Friday: Further Thought – How Shall We Wait?
Read Matthew 5:16; Colossians 3:17; Hebrews 13:15-16; read Ellen G. White, “On the Mount of Olives,” pp. 627-636, and reread “ ‘The Least of These My Brethren,’ ” pp. 637-641, in The Desire of Ages.
Jesus told us what the signs of the end would be before He returned, and they are not pretty. Wars, rumors of wars, pestilence, et cetera. If people often use the excuse of evil to reject God, they certainly have plenty of excuses now, and they will have more excuses as we get nearer to the end. Thus, it becomes even more crucial for God’s people, those who claim to be His followers, to reflect His character to the world and to help people get a better view of what God is like.
Image © Darrel Tank from GoodSalt.com
“If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one.” – Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 189. What a simple yet powerful statement in regard to outreach and ministry to others. While we wait for Jesus’ second coming, He expects members of His church to preach and live the whole gospel; to invest ourselves and our resources in His work; to love, respect, and care for people; and to open our lives for the Holy Spirit in His fullness. That’s a witness that all the arguments in the world can’t nullify.
Discussion Questions:
- In class, talk about the difference between what it would be like living in “Babylon” as opposed to living in “Jerusalem.” What would be the major differences between the two cities? That is, where is the major difference to be found-in what the places look like, or in who lives in them?
- The great question for Christians is not “Do works have a role in the Christian faith?” Of course they do. Instead, the question is “If works cannot save us, then what is their role in the Christian faith?” How do we answer that question, especially in the context of reaching out and ministering to others in need?
- How are we waiting for Jesus to return? That is, what are we doing in our lives that reveals the reality of our belief in His return? Why should we be living differently from those who don’t believe in the Second Coming?
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The lesson asks: “If works cannot save us, then what is their role in the Christian faith?”
It is like one saying we got married so we could have sex. No we got married because we couldn't live without each other.
I entered into a relationship with Jesus because He loves me so very much, I enjoy His company, His wisdom His character and I don't want to live without Him. Glory of glories He wants me too and His is prepared to overlook my past and to perform a miracle and create in me a new heart. Because I am changed to be like Him I will love and help others as well, some might call this works but I believe it is more accurate to call it "love in action".
The discussion questions raised above are extremely important. I will endeavour to answer them as follows:-
First, there are in the main two prominent cities mentioned in the Bible viz Babylon and Jerusalem. Babylon was a city of glamour, self-indulgence, prosperty, glittering lifestyle, magnificent gardens, where chasing after riches was paramount as well as evil, corruption, immorality and decadence.(2 Tim. 3:1 - 5). On the other hand God meant Jerusalem to be a city of God where peace would reign, God's rich blessings would flow and the city would represent the New Jerusalem to come. But God's people in Jerusalem turned against God and ended up leading the Babylonian way of life. Living in Babylon today would be like living in most cities of the world today where sin is ripe,lust of the flesh is paramount; where people are "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God",chasing after riches; where God and His teachings are ignored; crime is rife etc. Living in such a city would have a profound effect on the children of God resulting in professing Christians being spiritually weak and lukewarm in their commitment to God. Living in Jerusalem would be living in an environment where God is honoured; where people zealously search the Scriptures, equipping themselves to proclaim the good news to a dying world; where the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is taken seriously and where people seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first (Matt. 6:33, Col. 3:1-2). People commit fully to God and as a result abundant blessings flow to meet every need.
Second,works and faith are connected and cannot exist without the other. Our faith expresses itself in our works. James asks a critical question in this regard in James 2:14: "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?" We were created "in Christ to do good works." (Ephesian 2:). And so it is that love in action should be the hallmark of our lives in the communities in which we live and worship.
Third, we should be watching and praying for strength to survive difficulties and satan's temptations. We should be fully awake, out of spiritual sleep. (Romans 13:11). Christ said in Luke 12: 35 - 40 that we should be in a state of readiness, watching, waiting and being prepared for His coming. And in Rev 16:15 He exhorts us to be in good spiritual condition, having drawn close to Him. We should display a Christlike attitude towards our fellow country-men, an attitude of compassion, sympathy, empathy and doing works of good. Further Paul advises us thus: "Always give yourselves fully booked to the work of the Lord."(1 Thes 5:6). In short we must occupy ourselves with God's work, considering every day as a gift and using it to glorify God Almighty. Also we need to renounce and forsake sin - an act of repentance. The return of Jesus must be an all- consumming fixation and turn our hearts and minds heavenward!
We shall wait with all diligence. Watching with prayer and self denial. Rooted and grounded in love and filled with the Holy Spirit.