30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 20-37 Be occupied with the work of His kingdom, till He returns 19 Raptured
📖 Luke 17:20-37
26Aug2020 - *Raptured* - _Luke 17:20-37_ - BE OCCUPIED WITH THE WORK OF HIS KINGDOM, TILL HE RETURNS 19 – Bible reading: _Philippians 3:20-21_
_Luke 17:33-36 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. (34) I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. (35) Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. (36) Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left."_
We have been considering the life of Lot and his family. The lesson that we learnt yesterday, that our Lord warns us about, is to remember Lot’s wife. The Lord is warning us not to be overtaken by the anxiety that comes from the cares and concerns of this world. To overcome this problem of anxiety, we need to reckon ourselves as a seed that has fallen into the ground and has died. It is when we die to the old man that we will rise as the new man in Jesus.
The section about the one taken and the other left is a clear teaching of the rapture that will take place of the elect of God. As we read this particular portion, we see that these are normal everyday activities that all people will be engaged in. The Lord is telling us that as we are engaged in our normal everyday activities of life, the rapture will take place.
What will be the difference between the one that is taken and the one that is left behind? We understand the difference from _vs 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it._ This goes back to what we have been learning, which is our perspective to be dead to our old man and alive to the new, which is to be occupied with the work of His kingdom, even while we are engaged in our usual everyday activities.
Being occupied with the work of His kingdom is about being engaged in the normal, everyday activities of life but without seeking to preserve our life here on earth but having our heart and mindset on the eternal.
_Colossians 3:1-3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth._ The mind is our perception or world view. Our world view has to be the things above and not the things of the earth. _(3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God._
_Psalm 73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. (26) My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever._ Our heart needs to be totally rested in the Lord. Our strength and fulfilment are in Jesus and Jesus alone.
As we read about the heroes of faith, we see that they had a common perception of life. _Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (14) For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. (15) And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. (16) But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them._
Their mind (world view) was set on things above and not on things of the earth. This is the criteria for those who are raptured. Are you ensuring that your world view is of the things above and not of things on the earth?
_Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, (21) who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself._
It is our citizenship in heaven that gives us meaning and purpose and enables us to be occupied with the work of His kingdom, while we await the return of our Lord.
*Thought to ponder*
```Has your citizenship in heaven overwhelmed and taken control of you entirely?```