Part 16 – What It Means To Prepare for the 2nd Coming of Our Lord & Savior, Jesus
Many think those who have advanced their lives fast enough by hook or by crook are more blessed by God in the present. Therefore it is well known that people with plenty of wealth have plenty of friends and are chosen to lead many others.
Proverbs 19:4 ISV International Standard Version
“Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.”
God has nothing against wealth or abundance. As a matter of fact, Jesus said He came to make believers in God abundant in life.
John 10:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
“10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
But He also teaches us to enter through the narrow gate — The Righteous Way of Life, The Truth.
Matthew 7:13 ISV International Standard Version
“Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road is spacious that leads to destruction, and many people are entering by it. “
Preparing for the 2nd coming of The Savior is a learning process of walking with God one day at a a time through that narrow door, careful to observe God’s Commandments in the best way we can. Where in the bible does it say our goal is to acquire as much material wealth as possible ? We are told instead to give greater value to storing treasures in heaven where nothing can ever be destroyed. Perhaps the parable of the talents will support the ideal of being able to multiply “talents”, a frequently misinterpreted parable. Talents are not limited to money. What talents did Jesus multiply in His life ?
He did not build a huge temple for people to behold. Jews who educated Jesus even say they considered Jesus an excellent student of the bible in his youth. But He got kicked out of the Jewish Temple.
Jesus showed in His Life the multiplication of believers in God, the growth in number of followers who could spread the good news of salvation. What talents were multiplied ? Faith in God, Food Supply, Charity and the spirit of sharing, Wisdom from Words of God, Knowledge of God, the habit of praying to God, the attitude of forgiving sinners and appealing for them not to live sinful lives. Jesus multiplied God’s Way of Life for Man by His examples so that Man can gradually become more and more in the image and likeness of God Himself.
Let the thieves in government and businesses strive to be materially wealthy by human standards. Did Jesus not say their ways lead to their own destruction by following the sinful path ? Thus should the humble be glad for their accomplishments in following the narrow path towards the Kingdom of God. And this is what will be elaborated in Part 17– why the Righteous ought to be happier deep inside. The temporary little glories of sinful people have no future. Like a blind person on the way to a pit of destruction, stubborn sinners will suffer in endless regrets while all those who walk steadfast with the Lord Almighty will receive rich rewards.