AVOID A COSTLY ASSUMPTION

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“When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it.” (Luke 2:43 NKJV)

 

When Jesus was twelve years old, He went with His parents for the first time to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. At the end of the feast, while Jesus tarried behind in the temple, His parents went on their journey without Him and without realizing that Jesus was not journeying with them. They supposed or assumed that Jesus was in the traveling company.

Luke 2:43-44 – NKJV

 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;

 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

What a costly assumption!

Similarly, many people today move towards eternity without Jesus Christ and, sadly, without them knowing or realizing it, but supposing that Jesus Christ is with them. This is undoubtedly a very costly assumption!

Surprisingly, for a whole day, Jesus’ parents were so engrossed and engulfed with other people and activities that they did not realize that Jesus was not traveling with them.

You can be wholly devoted to vain religious activities, rules, rites, or rituals yet have no intimate, loving, and eternal relationship with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is also quite possible to be so engrossed or preoccupied with working for the Lord that you no longer have the time to behold the Lord’s glory in His Word and relish the Lord’s presence in prayer (Luke 10:38-42).

After going on a day without Jesus, it dawned upon Jesus’ parents that He was not with them on their journey. But rather than returning to seek Jesus where they had left Him, they sought Him among their relations, friends, and acquaintances but could not find Him.

Like Jesus’ parents, many religious people seek God and His salvation in the wrong places today. You can never find salvation in any man, angel, institution, or religion. Salvation can only be found in Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself on the cross for the world’s sins (Acts 4:12, 1 John 5:10-12).

Knowing God or having an intimate relationship with God is impossible without putting your faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The Son reveals or declares the Father to us (John 14:6, Matt. 11:27, John 1:18, 1 John 2:23).

Having passionately sought Jesus in vain in the wrong places and among the crowds for three days, Jesus’ parents finally returned to Jerusalem, where they had left Jesus and found Him there.

Luke 2:46 – NKJV

46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

There is only one place, way, or means to find God today only in and through Jesus Christ.

Paul affirms, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…” (2 Cor. 5:19 NKJV).

God is not far from anyone genuinely seeking Him with the whole of his heart, humility, repentance, and faith in Jesus the Mediator between God and men (Jer. 29:13, 1 Tim. 2:5-6).

Many religious people today, like Joseph and Mary, have left Jesus behind while they continue their journey, supposing that Jesus is still journeying with them.

Like the church of Laodiceans, many churches today have shut Jesus outside while they continue to hold their regular and special services or meetings as though Jesus was present in their midst. Yet, they could not even discern or perceive the Lord’s absence. How sad!

As Jesus said to the church of Laodiceans, He also speaks today, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:19-20 NKJV).

Unfortunately, the ears of many church leaders today have been blocked or deafened by the praises and flatteries of sycophants.

Jesus warns, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent.” (Rev. 2:5 NKJV).

Friend, it does not matter how far you have drifted away from the Lord Jesus Christ; it is never too late to repent and return to Jesus for forgiveness, mercy, and restoration.

At whatever point you are in your journey without Jesus, just like Joseph and Mary, the wise thing to do is make a U-turn and seek Jesus wholeheartedly.

God calls you today: “Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” “Indeed we do come to You, for You are the LORD our God. (Jer. 3:22 NKJV).

“But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deut. 4:29 NKJV).

 

Prayer:

I return to the Lord Jesus Christ today with the whole of my heart, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

OUR mandates is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.

Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.

Empower by El- Bethel Christian Network.

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