I have been thinking about how blessed I am to be gaining deeper insights about the gospel of grace — the milk, salvation of the spirit, and the free gift of eternal life, plus the gospel of the kingdom — the meat, salvation of the soul, and the reward of entrance into the Millennial Kingdom; knowledge that I consider to be my “earthly” double portion.
Had my eyes and ears not been opened to see and hear the
gospel of the kingdom, I would have spent the remainder of my Sundays in a Laodicean
church, hearing subtle variations of the same message week after week.
I would have continued to struggle wearily under weight of
this world without any real encouragement or the lasting comfort of our blessed
hope, which is the visible and earthly return of our Lord Christ Jesus.
I would not have been warned that the hour is growing very late
and that I need to be in the Word and resting in God every day, allowing
Him to work through me to produce works of gold and silver — and not self-driven
works of hay and stubble — so that when I stand before the Lord at the judgment
seat of Christ, I have a chance to receive the reward of salvation of my soul, my heavenly double portion.
I would have continued to believe that all Christians are
the bride of Christ, that we are all overcomers, and that we will all receive the same inheritance.
I would have been one of the five foolish virgins, awakened
from my slumber at the midnight hour, begging the five wise virgins to give me
some of their oil before the door was shut forever. I would not have understood that I
must buy that oil for myself by studying Scripture from beginning to end,
learning more about the Bridegroom and the things that I must bind and loose if
I hope to be found worthy enough to become His bride.
Through the parables in Matthew, Jesus tells me that if I am a wise and
faithful servant who provides meat in due season, and if I am faithful over a few
things, I can become a ruler over many things in the Millennial
Kingdom. It is hard to imagine.
I think it would be humbling enough just to gain entrance into the kingdom and feel His presence from behind, like the woman who touched his
garments in Mark 5:21-34.
