1 Corinthians 10:11-13 

¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Highway Driving

During long weekend holidays, they cannot help it but to go long driving.

Have you ever driven on a highway beyond the border? Have you experienced missing the right exit to your destination? If you miss your exit out of the highway, you are forced to have a detour. The next exit could be few miles away from your destination, and that would be undesirable trouble to prepare for in advance.

To minimize inconvenience in your travel, it is advisable to familiarize your stops and exits. When travelling to foreign places, it’s not very wise to completely rely upon high-tech devices. Many motorists have missed their exit on the way out of the highway, even when using high-tech Global Positioning System (GPS).

You’ve got to do your own research. Have sufficient information where you wish to go. You could be lost or left alone on your own, and that is not very funny.

Likewise we all leave this world. Nobody knows exactly what eternity is. Do you know your eternal destination? Are you certain that you’ll enter heaven? Together, let’s seriously reflect on what Jesus Christ warns in Matthew 7:13-14:

¹³Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The wide gate pertains to the gate of hell, and many people follow the road to destruction. The narrow gate pertains to the gate of heaven. Jesus Christ had declared that only a few follow the narrow road to heaven. Christ is the truth. We trust his warning. By faith in him, we enter eternity through the narrow gate.

So, what should we do to enter through the narrow gate of heaven? Jesus Christ sacrificially died on the cross as penalty of our sins. By faith, we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and he gave us his Holy Spirit as guarantee of his gift of eternal life, and when he returns, he takes into heaven with him.

Reflect on what 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 reveals, ²¹It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, ²²set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Personally, do you sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in your heart? How can we practically know that the Holy Spirit of God lives in our heart? We sense the fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience…etc.). Subsequently, we enthusiastically participate in the ministry that he prepared for us. What else?

We seriously heed his warnings. Let’s learn from the mistakes of Israelites.

The Israelites were chosen as precious possession of the Lord. He saved them from the Egyptian slavery, but they grumbled against him in the wilderness. So, the Lord punished them. The rebellious Israelites died in the wilderness.

Their punishment was recorded to serve as warning for us. Anyway, there were Israelites who entered the Promised Land; they did not grumble or complain against the Lord. They trusted the Lord and obeyed him. So, take note of that.

1.  Take Note

¹¹These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 

         We heard it said, “Learn from your mistake but it is far much better to learn from the mistakes of others!” Why? If we learn from the mistake of others and make necessary adjustment, we avoid similar mistake that others made. We can also avoid the hurts and inconveniences that others suffered from their mistakes.

         The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years. When they cannot endure anymore the harsh struggles of slavery in Egypt, they cried out for help. The Lord heard their cry, and he helped them escaped from their sufferings. Yet, just several days after they were freed from slavery, the Israelites grumbled against the God who gave them freedom; they complained about their provision.

To multiply their rebellion, they indulged in revelry and immoral activities.

Taking pleasure in wild parties, revelry and immoral activities is idolatry in the eyes of the Lord. Idolatry is abominable to the jealous God. Such mistakes of the Israelites were recorded to serve as warning for Christians to take note, why? Christ is about to come. He returns sooner than we may expect. Are you ready?

Ten Virgins

Christ illustrated his coming again in a parable. There were ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom^.  Five virgins were foolish and five virgins were wise. The foolish virgins brought their lamps but did not bring extra oil with them. The wise virgins have lamps and brought extra oil in jars with them. While they’re waiting for the bridegroom, all the ten virgins became drowsy and fell asleep.

Reflect on what it narrated in Matthew 25:6-13, ⁶At midnight the cry rang out: “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” ⁷Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.” ⁹“No,” they replied, “there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.” ¹⁰But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. ¹¹Later the others also came. “Lord, Lord,” they said, “open the door for us!” ¹²But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.” ¹³Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

         Theologians suggest that the foolish virgins represent religious hypocrisy, and the wise virgins represent genuine believers. The lamp represents Christian behavior. The lamp of foolish virgins that had gone out is religious hypocrisy.

Religious pretenders can behave also like genuine Christians but their hypocrisy will prevent them from entering heaven. Personally reflect and seriously ask ourselves: “Will my light keep on shining until Christ returns? Will I behave as genuine Christian continually until Christ returns and takes me into heaven?”

Jesus Christ our Lord admonished us in Matthew 5:14-16, ¹⁴You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Light of believers represents Christian behavior and good deeds. We don’t know when Jesus Christ returns. But while waiting, we can make sure that our light or good deeds continue to shine where the Lord situates us. If good deeds are transformational work of Christ in us, his light shines continually. In contrast, the light or good deeds of religious hypocrisy will be terminated. Think about that.

