John the Baptist “was a burning and a shining light.”

“He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.” John 5:35

Occupy till I come. What are you trading to prepare for the Kingdom of God?

This beloved forerunner of Christ never stopped serving the LORD. Yet many today who were once filled with the Holy Spirit and zeal of Christ today are waxing cold, just as Jesus foretold.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world (with or without you!) for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:10-14

All around us we see those who once walked with Christ and were a voice for Him departing to another mission. One of those diversions is saving America instead of saving and preserving souls for the eternal kingdom of Christ. Some have left the preaching of the Gospel. Christ warns us repeatedly of the need to “endure to the end” in an abiding relationship with Him (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:6, etc.).

The Gospel in action in our lives is born out of a oneness, an abiding relationship with Christ and the Father (John 15, 17).

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8

Doing Business for God

“Occupy till I come” is a call to build and expand Christ’s kingdom with all the resources and talents God has given to us!

Repentance is always the starting place (Hosea 10:12, etc.). Repentance precedes refreshment from Heaven (Acts 3:19).

“And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Colossians 4:17 

The LORD has called you to fulfil His calling on your life. You are fully responsible.

The true Heaven bound disciple is doing GOD’s business and not his own. He’s using everything God has given him for the LORD’s glory. Jesus said “I must be about my Father’s business” and so if you are truly following Jesus, you are about the Father’s business and not your own! (Luke 2:49)

In this parable, Jesus is speaking of the stewardship of our lives and resources He’s given us in this brief life and how they will have an eternal impact on each of us – for eternal blessing or embitterment. Here’s how Jesus begins and ends His parabolic teaching of the “ten servants”:

“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” … “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Luke 19:13, 27 

In other words Jesus is saying: “I am your Master. Do My kingdom business, the Father’s business, until I return and you will be blessed. Yet if you do not allow Me to reign over your life on this earth, you will be destroyed and not with Me eternally.”

Those who do not “occupy” till Jesus comes will be counted as His “enemies” and slain.

This is yet another place in Scripture, of many, where final salvation is taught and the need to “endure to the end” to be “saved” into eternal glory (Matthew 10:22; 24:13, etc.).

ARE YOU fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission command or will you be found to be an “unprofitable servant”?

“And cast ye the UNPROFITABLE SERVANT into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30

You’ve Been Given Marching Orders

No matter what – follow Jesus. What did Jesus say of those who begin and don’t finish?

“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-62

Remember that no matter what’s going on in this fleeting world, the LORD holds His own responsible to teach and preach His Word – which He specifically sent us to do (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15).

“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” Philippians 2:16

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2

Always “preach the word” and never delay – never put it off for any current event…

“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” John 4:34-38 

Jesus is saying here that those who are and will remain with Him must never put off His work for any other occupation. – “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (v35) And Jesus communicates: “When you put off My work, the mission I sent you on, you’ve put me off.”

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 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

At this very moment, hell is full of people who were once saved while on earth and then left Jesus. They neglected their fellowship with the Savior and fell away (Matthew 25:1-13; Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Peter 2:20-21, etc.).

Have you lost your anointed effect on others? Has the salt you once had lost its Savour, its flavor, its punch? This can only happen if the disciple neglects His relationship with the LORD.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13

“Our holy lives ought to act as salt to arrest the corruption around us. It is said that the presence of a child has arrested many a crime. A sudden silence should fall on certain kinds of conversation when we enter the room. But it is very easy to lose our saltness, as did Lot in Sodom and the seven churches of Asia. Our lives ought to serve also as light.” FB Meyer

Is there seasoning on your offering as a “living sacrifice”? (Romans 12:1)

Does your life have “savour”? If not, it can! When the LORD sprinkles you where He wishes in this world, is there divine flavor and strength, pungency, is there Heaven’s power to bless, to bring His love, His truth, His salvation, His deliverance? His stated desire is to make you a “a vessel unto honour.” Are you prepared? Are you preparing?

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

PUN’GENCY, noun [Latin pungens, pungo, to prick.]

1. The power of pricking or piercing; as the pungency of a substance.

2. That quality of a substance which produces the sensation of pricking, or affecting the taste like minute sharp points; sharpness; acridness.

3. Power to pierce the mind or excite keen reflections or remorse; as the pungency of a discourse.

Food without seasoning is bland, boring, tasteless. Do you sprinkle salt, pepper, Tony Chachere’s, Tabasco, or any other good seasoning on your food? Of course you do, right? Would you bother if that seasoning you like became bland, tasteless? Think about this in light of our Master in Heaven: If your salt has no more tastiness, if your life is not anchored in Christ, do you think He’s still going to use you since you have no more heavenly effect on others due to Him no longer being your “first love”? No. See Revelation 2:4-5. The Master would have you restored to Himself first and foremost by way of true repentance.

“…if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13

The disciple who become like salt that has lost it’s flavor, has become lifeless, lukewarm and drab, will fall and be “trodden under foot of men.”

Does God sprinkle the salt of His truth on the world through His saints? – Yes but only if their salt has strong seasoning – only if they are abiding intimate with the Savior!

What Did Jesus Mean by “Have salt in yourselves”? Salt gives life to food. Salt is a curing and preserving agent, substance.

“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:50

“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?” Luke 14:34

Jesus was speaking of remaining full of His life, His truth, His grace, and therefore making an impact on those around us. Un-salty, unfavored salt is useless for the user, the Master.

Use it or lose it.

Jesus continues…. it’s only when one of His own is truly worshipping Him in sprit and in truth that the divine light is shining into and out from that vessel.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

God’s light shines in and through us as we ingest His Word which is the divine light that lights and leads us!

Those who get out of the Word, get off track:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105

All who aren’t in God’s Word daily, are backslidden. Return to Christ.

You have to be full of Christ’s light for that light to shine out from your vessel, your life in this dark world.

Today is our day to get full and stay full!

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

The light of Christ only fills those who “hunger and thirst” after His righteousness, filling their hearts with His Word, His light! Is God’s Word making a daily “entrance” into your heart?

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalms 119:130

The darkness must be vanquished from our hearts daily via diligent study of God’s Word which “giveth light” to our hearts and scatters all darkness!

Is your lamp full today beloved? Are your hands and is your heart lifted in worship to your God today? Are you a wise virgin or a foolish virgin? Will you be full and flourish or will you be empty and perish? (Matthew 25:1-13)

Might this moment be the time that you dip your cup afresh into His divine well of salvation, to be refreshed, refilled, and overflowing? (Isaiah 12:3)

“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. Please break me and bring this heart to contrition before You. Please forgive my sins of self-idolatry and self-reliance. LORD, I ask You to unite my heart to fear Thy name. I have not trusted You fully and ask You to forgive this sin and restore my life to full strength in Your Spirit now. Please use me to feed Your bless-ed sheep and to help others know You. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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