Most of us are familiar with the Scripture account of Moses going up on Mount Sinai as God commanded him. During this time the Law was given by God to Moses for the Israeli nation. In chapter 32 of Exodus we see that since Moses’ return was delayed, the people decided to “act up.” The last part of verse six says, “and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” And “play” they did. By the time they were finished, they were worshipping a golden calf. God says in verse seven they, “have corrupted themselves.”
I am retired now, but as I recall the many years I spent working in an office atmosphere, I am reminded of those who certainly would take advantage of the opportunity to “play” when the boss is away. Now they didn’t “play” in the same fashion the Israelites did, but they were certainly not working as they should have been. Most of those years, I was the boss and I could most always tell when the “loafers” were playing and not working.
Jesus left the earth and went back to Heaven nearly 2,000 years ago, so He certainly has “delayed to come down out of,” not Mount Sinai, but Heaven. The real Boss is out of the office, and the mice are scurrying about having a blast when they should be working.
I am reminded of, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44)
Most Christians in this country are asleep on the job. They are not doing as instructed, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth,” and “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
Even many pastors (as Aaron) have thrown Jesus under the bus along with His holy word, the Bible, and God has something to say about that.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 5:6)
As we draw closer to our Lord’s return, the world will become even more and more wicked. Many of those who are professing to be Christians have never met Jesus Christ and certainly have no thought of His sudden return, but one day, Jesus will step down from Heaven to earth and the party will be over. Remember? The Israelites “rose up to play.” That’s basically what’s transpiring across the globe at present.
Keep in mind I am not saying that all Christians are at “play,” but in my opinion, most certainly are. I know many Christians who take serving Christ very seriously, and many more who have spent their lives in neutral, coasting up to Heaven’s gate.
One of the major problems in our day is the lives of weak Christians blurring real, true Christianity. Weak Christians and those who just profess to be Christians are so much alike there is little, if anything, to tell them apart. No wonder the lost world thinks lip service apart from faith is enough, and those who actually are trying to follow Christ are too conservative, mean-spirited, judgmental, etc.
I repeat once again that those of us who are saved by the blood of Jesus are simply sinners saved by His grace and have nothing to brag about concerning our own merit. We have no virtue of our own apart from Jesus Christ. We have no merit apart from Him. Without Him we are nothing, but because of Him and through Him we are servants of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
I have worked with many people who were very good, hard-working employees, and others who were lazy, ego-centered narcissists. We have all (true Christians) been assigned a responsibility by God and the Lord expects us to be busy about His work.
“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” (John 9:4)
Maybe we need to ask ourselves, “Am I like the Israelites when Moses went up on Mount Sinai,” or “Am I like the employee who goofs off while the boss is away?”
Jesus could be coming at any time. Those who are working will not be ashamed.
Jesus may be out of sight (physically), but He should always be on our minds as we live our lives in this world.
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html