2.  Think

¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 

         We’re advised to think and consider our spiritual status. Don’t be deceived! Don’t just assume that we are standing of solid ground because we behave like Christians. Anywhere, we can find generous and kind people who do not believe in Christ. In short, genuine Christians and religious pretenders behave similarly.

Religious hypocrisy may deceive others, or worst, they may not even know that they have deceived themselves. But how can we be sure that we honestly do good deeds? Are you anxious to know if you have genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? How can we be certain that we belong to the family of God?

Let us reflect on what it declares in Romans 8:14-17, ¹⁴For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

         Sinful nature may deceive you, how? You sense doubt of entering heaven when Christ returns. So ask for increase of stronger faith in Christ. Theological and practical realities may confuse both theologians and ordinary believers. So, we make sure that the Holy Spirit of Christ lives in our hearts. The Holy Spirit inspires firm confidence that we are children of God. He empowers and sustains us to honestly behave and persevere in doing goodness and kindness faithfully.

         Someone said: “People will love you until they benefit from you, but true love perseveres without condition.” Let’s learn from the love of Ruth for Naomi.

Ruth

         The husband and sons of Naomi died in Moab. Naomi decided to return to Israel. So, Naomi advised her daughters-in-law to return home to their families. Together, let us reflect on what it narrated in Ruth 1:16-18, ¹⁶But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. ¹⁷Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” ¹⁸When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.  

         Ruth was a daughter-in-law of Naomi. Ruth was Moabite, and Naomi was Israelite. Yet, Ruth chose not to leave the old widow Naomi. Incredible devotion!

         How many daughters-in-law would choose to live with their mother-in-law after their husband died? You are blessed if you have daughter-in-law like Ruth. Ruth chose to live with her mother-in-law Naomi even after her husband died.

         The love and care of Ruth for her mother-in-law Naomi was unconditional. And God rewarded Ruth for taking care of Naomi. Eventually, Ruth married a relative of Naomi, and Ruth was a great great grandmother of King David.

         Ruth must have believed in God when she declared that the God of Naomi became her God. Ruth may have wanted to know more about God when she chose to live with Naomi, instead of returning to her own Moabite parents who may not believe God. What’s our lesson from the story Ruth’s care for Naomi?

         When Ruth decided to live with her old mother-in-law Naomi, her kindness was practically proven to be honest. Naomi may have sensed hopelessness after her husband and sons died, and so she told her daughters-in-law to return home. Naomi did not expect her daughters-in-law to take care of her. When everything seems hopeless, Ruth did her very best effort to support Naomi and herself.

Picking up left over grain from harvest field can be humiliating for ladies! But Ruth did not mind it; the old Naomi and she must eat. Ruth resolved it in her heart to take care of her old mother-in-law. She’s genuinely kind person. When everything seems hopeless, normally, there’s temptation to quit. Trust in God.

3.  Trust

¹³No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

         Hopelessness can be temptations that may shake our faith in the Lord, not just revelry, immoral activities and wild parties. We trust Christ to empower us and avoid falling into sin of unbelief. And so, we pray for wisdom which practical step we should take when we are undecided and not very sure. And, we should always wear the full armor of God and take our stand against evil schemes.

Let us meditate on what it advises in Ephesians 6:14-18.  ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Prayerfully, we ask the Lord that godly righteousness prevails in our heart.

Good and bad situation, pleasant and unpleasant events can happen anytime. We should always pray for each other. Pray for the family of believers as often as we are prompted. Personally, how do you interpret what the Lord admonished us in Luke 6:31? ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.

         Do you accept that if we pray for others, other people will also pray for us? It is godly command to pray for the family of believers, the church. Pray for those we know by name. When the Lord sees our devotion of praying for his people, he causes more people to pray for us also. If you want to be more specific on what to pray for, attend prayer meeting and listen to prayer request of attendees.

The night before Jesus was arrested, he warned his disciples to pray so that they won’t fall into temptation. Then, he prayed a few meter away from his disciples. Together, let us seriously reflect on what it narrated in Luke 22:45-46,

⁴⁵When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

The disciples heard when Christ audibly warned them to pray so that they won’t fall into temptation, yet they fall asleep. Why? After Christ told his disciples that he will be maltreated, they’re anxious of what may happen. Anxiousness can disturb anybody. Anyone can be tempted not to pray. No one is exempted. With our naked eyes, we cannot see Christ visibly. We cannot hear his voice audibly.

John 14:26-27 says, ²⁶The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

When we are anxious, weary or afraid, we pray to find rest in Christ. We pray that we may hear the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit and sense peace that Christ promised. The most practical proof that we have become Disciple of Christ is when we are making disciples, and we can practically sense the ever presence of Christ in our life and in our midst. Pray for inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He will empower us to discern the person he prepared in advance for us to disciple.

><((‘> >> ><((‘> … ><(((“< tmec\2024 <“)))>< … <‘))>< .. <‘))><