Not with Observation
Luke
{17:20} And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation
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Isn't that a fascinating sentence?
Demanded by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come.
It's not unique wanting to know, it's as old as Jesus the wanting to know when Jesus will come again. The Pharisees asked Jesus Himself when it would happen and what did He tell them? Something we ALL need to take to heart.
'The kingdom of God cometh NOT with observation.'
Yes, we are to watch and that indicates observation but what are we told to watch for?
Mark {13:32} But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man,
no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but
the Father. {13:33} Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye
know not when the time is. {13:34} [For the Son of man is]
as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave
authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and
commanded the porter to watch. {13:35} Watch ye
therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house
cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in
the morning: {13:36} Lest coming suddenly he find you
sleeping. {13:37} And what I say unto you I say unto all,
Watch.
We are to watch the signs given, but even then we don't KNOW when it will be because only the Father knows.
Like a servant porter told to watch- he had to be on watch ALWAYS.
We have to watch ourselves. We have to watch our actions. We have to watch and make sure that we NEVER stop watching for our Master's return.
So while yes, we are told of many signs and we are to watch them, we aren't to keep our eyes focused on just the signs, just the current events pointing to the inevitable end. If all we do is note that the world is getting worse and worse and such and we don't WATCH ourselves to be ready, what good is it?
The Pharisees DEMANDED to know when the kingdom of God should come.
We can't be like them. We can't demand to know, we have to trust in Jesus' words which tell us that it will come 'NOT with observation.'
Watch and know, watch and pray, watch ourselves and our readiness.
You know whether or not you're sleeping on watch. That guard on duty knows then he's drowsy he can feel his head getting heavy, his eyes closing, his breathing start to even out. The responsibility of the guard is to stay awake and find ways to keep himself awake. We have to find ways to rouse ourselves to our duty to watch and stay awake.
Yes, there is a parable of the ten virgins where they ALL fall asleep and yet five prepared by having extra oil ready, and five didn't prepare.
We have to be prepared and ready for Christ. It is our duty to be ready by watching, by waiting, by studying, by praying, by looking for His coming while not demanding to know when. It will not come with observation.
Luke
{17:21} Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
How true. Our readiness for God, our readiness for Christ's return doesn't rest on anything outside of us, it doesn't rest on any outward circumstances but rather it rests on us loving, seeking, trusting, believing in God's mercy and grace for us.
We can't allow ourselves to get caught up in the when, we just can't. If we get so caught up in the when we are going to miss out on everything. Our wanting to know, our desire to know is a good thing in proper perspective. Knowing the facts, knowing that things are unfolding as we were told they would be are all good things. But we have to be ready or all the watching will mean nothing if we're not ready and we can't delay our getting ready- waiting for some *closer* sign of His return. We could die tomorrow and have no need of any more signs.
We have to be ready always, not wait to get ready.
May God help us to learn of His love more fully and make it a reality to us all.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior now and always.
Amen.
1/15/10
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Everything thing we see is temporary. Some might argue that certain landmarks are forever but they'd be wrong. The earth itself is constantly changing, shifting, moving, altering. Natural disasters can alter the entire landscape of a mountain we might think untouchable. Temporary. Everything is temporary. Even we are here right now on earth only temporary.
temporary (tèm´pe-rèr´ê) adjective
Abbr. temp.
Lasting, used, serving, or enjoyed for a limited time.
...for a limited time.
We are all only here for a limited time and there is no telling how long that time might be. Do we really live like our lives are temporary or do we make plans that would have us fooling ourselves that we are going to be around forever? I'd like to think most people are aware of their temporary existence and understand that eventually their time will be up. People don't really like to talk about death and dying though, especially not their own. It's considered morbid to dwell on death and yet we only have hope for eternal life by thinking about death- the death of Jesus Christ. Accepting His sacrifice and believing in His resurrection to eternal life is our only real hope at all in life.
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Things that are not seen.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Faith isn't seen.
God isn't seen.
The things God has prepared for us are not seen.
Those are eternal things and yet we cannot see them. People want to shun God because He's not seen. They'd rather believe this temporary life is all there is.
Our lives here and now are but the smallest drop in the bucket of eternity.
If we could TRULY understand that all that happens now is supposed to be preparation of our spirits for a life of eternity in love with God, we'd live differently wouldn't we? We'd live as if this life here and now on earth was truly temporary and NOTHING on this earth, NOTHING in this life right now is worth losing life eternal in Christ Jesus.
Cultivating the love God gives to us, sharing the love God gives to us with others, this is what we need to do. Share the good news of the gospel, share the love eternal found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, this is our duty.
Love God. Love each other.
Love.
May God bless and keep us as we seek to live the temporary existence we have here on earth right now in Him now and one day may we share His eternity.
By the mercy and grace, the love of Jesus Christ our Lord now and forever.
Amen.
1/15/11