THE RETURN JOURNEY (Part 1)

Luke 12:24-48

Beloved, the life of self-indulgence may either spring from an undue expectation of a lengthened life or from unduly dwelling on the fact of its shortness—eating, drinking, and making merry without taking into account the day of reckoning.

However, to those conscious of the higher life unto which we are called, Jesus called them “the little flock,” “the kingdom heirs,” whom Christ admonished to provide for themselves the heavenly treasure, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:33)

Beloved, have you ever pondered on your return journey as a pilgrim on earth? Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:11 says, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

In the words of the Lord Jesus according to Luke 12:15, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Christ can read the heart of a man, and He understands the ways of the carnal man, that greed was there with all its subtle temptations, leading the man to think that life is not worth living unless he has a superfluity of properties.

Ecclesiastes 5:17 says, “As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry in his hand.”

Those who, with their eyes open, sin against light and knowledge can expect in this world or in the world to come a penalty proportionately severe.

1 Timothy 5:24-25 says, “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men, they follow after. Likewise, also the good works of some are manifest beforehand, and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.”

Man’s knowledge is the measure of his responsibilities, and in the absence of knowledge, more or less complete, human stripes may be inflicted as the only effective discipline for teaching men what things are wrong.

Luke 12:48 saith, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

We may well be content to leave the question of sufferings, more or less acute, to Him (the Lord) who spake the words and, in so doing, gave the most convincing proof that the judge of all the earth assuredly will do right, because He is a righteous Judge, for He shall apportion unto every man according to his works. (Luke 12:45-48; Gen. 18:25)

Your solid worth in heaven is by treasures laid by your labor of love in the service of humanity and God.
How rich are you towards God? Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

1 Timothy 1:5 says, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”

“A faith rich in works rather than words.”
Beloved, can you check your balance in heaven?

(The Recreated Vessels)
To be continued…