Thursday, July 7, 2016 was the fourth day of our vacation in The Bali Island. When the three us of stay in a hotel room, in the morning when I am still asleep vaguely I heard long ringing mingled with my mother’s voice that tried to wake me up. She asked me, “What was that sound? Quite been long time they sounding? Moreover, why at the out of the room very crowded.” I opened my eyes and within seconds, I woke up and gasped. It was the fire alarm!

The alarm continually shrilled. I opened the door and saw some of guests’ hotel still wearing night robe together with their children running down to the emergency stairs while carrying their bags. Incidentally, the emergency stairs was very close with our room.

I immediately yelled to my husband who apparently has been in the bathroom before the alarm rang. It turns out he could not heard the alarm sound and he did not know what was going on.

Instantly we were panic, especially to me. I did not wear contact lens and had no time again to take my eyeglasses that still stored in my suitcase. I could not see anything clearly where my slippers, bags, and so on. Meanwhile, my husband rushed to checking the presence of his parents who stay in the other room on the same floor.

Without fully dressed and just wearing nightshirt, the three of us runs out of the room carrying a handbag containing some of important things. It was a truly unimaginable situation yet now we experienced it.

Outside of the room, my husband saw a few the rests of hotel guests overrun a hotel security that was pounding on the one of the room door that not too far from us. Evidently the smoke from that room triggered the fire alarm. Although the hotel management already made a bans to not smoking in the hotel room but the guest of the room did not conform the bans. The fire did not occurs but the irresponsible action have caused many people panic.

The thrilling event was end but to be honest we still had misgivings. Therefore, we decided to bring some important stuff when we went to breakfast. Usually we always put our bags and other stuff in the hotel room. Maybe because we were still tense, we were thinking that it was a good idea we are be on the alert and be ready so that if anytime there is a fire we could run out very soon. A calamity will not waiting. It is us who have to scurry no matter how and whatever the situation.

At the time, I remembered Jesus’ word:

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew 24: 37-39 NKJV)

The verses above are Jesus’ teaching about the end of the time and advice to keep watch for the Lord Jesus will come in the unpredictable time. However, right now I am not talking specifically talking about the second coming and the rapture. I just wanted to remind that by the same way, the same “sudden situation”, we would confront to the last second of our lives. We cannot know exactly when the time comes, where, and how. The important thing we have to know is ready or not, everyone should and certainly deal with it!

THE GOD’S GOODNESS

In the days of Noah, God patiently waiting when Noah was preparing the ark before the flood hit (1Peter 3:20). God patiently awaits the people repent. Surely there is enough time for everyone to repent at the time, but they wasted it until they should to perish.

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4 NKJV)

As long the earth still there, God still gives a chance for people to get salvation. Everybody has a lifetime to repent. In the time span, the Lord speaks and expresses His great love through His church and His messengers (Prophets, apostles, preachers, friends, relatives, business mate, etc.) Also through the many events that happened in human lives.

So how about us, who have received the grace of salvation? We have to prepare ourselves to meet Him face to face. We have a duty responsibility that is continue to live in repentance, being faithful servant, and become an executor of His Great Commission.

KEEP LIVING IN REPENTANCE

The Lord Jesus has redeemed us from the old life of sin. We have moved from eternal death to eternal life. If earlier we are living under the curse of sin, now we live in grace and become a new creation in Christ.

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (2 Corinthians 6:1 NKJV)

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. (Romans 6:11-12 NKJV)

So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. (Colossians 3:5-6 NET)

We must be consistent to continue to live in repentance and not return to our old life. We are still able to fall into sin, but we should not continue to live in sin! As David immediately repented of his mistake when rebuked by the prophet Nathan, so we must to repent every time we fall into sin. We must continue to live in holiness so that we do not squander the God’s grace.

BEING A FAITHFUL SERVANT

In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 and minas in Luke 19:12-27, God gives an overview to us that He is the Lord who entrusted His property to His servants, and someday He will hold their responsibility.

For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. (Matthew 25:14 NET)

Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ (Luke 19:12-13 NKJV)

We will never being a faithful servant if we aren’t willing to humble ourselves because arrogant people will not be willing to be a servant. A minister manner will be born only from lowliness.

To serve God doesn’t talk about activities but rather to the heart that have willingness to obey and faithful to every of His will and command. If we are faithful servant so our priority is no longer “ourselves” but God.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24 NKJV)

Everything named “I am” i.e. my dignity, my behalf, my benefit, my happiness, my will, and the other “I am” must not rule over us again. We must deny ourselves so that God totally become our Lord. Thus, we can devote our whole lives to be a faithful servant who can be trusted by the Lord.

Whatever the form, and regardless of the amount, the Lord has entrusted His possessions to each of us, His servant. It can be a wealth of expertise, intelligence, skill, and so forth. Our job is to manage and develop assets that already entrusted by God.

If today you are a leader of a cell group with members of a few people, do the job faithfully and wholeheartedly. Make sure they grow well in your grazing. They are a treasure entrusted by God to you.

If you have a marketing ability, then use it properly to bless the company where you work. Be an example to your peers.

All the “investment” which God has planted in our lives is to equip us so that we can complete all the tasks and calls. Continue to live in it with full responsibility and faithful. If we remain faithful, the Lord will take us to the higher position and entrust us the greater responsibility. And the biggest wage of the servants is when their lord said: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:23 NKJV)

IMPLEMENTING THE GREAT COMMISSION

BIGGEST TREASURE God entrusted to us is the secret of the Kingdom of God that already revealed through the death and resurrection of Jesus, which GOSPEL SALVATION. We have a noble mission to preach the gospel in all the nations according to the GREAT COMMISSION.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)

The Great Commission is not just the task of evangelists and pastors, but the duty of everyone who had been saved. If we are Disciples of Christ, we must actively move to reach others. We can do many things such as sharing tracts, testify directly, praying for the others salvation, as well as being light and witness to Christ in every area of our lives.

Let us always check and recheck our hearts and lives. Do not be fooled by the religious activities that we do. Make sure that we remain on the right track while doing all our duties in faithfulness. Do not shy away from God’s presence because we cannot do anything when we apart of Him. Always maintain our relationship with God, knowing Him and understanding His will in our lives. Ask the Holy Spirit certainly help us, shape us, strengthen us, so that we later found ready to meet with our Savior, face to face.

By: Sella Irene – Beautiful Words

Image Source: Google Images (edit with Pixlr App)