“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have chosen each of us with a purpose and You desire that we fulfil Your purpose for our lives. What You have done for us and what You continue to do for us is beyond our expression in words. We praise, worship and adore you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 1:17 “For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry”. This is what Peter was sharing with the others, gathered in the upper room, regarding Judas. Judas had obtained part of the ministry. The details of the ministry are further described in verse twenty-five. Acts 1:25 “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place”. The Lord had a purpose for Judas. Yes, Judas fulfilled the prophecy by betraying Christ but as some of our friends have shared, Judas could have repented and returned to the Lord. If he had done so, the Lord would have forgiven Judas, just as the Lord forgave Peter.
Judas could have once again come back to the ministry and apostleship that was intended by God for him. Judas chose to throw away his ministry and apostleship that was intended for him. Judas in his remorse and guilt, killed himself, which was also his transgression. Therefore, the transgression of Judas was not only the betrayal of Jesus but the real transgression of Judas was in not repenting and returning to the Lord but in taking his life. Yes, Judas had sinned terribly in betraying Christ but it is for Judas that Jesus had come to the world.
The Lord has come for each of us. However evil, wicked and sinful we may be, the Lord has come to restore us to Himself. We may have indulged in the worst kind of lust and sin. We may be condemning ourselves and saying, “I am an evil person. No one knows my wickedness”. Friend, let me tell you that the Lord knows you. He is not condemning you but He wants you to repent and return to Him. He will abundantly pardon and restore you to His family. There is no sinner who is beyond the reach of God’s love and forgiveness.
Let us consider the Israelites. The Lord had intended and planned for them an important and crucial purpose. The journey of the people of Israel through the desert was to teach them lessons so that they will fulfil the ministry that was intended for them. Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. (6) And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” This was the ministry of the Jews, as a nation. They were to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to the Lord. Deuteronomy 26:18-19 Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, (19) and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.” They were to be a nation above all nations in all aspects of life and culture. They would be to the praise and honour to the name of the Lord. Nations would be drawn to the Lord as the Israelites demonstrated a God culture. This was the ministry of the Israelites. Sadly, what happened with the Israelites?
I Corinthians 10:1-5 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, (2) all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, (3) all ate the same spiritual food, (4) and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. (5) But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. The Lord took them through all those experiences in order for them to come into the fullness of the ministry that was intended for them. They lost their ministry because of their disobedience. If they had repented and returned to the Lord, as a nation, the Lord would have pardoned them and restored them back to the ministry. To date, the nation of Israel has not repented and returned to the Lord. Psalms 95:9-11 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. (10) Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: (11) Unto whom I swore in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
This is how Apostle Paul applies for us the lessons from the journey of Israel, as a nation. I Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. We must repent, wherever we are in our life, come to Him, wholeheartedly and He will restore us back to the ministry that He has intended for each of us and for us as His church.
“Judas’ life is an example to show us that we should not foolishly miss the ministry that the Lord has designed for each of us.”