Part three of our study of the three 2nd Advent parables, the parable of the penny, the parable of the talents, and the parable of the pounds was quite the finish, as we unpacked the parable of the pounds in Luke 19:11-27. All three of these parables deal with time and treasure leading up to the 2nd Advent, and being rewarded for the labor, investment, and work done in preparation for the messianic kingdom. The parable of the pounds is about faithfully occupying till the king returns. As we read, we saw that the citizens of the kingdom hated the nobleman who went to receive his kingdom and return. Their rebellion exacted a very high price!
Luke 19:14, 27: But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
We know that this parable is not for this dispensation doctrinally, but we can receive pertinent devotional instruction about our responsibility to faithfully serve the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul gives clear instruction about our responsibility to serve our Lord and Savior in many scriptures.
Romans 12:1-3: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Ephesians 4:7: But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
The judgment seat of Christ will be all about our faithfulness to be conformed to Christ. In these three verses, we can see what is expected of us in our journey:
Be an acceptable and reasonable holy sacrifice in this life. How? By not being conformed to this world and being transformed through renewing our minds in God's Word, as God has dealt to every one of us the measure of faith.
We are all given grace through the measure of the gift of Christ. We will be without excuse at the judgment seat of Christ for our stewardship.
We all are given the same commission – to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God as revealed to Paul. The judgment seat of Christ will be about our faithfulness to the mission of building upon the foundation of Christ with eternal building materials.
1 Corinthians 3: 13-15: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Our works will be put to the fire, but only that which is eternal will survive. Our reward will reveal how we will serve Christ in his kingdom. We will be with him forever as promised in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, so, our service in this life is of the utmost importance. Our next Bible study will consist of examining the scriptures that describe those who are rewarded and enter the everlasting kingdom to rule and reign.
