“ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TRUTHS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS BOUND UP IN THE QUESTION – ‘WHY DOES GOD LEAVE US HERE, AFTER HE SAVES US FOR HIS GLORY?’”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the work of salvation in the life and heart of ever believer in Jesus Christ…

…Contrary to most secular minded people, the greatest thing a believer in Jesus Christ can experience is the hope and certainty that once a lost sinner is saved from their sins, he or she looks forward to the great promise of the church for the ages – the literal and physical RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST to this earth! Of course, this “return,” is viewed somewhat differently by various Christian groups, depending upon their theological interpretations of God’s Word and Jesus’ promise. However, for those who truly believe God’s promise to return to the earth, literally, to gather together His children remaining here – it is perhaps the greatest anticipated blessing of all!  In a moment after our second musical pause, I want to talk about this “waiting” period for the saints. First of all, what it’s all about, and what God expects of us while we wait. So don’t go away, I know this will be helpful to every Christian listening and especially those who are seeking to know the truth about life and eternity…

…What one thing do every Christians have in common regardless of their theological differences? The answer is belief in the promised return of Jesus Christ. Indeed, it is generally understood from biblical teachings that the Lord of Creation -- who one day became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ; who was crucified, died and was buried -- rose again from the grave and returned to Heaven from whence He came. This same Jesus also promised His Church that He would return to the earth to first of all re-gather all His people by raising them from the dead, and end all their sorrow and human suffering in a new resurrection life. And, after this resurrection of all the saints of all ages, and the judgment of the wicked dead and living, God the Son, Jesus Christ would initiate a new heaven and earth. Then He will usher in eternity where there would be no time ever again to wear out and destroy the life and living of God’s people.

Although the Church of Jesus Christ, since its beginning in the first century, has always longed for and looked for the return of Jesus Christ, it wasn’t until the beginning of the 19^th century, that the church universal began a fresh look at the promises of Christ’s return for His saints. Particularly in the writings of Paul the apostle in,

1 Th 4:13-18 ( NIV )  Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

In was at this time a greater attention was paid by Christian scholars to sound hermeneutics; that is, the proper interpretation and application of God’s Word as applied to the Christian and his life. From this came forth, what is called the Pre-Millennial, Pre-Tribulational doctrine of the Rapture of the Church. Those in this camp generally were the Plymouth Brethren, Baptist and Bible Church believers, who accept the entire Bible as given to us to be literally understood and believed in a literal, historical and grammatical interpretation of the writings of the apostles and prophets.

From this came what is called the “blessed hope,” of the promised at-any-moment return of Jesus Christ for His saints. Paul wrote to his young preacher companions these words,

Titus 2:13 ( NIV )  “…we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”

Now I began the broadcast with the title and question – WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE? I did that to inspire in your heart to seek that answer from a Christian perspective. Today I’m talking to everyone who claims the name of Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. All others, please listen as you discover what Christians are truly all about; as it will give you a handle on knowing who they are and what they do believe.

Yet the question is valid – WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE? This presupposes that for every believe who is still alive; there must be a purpose from God for this. Now think Christian friend, the moment you were saved from your sins, you became a “new creation,” a brand new living entity that is wholly different from the physical human race you were born in. What this means is there really are two types of human life on the earth and they are distinctly different internally as to makeup. Although the outward appearance is the same, within is a remarkably different design and being. Now to explain, I must tell you that all human life that is born of Adam and Eve, which includes everyone except the birth of Jesus Christ, are composed of three elements. First, human beings are spirit beings which are composed of a (1) spirit and (2) soul which appears at birth, but then they are fused into a (3) human physical body. Together this tripartite existence is what all of us are. However the spirit part of our being at birth is born dead, a still birth if you will, that bring all of us into life with a broken ability to commune with our Maker and God. What’s worse, this spirit which is dead to God, is alive to sin, self, and Satan. Yes, it has the ability and desire to exist independent of anything else, save its own desires and will.

But something changes that for some human beings. Following physical birth and coming to what we often call the “age of reason,” a human being from a child to an adult hears God speak to them through the revelatory Word of God. This Word is “alive” and through the power of God the Spirit, it brings living communication to the dead spirit of man that never could or would respond before. Upon hearing God speak to us, we learn of our perilous state that sin has brought to the world of humanity. Although all are alive by physical birth we are “dead in trespasses and sins,” as God’s word tells us in,

Eph 2:1-3 ( NLT )  Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.

Paul tells Christians who were born again, that their life before Christ gave new life, was one of self and sin that brings only ruin, destruction and death to humanity. But when the spirit and soul of man hears God’s voice through God’s Word along with His promise to save them from their sins – some respond, confessing their sins against God, and yield the rulership of their lives to Jesus Christ the rightful Lord and Savior who took their place in the punishment of their sins.

We call these people the “saved ones,” whom God has rescued from the coming judgment of all sinners, and the penalty of our sin which is to be cast alive into everlasting darkness in a place called Hell.

Hell by various names and time periods of human existence is finalized in what is called the LAKE OF FIRE, a place in eternity where God will cast all unsaved, unconverted, and un-reborn humanity to exist without God’s good presence and care, forever and ever.

