KINGDOM PRESENT - THE KINGDOM PARABLES

AN INTRODUCTION

Last week we saw that, according to the parables, developing spiritual fruit in our lives was the key to kingdom living.

Jesus was a very practical person, understanding us better than we understand ourselves. So He also took the opportunity, through the parables, to warn us of the key areas in which we can, more likely will, go astray.

First of all, there is the logical area of living a life no, or little difference, to that which we lived before we knew Jesus. Commonly called, 'one foot in the kingdom, one in the world.' Seeking the benefits without being prepared to pay the price!

Jesus was tough on this! We will see this as we go through the parables individually. A quarter of them deal with the judgment that will come upon us if we don't bear fruit in our lives! Don't know about you, but it certainly gives me food for thought. And motivation for action too!

We live in a time when the love of Jesus is promoted, almost to the exclusion of the other side of His, and the Father's, balanced character, which is ultimately, His judgment, should we choose to continually ignore His will for us.

We need to understand that, just because we have accepted Jesus as Saviour, we are not excused from judgment. Don't believe me, believe the Word! In fact, it is repeated twice in this passage, in both verses 12 and 13.

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. (Revelation 20:12-13)

The book of life refers to Christians. How do I know that? From verse 15.

15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

So Jesus warned us both in the parables, written specifically for believers, and here in the description of Judgment Day, what would happen if we ignored His instructions to produce spiritual fruit in our lives. This warning is again confirmed in Hebrews.

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-31)

Is all hopeless then? No, it is not.

If we do the will of God...

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:36)

And again in Romans...

7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. (Romans 2:7)

The choice is ours.

(Continued next week)