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) He is also the bridegroom and we are His "bride", all of us who profess to be Christians, His church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Therefore, He has gone away, but He is coming back; and when He returns, He expects us to open to him immediately when He comes, and to find us watching. Why? Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” (Revelations 19:7-10)
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 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.” (Luke 12:37-40) Just like the men in this parable, they did not know when their master was going to return, and we don't know when Christ Jesus is going to return, But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ...and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew 24:37, 39) Whether it be morning, second watch (noon), or third watch (night), He said He's coming back, and “God is not a man, that He should lie,... (Numbers 23:19) Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (Matthew 24:35) We better be prepared when it's our time to go!
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. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (Luke 12:41-46) Heaven and hell are real, and this life is not all there is. For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12)
And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:45-48) God is holy and righteous and just! ...the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21) Just like a groom and bride should expect eachother to remain faithful and committed to eachother leading up to their marriage ceremony, so does Christ Jesus expect us to do the same until He returns for us. (Hebrews 6:1-8) We've heard of people who were "left at the alter". Well, God forbid that should happen to us, but we have to make sure we keep our waist girded and our lamps burning, so that when he comes and knocks we may open to him immediately.
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