But thanks be to our God Jesus Christ, God the Son our creator of life, determined to come to earth to become a human being like us and to offer up His infinite life in death to satisfy the wrath of God against sin. He came to free us and to grant all fallen sinful humanity a new spirit and heart to love, adore and obey Him.

Thus, when a Christian is reborn, he or she literally and really becomes a new creature! For inside us God miraculously creates a brand new spirit, fashioned in the sinless perfection of God Himself. That means inside every born again Christian, is the eternal life of God and a heart and desire now to live in absolute forever obedience to God’s will and word and to enjoy every moment of it.

Now the sad part of this is, within us there still is the old nature, the “dead spirit” that is alive to sin, self and Satan too. So every Christian, until death or rapture of the Church, will struggle with both natures as they conflict. The one “born from above,” will always and without end desire to obey God, the other “born of the flesh,” will satisfy the sinful fleshly desires at all costs to our shame and ruin. Why even the apostle Paul, struggled with this sin nature or principle in Him for we read of his struggle. Listen carefully as I read the extended text of Paul the apostle’s exact words.

Rom 7:14-24 ( NIV )  We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my [new] inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Well thanks be to God, Christ will when He, either returns to “rapture” away the saints, or prior to this, call us home through physical death. Paul answers who will rescue him from this body of death when he wrote to the Corinthian Church of the first century,

1 Cor 15:20-21 ( NIV )  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

1 Cor 15:55-58 ( NIV )  "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

So then, every Christian has this hope – that one day this old nature given to us by physical birth, inherited from Adam and Eve, the originators of the human race, will one day be destroyed by death; but, the NEW NATURE born from above, given to every true believer in Jesus Christ upon personal surrender of our heart and lives to Christ will live on and be ours for all eternity.

BUT MEANWHILE, we wait for that appearing and upward call home. Now what are we to do while here? Just wait? Be busy with personal happiness and satisfaction, and live the “good life” here and now?  Sadly, that is what the vast majority of Christians is being taught and are doing. The health and wealth gospel teachers of the Charismatic movement teach their followers God’s purpose of saving you is to give you a grand and glorious life here on earth. Your every desire is to be fulfilled, your health and wealth is to overflow and anything less is a lack of faith and sin against God. So the preachers of this false gospel live luxuriously, and call others to do so too, after they support their worldly life style of opulence.

However for the real true follower of Jesus Christ, the truth is we are to live sacrificially for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God , and reaching out to a world of lost sinners by supporting local churches and their ministries of missions. Although God never glorifies poverty, He does want us to live as frugally as possible and to give our excess wholly to His work of evangelizing the world, and building the kingdom of God in the lives of those who are born again.

How does God want us to act and live while we await His blessed return? We are to use our spiritual gifts, talents and treasures to glorify God’s work and His being. Every Christian is left here on earth to do this personally and collectively in a local assembly of God’s people. So if you are a Christian today, realize God wants you to be a dynamic member of a local bible believing and teaching church, zealously working there by the giving of your talents, spiritual gifts and treasures. Sadly, all too many Christians come to church wanting to get something rather than give something. What will God do for me today? Will the church service be pleasing to me, satisfying to my mind and heart? Will God bless me with the desires and prayers of my heart?

Well, God has given us what is called the Parable of the Talents (Mat 25:14-30). This is a story of three servants of a great master/king who leaves them in charge of his assets and work. He goes away from a long time, but promises them he will be back to take an account of how they managed these assets and multiplied them for him. Of these three servants, they are given differing assets and amounts, and expected to invest them and carry out his work.

When the Master returned, he took these three servants and examined their work and service for him. Of the three, two invested their assents or talents and multiplied them variously by their abilities and desire to obey their Master. But the third one, did nothing with them while the king was away. He literally buried his talent and dug it up and gave it back to the king. Then he proceeded to blame the king for his neglect of using the talent to bring glory to his master, and derided him as the real culprit of the judgment affair.

Well the gist of the parabolic story Jesus told is this. Only those who labored for the master when he went away and multiplied his assets proved to be the real, good and faithful servants. The third one proved to be a wicked and evil servant who was cast out of the Master’s household.

Jesus told this to warn believers, while they are still here on the earth, they are to be busy working and investing their natural talents, their amassed treasures and excess, and their spiritual gifts God has given them to glorify God. Jesus taught that failure to use them for God, is a sign of a false believer who thinks they are God’s child, but proves by the heart they are not.

Say friend where does this parable and teachings today find you? Are you a busy, committed member of a local bible believing church? Have you discovered the supernatural gifts God gives to every believer and are you using them for Christ? How about the excess treasures, God gives you that are above meeting your natural needs? Do you spend it upon yourself, or have it hoarded in a bank or investment? Or, have you dedicated it to God’s use and make it available as He calls for it?

One day when Christ returns, and He will, all of us will give an account. So if you are a believer in Jesus Christ and still here, and neither death nor rapture has called you --  Jesus words are His command --

“OCCUPY TILL I COME!” (Luke 19:13 KJV )

May God find you and all of us who know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord God and Savior be truly about His business. The hour is coming when He will return, and He will hold all of us accountable for His investment in us. I trust you will be ready for your accounting and exam.

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·         Radio talk #1806

·         Broadcast date: April 30, 2006

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 60033 Grand Junction, CO 81506

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The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 25 years, and serves as General Director.

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