Before - Beyond - Exceeding
Risk? In Matthew 25: 14 -30 The only one taking the risk was the "wicked servant" - God gives every man a valuable gift of a measure of eternity to respond to ... There are two types of people in this passage - The "Saved" investors and the "Lost" hider. The investors are those who because of redemption see the value of the Gift of God and multiply it. Read this passage carefully (a week ago it was presented in a Sunday morning service by the Pastor in an attempt to teach risk ... But we may have missed the point in scripture) Matthew 25 ... Only those given the "talents", who were connected to the Master, would take up what is given....take the gift as theirs ...and multiply the entrusted investment to the glory of God. 5 doubled, 2 doubled, BUT 1 was hidden.
When we don't have the God given perspective of the "safety in the Lord" through His salvation ... In our "lost condition", we will see the Lord as harsh and unfair; which in the Kingdom is to not see God in it ... at all.
Why does the "risk" always have to be in the parenthesis of the church program and how is it a risk within the safety of the Kingdom?
"I was afraid" ...no trust in the Master's goodness... No desire to share the Master's joy. This parable of the Kingdom is a spot on target picture of the heart of lost-ness ....the biggest and most foolish risk is to not Know Him. The Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord - but to bury that gift - out of sight, out of mind carries with it the consequence of eternal condemnation. The cross reveals God's compassion on us and the resurrection reveals His power for us....why not move forward in trust. Why should we be shamed by what others think is risk?
Instead of risk minimization, risk management, or risk avoidance ... (All are characteristics of a "natural" not a "spiritual" life) ... Why not allow our hearts to be unchained from fear by the obvious limitless promises of the word of God?
Sad are the following verses concerning the Servant who hid the Gift...
Matthew 25:25 - " And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine." (This lost servant never took salvation for his own but buried the opportunity "in the earth" ... Why think of Heaven?).
Mathew 25:29 - "For every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." (The lost servant ... lost the opportunity completely).
Matthew 25:30 - "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Only the lost, unprofitable servants face this end ... Never are the "saved" cast into outer darkness).
Let's be saturated by some God perspectives and move forward in the courage that He supplies through His word.
Ephesians 1:19 (Grab all of this Chapter it is overwhelmingly powerful in our favor) " And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,". KNOWING JESUS!
Ephesians 2:7 - "That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." KNOWING JESUS!
KNOWING JESUS brings us into the constant festival of the Gospel ... We live in the joyful sound of His Death, Burial and Resurrection. Stay close to the Gospel!
Psalm 118:27 - "God is the LORD, which hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar." O give thanks unto the LORD for He is good ... His goodness was carving the elements before us, His goodness goes beyond the exchange of our daily decisions and consequence; and His goodness is always exceeding our expectations above all that we ask or think--- because ... His mercy endures forever (in spite of what we may perceive).
But there can be a problem ... It exists because of our perception in the moment ... We will have to choose between Faith and Sight. Sight may suddenly sadden, but faith will carry us to the Father's future.
God is the LORD... He has shown us light and He is becoming our light ... Life in His presence becomes a vibrant ever flowing festival, especially if we fasten the festival with living weavings (of the encounters of our life) to the Altar of Sacrifice -- the Cross. Cherish the moments for this festival could be the last that we share on this side of Eternity.
"Jeff" ... "I am 85, not doing anything has me stiffening up...at least when I drove the truck I could move ... I want to drive 2 more years, and then that is it."
I asked "What then , retirement?"
Dad had no words ... Only a distant look...driving all his life made it near impossible to see the "then" after the "that's it."
As he got into his car he proceeded to break into an overwhelming emotional moment ..
"When life is young and you can go anywhere and do anything with the love of your life ... You never even for a moment imagine that it could be like this ... I am very disappointed with it all."
He continued, "It is not fair ... This is not what I imagined it to be, the pain is so limiting and the dreams are all but gone. Well I have to get back to the nursing home with Mom, see you later!"
"Dad ... Jesus is coming soon!"
His reply. "That would be ok!"
"I love you Dad!" ...
"I love you too, thank you ...Jeff!"
I watched as his vehicle pulled away with the "Jeff" still echoing in my mind ... I cried a bit as I stood there, realizing we may not do this again next Thanksgiving... BUT because of Jesus, eternity's prospects were still bright in spite of the momentary pain and seasonal tears. Of all the things in life ... That we "must" ... We must believe.
Each of us who awake to another day ... Are greeted with the festival power of every promise from His Word ... Start there, stay there until we move forward in victory, as He makes a way for us through our doubts and disappointments.
"Dad" ... "Jesus loves you and Mom so much. He is intimately touched by your feelings in this ... Look for and be grateful for the miracles as they present His glory to you daily (no matter how insignificant they may seem to others) and continue to trust Him in hope of His future."
HLFA,
Jeff
Happy Thanksgiving 2017