Knowing God
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By Rev Dale Lee
“Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.” (Luke 19:11, NKJV))
They thought that the kingdom would appear immediately. How often do we read in Scripture of the unfortunate misunderstandings and mind-wanderings which seemed to so easily infect Christ’s disciples. These well-intentioned, often misguided souls should have remembered the words “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool…” (Proverbs 28:26, ESV) They were to be in shock when things didn’t turn out the way they thought.
The parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11-27) is about a nobleman who travels to a far country to receive a kingdom, who, after an indefinite period, then returns to establish his kingdom in his native land. Before he departs he gives resources to his servants who are instructed to “Do business” until he returns. This parable is intended by Jesus to teach three essential truths: First, there will be a long and indefinite period of time between our Lord’s first and second comings. In the parable Jesus describes Himself as a nobleman who “went into a far country.” One commentary states, “Because He travels to a far country, and long and indefinite period will elapse prior to His return.” Second, the period between the nobleman’s departure (the Ascension of Jesus) and his return is a time of testing for his servants who are to “do business” till Jesus returns. Third, Jesus will certainly return and establish His kingdom and reward the servants according to their obedience.
And so the disciples thought that the kingdom would appear immediately. They supposed, but they were wrong. Oh how we need to be led by the Spirit of Truth and humbly seek to be corrected in our all too prevalent misunderstandings. The consequences of supposing wrongly concerning the things of God can be very costly, even unto the losing of our souls.
The day of the Lord is surely coming. To sit and wait and do nothing under the delusion of a false supposition is disobedience. We are to do God’s business until Jesus comes. This and only this is the right way forward for the Church.
We just passed the 80th anniversary of the most crucial day of World War II, June 6, 1944, Operation Overlord. In the great and mysterious books of heaven wherein the will of God is written, there is a day determined for planet earth: Operation He is Lord, the return of Jesus. This day will surely come, but we know not when. When it begins, it will be the beginning of the end for Satan’s world domination. As German General Erwin Rommel once stated, “If the Allies will land and we can’t throw them back into the sea within 24 hours, it’s the beginning of the end.”