“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1
The prelude to Christ’s discourse concerning the last days, specifically the period of the tribulation, is revealed by the deep sorrow, and yet, strength of resolve, concerning Jerusalem who “…killest the prophets, and stoneth them which are sent unto thee.” (Matt. 24:37) The Lord would continue by saying, “…how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.” It is in the pronunciation of these last words, that Jerusalem, in a very real way, sealed her destiny. She had been a city chosen by God, where He would associate His name, even manifest His glory in a most unusual way. She would defy and reject the true knowledge of God, especially as it related to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. For some, there was receptivity, and change, even transformation, because of the effective work of the Spirit of God, saving them from sin. But for most, judgment was chosen instead of blessing. The time would come when stone would not be left upon stone, the city burned, and the “glory” would be manifestly departed. Between the moment when Jesus offered His lament as He looked over Jerusalem, until the time of her destruction, there would pass around seventy years. Pentecost would come, and the living church, or body of Christ, would be born. The testimony of Christ would then begin to not only resonate in Jerusalem, but throughout the then known world. Both Jew and Gentile alike would be reached with the saving message of the first coming of Christ to save us all. With that blessed knowledge of Christ’s first coming, and blessing, would also come knowledge of His second coming, not as the meek and lowly Christ, humiliated, rejected, and opposed, but as the One who would come manifesting His Kingship, Lordship, and Sovereign Power and Reign over all. This time He comes to judge according to the perfect standard of God, Christ’s perfect righteousness. No amount of resistance, unbelief, or rebellion will be tolerated, nor will any sinner escape the Divine, burning scrutiny of His gaze, assessment, judgment, and application of that judgment. Those of faith will live, knowing the fulness of joy in His kingdom. Those of unbelief, and rejection of Him, will know, not only present destruction, the loss, perishing of all things, but His eternal, holy wrath against ALL unrighteousness. The question then must be asked concerning the believer, the disciple of Christ, in the time in which God has given him opportunity to live: “What must he BE if he is to fulfill, by the grace of God, the purposes and works of God for his life? What is this calling of God, that he should BE, as well as to DO?
The first thing to grasp is that the born again believer is a “son of God,” or child of God. He no longer belongs to this world, thus the ungodly system of the world hates him. However, as a son, He is immediately blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, in God. Paul puts it like this, “…that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Cor. 2:12) Complete in Christ, one with Him, delivered from sin and death by the precious blood of Christ, the work of the Cross, and the empowering Spirit, the believer is called to BE what God declares him to be, a son.
Secondly, the believer is called to be, like his Lord, a servant, first of God, and then of men. He is to live, “receiving” all that is good from God, in order to give to all around him. In essence, he is to be a faithful, wise, watchful, and fruitful communicator of the life and truth of Christ.
Thirdly, He is to be a soldier, an enduring overcomer, accomplishing the will and call of God.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.