Tag: Unbelief

Where I Am Going, You Cannot Come

On By TimIn 43 - John, Heaven, Israel, John 08Leave a comment

Again, Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sins. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

John 8:21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That simple truth is a stumbling block for many. Jesus said it to the very leaders of His chosen people, Israel. Their leaders were told that where Jesus is going they cannot come.

It wasn’t an outright prohibition to them, nor were these born condemned for that destiny. Quite the contrary, they were born Jewish, with all of the privileges that entail. (Paul outlines these in the first few verses of Romans 9.) Jesus was really saying… Where they could not go is heaven.

In this verse are some important things we can glean about salvation and election. Most importantly, they aren’t the same. Election doesn’t guarantee salvation.

Israelites are elect. They are God’s people. But clearly, being chosen isn’t enough to get one into heaven.

In the conversation preceding Jesus’ statement we’re considering, He is telling these Pharisees that they do not know the Father. Nor do they know Him. Consider that. The Father’s (and the Son’s) chosen didn’t know Him.

Furthermore, because they did not know Him they cannot know where He is going. He is going to heaven. They wouldn’t know where.

It’s not that Jesus condemned them to such a fate either. Jesus explained that succinctly to Nicodemus.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned. But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:17–18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The apparent condemnation Jesus proclaimed over these Pharisees wasn’t from Him. It was because they didn’t know Him. Not knowing Him means they would not know the Father. Jesus said so (John 8:19.)

Jesus told them He would go away. After He left, these Pharisees would seek Him but not find Him. They would die in their sins.

Many today are in that same condition… In danger of dying in their sins because they refused to believe Jesus. Many still seek Him. Some do it in vain, they never believe. Others believe and are saved.

Of which are you?

The ones who seek Jesus and never find Him, because one doesn’t believe they themselves have fallen short and are in need of rescue.

Or…

Of the redeemed, who know Jesus and the Father. They know where Jesus was going. Therefore they are going there, too.

A Parable for You Today

On By TimIn Church, Daily Walk, Eternal Security, Last Days, Matthew 25, ProphecyLeave a comment

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. But the wise took jars of oil with their lamps. While the bridegroom delayed, they all rested and slept.
“But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.’
“The wise answered, ‘No, lest there not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell it, and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they went to buy some, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us.’
“But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Matthew 25:1–13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Sometimes these parables can be hard to understand. People will apply this for those to be ready when Jesus comes again. That is true, but it is specifically regarding His coming in the clouds for believers. It is addressing salvation. Given the signs of the times… It is a message for today.

Perhaps this is for you. You’ve gone to church, heard the preaching and know your Bible. But you’ve never made the decision for yourself to believe that Jesus is God and that He died personally for you and your sins. And that He rose again.

Listen to the promise explained in a similar fashion, near the time Jesus spoke that parable.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, that He may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, for it does not see Him, neither does it know Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you fatherless. I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more. But you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.

John 14:15–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Interestingly, He says He won’t leave us Fatherless. It’s a hint to a greater truth. That’s a different discussion.

There is another. It is this Counselor, or better, Comforter. He is for believers only. The world can’t receive Him. Jesus did use a personal pronoun… Him. Jesus promises to come to those who receive this Person.

How does this work with the other you ask?

The wise virgins in Jesus’ story had oil for their lamps. They had the Spirit of the Living God to light their testimony. Oil is a typification of the Holy Spirit. The five wise virgins were saved. They had received the gift of the Comforter.

The foolish virgins had a testimony, but no oil for it. That is, they weren’t saved. They attend church and participate in all the things, but never receive the Gift because they don’t really believe it for themselves. They’re Christians because their parents were.

Being a Christian isn’t something that’s inherited or conferred by birthright. It’s something you must decide for yourself. You must count the cost. Believing Jesus is God.

Read that passage from John again. Jesus explicitly states He wasn’t leaving the disciples fatherless.

Jesus is going to come. Next… It will be in the twinkling of an eye. When He keeps His promise to retrieve His bride, there won’t be time to decide for salvation for yourself. You will be left behind. The door to the feast will be shut.

Don’t wait. Don’t be foolish. There won’t be time. But you have time now.