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| Rev. V.V. McCoy, President World Vision Enterprise P.O. Box 3292 Jackson, TN 38303-3292 |
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| With Love, I Bring to All of You This Message |
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. Matthew 25:14. This is a very familiar passage of text to most anyone who has read the Bible.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.Jesus Christ is that man. He gave each of us talents, and has traveled to a far country, to come again unto us, and when He does, it will be a reckoning day for all. We are told in Romans 12:3 that ...God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. As soon as the heart is formed, God takes His finger of love and writes (on the fleshy tablets of the heart) His Love, His Grace, His Mercy, and His Commandments. So Grace appears to each of us at the age of accountability. If, at this time, we begin to answer God's call upon our lives, our faith begins to increase. It is possible for our faith to develop to become the size of a mustard seed. Mustard-seed-size faith is all anyone needs. And, as we answer God's call upon our life, we also grow. Not only in faith, but in activity for God. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, into His service, we sow seeds of righteousness. And this will lead us to win souls in His name, using our talents and abilities. So we see, God expects us to answer His call early in life. But if for any reason you have not fully proceeded to do so, please begin now, while time and opportunity is available. It is possible to wait until it is too late to be saved. It is possible to wait too late to receive God's best here in this life, which means there will not be any rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. There is no need whatsoever for anyone to go through this life here on earth and not enjoy the fullness of God's blessings, which He has so graciously provided and made possible to all who are saved through the blood Jesus Christ shed for us all. But for sure, there will be those who will do so! Allow me to call your attention to what Jesus said: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19,20. Living life here and now for God is more than mere tradition(s). The call of God to all of us is to take up our cross and follow Him. No one can serve two masters, so says Jesus. Can you imagine what it will be like to lose your reward(s), but at the same time, be saved into the family of God and be in the kingdom of Heaven? This scripture is talking about all the family of God: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building...I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. I Corinthians 3:9,10. |
| Christ Is The Only Foundation |
| Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. I Corinthians 3:12-15. "This foundation" = Jesus Christ. When we are saved, we are saved by Christ, the foundation. "Gold, silver, precious stones" = living by every word of God and teaching others to do the same. "Wood, hay, stubble" = things which will easily burn up. What survives fire? "Gold, silver, precious stones". What will burn up? "Wood, hay, stubble". What does this tell us? That there will definitely be two types of Christians: those who have offerings of gold, silver, and precious stones. Not the gold, silver and precious stones of this life--not material possessions, but their works, their activities, the fruits of their labors. No! Works will NOT save us, but faith without works is dead! Then there will be those Christians who, for whatever their reasons (and that's between God and them), build only with wood, hay and stubble. It's not rocket science to know wood, hay and stubble do not last very long in a fire. : The desire of my heart to to awaken people of all denominations to this great truth (of the two types of Christians). At the same time, I want to make them all aware that not any one group, not any particular group will be the ones to wear a crown (those who build with gold, silver and precious stones wear a crown!). It has been stated, "In heaven, there will be no Baptists, no Church of Christ, no Assemblies of God, no Methodists: just Christians!" How true! So why can't we just all be CHRISTians, followers of Christ? We need to leave it to Jesus Christ to cut out all traditions! Then we could truthfully say, "I am a follower of Christ. He is my Savior, and I am His disciple." Let's look at the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Five were wise and five were foolish: Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matthew 25:1-13.Let's look at the "theme" of marriage. It will more fully explain the bride and bridegroom, those who are members of the wedding party, and those who serve. The following takes place in Heaven before the rider on the white horse leaves to come back to earth to fight (and win) the Battle of Armageddon. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Revelation 19:6-9. (bold is mine)This passage of scripture describes a wedding occasion not unlike those we have here on earth: there are the main people--the bride and bridegroom, then there are their guests, and finally there are those who serve. And so it shall be in Heaven. This marriage supper takes place after the last harvest of souls which are saved as recorded in Revelation 18:4. This little message is not intended to set anyone up or down. It is not to place anyone above or below another. We do too much of that ourselves. I hope to be understood to have pointed out to you, God is calling His people to a greater, a closer walk with Him now so as to escape the awful judgment of God that is sure to come upon this world within the very near future! On that day, when the great family of God stands before Christ at the judgment seat to give an account of their stewardship, some will have crowns placed upon their head and others will be given palms to wave in their hands. The scriptures describe those with palms in their hands as those who have come out of the Great Tribulation: After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands...he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:9,14. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Revelation 3:11. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:12. |
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| A Call Both To Myself And All That Will Hear Me! |
| As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Do the first works over.) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:19,20. This is a call to the great family of God everywhere to repent and get back to our first love. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy? Amos 3:3,7,8. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Psalm 51:2,3. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience... Revelation 2:2. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:4,5. In order to be included in the group of the five wise and go with Him to the marraige, we must here and now repent and do the first work(s). To hesitate would simply mean we are satisfied to be in the group of the five foolish. Is that what we want?? Will we, as Christians, now come alive for God? The unwise cannot enjoy God's best while here on Earth and cannot have the rewards and God's best in the future. Will we NOW hear what the Spirit has to say? He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7. "Unto the churches" = YOU and ME! This is just one message out of seven as found in the Book of Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3. |
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