August 10, 2023
A Chance For An Eternal Destiny
“While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.’ These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.”
John 12:36-37 (NASB)
In an amazing story, a young man shared his battle every man faces: He said he contracted COVID which caused some serious health issues. In fact he almost did not make it. He almost died. He said while lying in the hospital bed, the only thing that went through his mind was “What if I don’t make it?” “Would the last thing my wife remember about me be on my cell phone?” He said he did not want to be remembered by what she might see. I do not know the struggle, but it is incredibly encouraging to see men face the battles of life and win. We do not win every battle. Anyone who says they do is lying. The only thing we can do as we follow Jesus is to win more now than in the past. This takes submission to the Holy Spirit in our life. This man told me he has since become interested in his personal legacy. This new found desire has become more important than whatever held him back. Amen, to a great success story.
“While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” Jesus referred to His remaining time left on earth. While He performed other miracles, now was the time to believe while He still was with them. But there was still a remnant who still would not believe, and this was an urgent call for all to heed. Respond when called. Just as the Holy Spirit calls each of us to conviction and eventual salvation today, Jesus was personally calling everyone to His kingdom. He understood the brevity of His life (less than a week later He would die) and wanted them to respond before darkness came and would hold sway over people. He had not given up on the Jews who were unbelieving, to remind them: “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me,” (John 7:33). And again, the night before His death to the disciples, “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, Where I am going, you cannot come,” (John 13:33). Later before Judas betrayed Him, Jesus said again, “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me,” (John 16:16). And then, “He went away and hid Himself from them.” This was a taste of what was about to come. Jesus would leave them for a short time, but soon it would be a lot longer. They would have to learn to take care of themselves without Him, and wait for the Holy Spirit to come. Lange says, “This moment coincides, as regards the main point, with the departure from the temple described by the Synoptists (see Comm. on Matthew, p. 415, Am. Ed.) Meyer [and Alford]: ‘Probably to Bethany [Luke 21:37], in order to spend the last days of His life, before the coming of His hour, in the circle of the disciples.’” These last days of His life amounted at the utmost to two. On Tuesday evening Christ left the temple; on Thursday, towards evening, He returned to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.”[1] Although not far off, the people would miss Him…
Each one of us has a responsibility to share the gospel with an unbelieving world. Do not worry about whether or not it is received. Do your duty as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Leave the rest to God. We can only hope the legacy we leave will be those we see again in heaven!
[1] Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John (pp. 388–389). Logos Bible Software.