Those of us who
have Jesus as our Lord and Savior are called His
servants. And, as His servants, we are to
continue sharing His Gospel and living according
to God's Word until He returns for us: "And
he called his ten servants, and delivered them
ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I
come." (Luke 19:13)
But there will be
servants who are ashamed of themselves at His
coming:
"The
lord of that servant shall come in a day when he
looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is
not aware of," (Matthew 24:50)
"And
now, little children, abide in him; that, when he
shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be
ashamed before him at his coming." (1 John
2:28)
Why would anyone
who's saved be ashamed when He appears at the
Rapture to receive them unto Himself? Very
simply, even though they are saved, they were not
living as they should. They will not lose their
salvation, but they will lose rewards in Heaven:
"Behold,
I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown." (Revelation
:11)
Here are a only
few reasons why many of Christ's servants will be
ashamed of themseves when the Rapture occurs:
They did not treat other
believers correctly:
"He
that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet
shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that
receiveth a righteous man in the name of a
righteous man shall receive a righteous man's
reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto
one of these little ones a cup of cold water only
in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you,
he shall in no wise lose his reward."
(Matthew 10:42-42)
"For
God is not unrighteous to forget your work and
labor of love, which ye have showed toward his
name, in that ye have ministered to the saints,
and do minister." (Hebrews 6:10)
They did not use their God
given talents and abilities correctly:
"Now
there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:4)
"Wherefore
I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the
gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on
of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6)
"As
every man hath received the gift, even so
minister the same one to another, as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1
Peter 4:10)
They did not use money
properly:
"Take
heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be
seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your
Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou
doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before
thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and
in the streets, that they may have glory of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand
know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms
may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in
secret himself shall reward thee openly."
(Matthew 6:1-4)
"Charge
them that are rich in this world, that they be
not highminded; nor trust in uncertain riches,
but in the living God, who giveth us richly all
things to enjoy;" (1 Timothy 6:17)
"That
they do good, that they be rich in good works,
ready to distribute, willing to
communicate;" (1 Timothy 6:18)
"Laying
up in store for themselves a good foundation
against the time to come, that they may lay hold
on eternal life." (1 Timothy 6:19)
They endured suffering and
trials poorly:
"Therefore
I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I
strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
"Blessed
is the man that endureth temptation: for when he
is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love
him." (James 1:12)
They did not control their
fleshly appetites:
"And
every man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain
a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I
therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I,
not as one that beateth the air: But I keepunder
my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that
by any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway." (1 Corinthians
9:25-27)
They did not witness to
others and win souls for Christ:
"The
fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he
that winneth souls is wise." (Proverbs
11:30)
"And
they that be wise shall shine as the brightness
of the firmament; and they that turn many to
righteousness as the stars forever and
ever." (Daniel 12:3)
They did not expect Him
until 'later', by not believing the doctrine of
the Rapture:
"For
what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?
Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus
Christ at his coming?" (1 Thessalonians
2:19)
"Henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give
me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all
them also that love his appearing." (2
Timothy 4:8)
They were not faithful to
God's Word and to God's people:
"Wherefore
I take you to record this day, that I am pure
from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned
to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made
you overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts
20:26-28)
"I
charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the
dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the
word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
"My
brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we
shall receive the greater condemnation."
(James 3:1)
"The
elders which are among you I exhort, who am also
an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of
Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre,
but of a ready mind;" (1 Peter 5:1-2)
They were not hospitable to
strangers:
"For
I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty,
and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye
took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick,
and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came
unto me." (Matthew 25:35-36)
"Then
said he also to him that bade him, When thou
makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy
friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen,
nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee
again, and a recompense be made thee. But when
thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed,
the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed;
for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt
be recompensed at the resurrection of the
just." (Luke 14:12-14)
They were not faithful to
God's Word in their chosen profession:
"Servants,
obey in all things your masters according to the
flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but
in singleness of heart, fearing God: And
whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,
and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye
shall receive the reward of the iheritance; for
ye serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians
3:22-24)
They did not speak as a
Christian should:
"But
I say unto you, That every idle word that men
shall speak, they shall give account thereof in
the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)
"And
the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is
the tongue among our members, that it defileth
the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of
nature; and it is set on fire of hell."
(James 3:6)
If Jesus is your
Lord and Savior then you are His servant, and you
should be living by God's Word. Are you watchful
and anticipating the Lord's soon return, or will
you be ashamed at His coming?
Keith
05-03-2003
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