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The resurrection proclaimed Jesus Christ the Son of God with power. He is the Saviour of His people redeemed by grace, the children of God. Not all are children of God, some are blinded spiritually and cannot believe that Christ arose from the dead. Believing then, how much joy is there to be a child of our LORD! |
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This is a historical parable that has both an earthly and a far deeper spiritual meaning. The wonderful, joyful and more important spiritual message here is echoed throughout the Bible to Christians and again beautifully repeated by Jesus in the last verse of Matthew's gospel:
"I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20b).
As children of Christ we are promised by Him that He will be with us until the end of the world. He will never leave nor forsake us, this is a promise and our LORD is true to His promises, His very name is both the Word and Truth. Although we must carry each of our own crosses daily, we can take comfort in knowing that nothing can seperate us from the love of Christ, our Friend who loveth His at all times:
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39).
"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17).
Another beautiful place where we read about the never ending love of Christ toward His eternal church or elect by providence is in the book of the Song of Solomon. This highly allegorical view I strongly believe is the correct interpretation. Not only was this common among the Jews from ancient time and passed over to the early Christian church, but we must remember that the entire Bible is focused and centered upon the LORD Jesus Christ. Theologians such as Keil and Hestenberg offered excellent commentary on this view as the church gradually began to adopt a more literal view. To me, Christ shines forth in the book far too abundantly not to adopt the allegorical view. Note that we read it is all about whom my SOUL loveth, soul is pointing to something spiritual.
"By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me." (Song of Solomon 3:1-4).
Again we see the same theme running through that we just looked at in Ruth, Matthew, Romans and Proverbs; the idea that: "I held him, and would not let him go". This points to our eternal security and the fact that when we become saved Christ takes upon Himself and pays for every single one of our dirty rotten sins in the past, present and future. We know that even in times of trouble or suffering our LORD will uphold His people and lead them by their right hand to a safe place:
"Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works." (Psalm 73:21-28).
"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD." (Psalm 27:5,6).
This is a great reason to rejoice in the LORD. When everything else can fail, the LORD is a rock to His people, a fortress, a tower that cannot fall.
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9).
Knowing we have this wonderful joy in the LORD, we are warned by Him not to be fooled, one indication of salvation is that the true believer will not be a miser when sharing the Word of joy with others. Keeping the gospel joys to oneself is tragic and unbiblical. Jesus said:
"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:15-30).
When spreading the word we should use a balance of caution that what we are witnessing is as faithful as possible but should not be overly paranoid about not knowing the right thing to say. Did you know most folks you encounter probably will have studied the Word less than you as a Christian? Sure there will be times when we make mistakes or wish we went in a different direction with our witnessing, but don't worry, that's no excuse not to try again and keep in mind that in any event all things are working in accordance with God's good will and providence.
We know that Christ loves us at all times as Christians; in addition to this we must keep in mind that Christ also told us that we too must love our neighbors and what greater love can we have for them by sharing the gospel, Jesus as the bread of life.
"Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:43-51).
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