You did not know the time of your visitation
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· 5,940 viewsOpportunities we miss in life regarding the Lord
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MAIN TEXT
MAIN TEXT
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Cuando llegó cerca de la ciudad, al verla, lloró por ella, diciendo:
—¡Si también tú conocieras, a lo menos en este tu día, lo que es para tu paz! Pero ahora está encubierto a tus ojos. Vendrán días sobre ti cuando tus enemigos te rodearán con cerca, te sitiarán y por todas partes te estrecharán; te derribarán a tierra y a tus hijos dentro de ti, y no dejarán en ti piedra sobre piedra, por cuanto no conociste el tiempo de tu visitación.
INTRO
INTRO
It’s said that there are three things you can never get back, once it’s passed: the spoken word, the same opportunity, and time. Sadly, most people during Jesus’ time on earth missed their opportunity in all of the above categories.
The verse we’ve just read was spoken by the Lord Jesus and it is maybe one of the saddest moments registered in the Scriptures, because it seals the reality perceived by Him towards the end of His ministry on earth, while in Jerusalem: most of Jesus’ generation did not appreciate or knew the time of their visitation by God Himself!
It’s actually perplexing to realize that Jesus was rejected so many times: when he was born, there was no space or lodging, most of His family didn’t believe in Him, the religious leaders often wanted expel Him from the temple or even stone Him, and ultimately their rejection took Him to the cursed death at the cross. No wonder the evangelist John writes: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him”. (John 1:11)
We, believers today, must also be very aware of this reality!
Therefore, our theme for today:
Therefore, our theme for today:
“You did not know the time of your visitation.”
“You did not know the time of your visitation.”
But why did they miss their opportunities and how can we also, not to be aware, not to know the time of OUR visitation by the Lord?
I think we can summarize it in three points:
1. They called evil good, and good evil
1. They called evil good, and good evil
- This was an old practice and routine of the Israelites. 700 hundred years before Jesus, the prophet Isaiah had already said:
- This was an old practice and routine of the Israelites. 700 hundred years before Jesus, the prophet Isaiah had already said:
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
¡Ay de los que a lo malo dicen bueno
y a lo bueno malo;
que hacen de la luz tinieblas
y de las tinieblas luz;
que ponen lo amargo por dulce
y lo dulce por amargo!
Miracle after miracle was ignored! They even called Jesus the chief of the demons - Beelzebub
Miracle after miracle was ignored! They even called Jesus the chief of the demons - Beelzebub
who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
ya que cambiaron la verdad de Dios por la mentira, honrando y dando culto a las criaturas antes que al Creador, el cual es bendito por los siglos. Amén.
ILLUSTRATION (ON CALLING EVIL GOOD)
ILLUSTRATION (ON CALLING EVIL GOOD)
- June 2020 - The McClosky couple (Mark and Patricia) defending their home in Saint Louis from about 500 rioters; few days later their gun was confiscated! Now, chance of being prosecuted!!
- June 2020 - The McClosky couple (Mark and Patricia) defending their home in Saint Louis from about 500 rioters; few days later their gun was confiscated! Now, chance of being prosecuted!!
- July 2020 - Will Smith and wife Jada confessing she had an affair - “Open relationship”
We must be alert to think and judge our values, convictions and place the things we approve under the same perspective and scrutiny of God, as shown in the Scriptures. Today, our world is upside down in its values and standards, and that’s a big way in which we miss the time of our visitation.
- July 2020 - Will Smith and wife Jada confessing she had an affair - “Open relationship”
We must be alert to think and judge our values, convictions and place the things we approve under the same perspective and scrutiny of God, as shown in the Scriptures. Today, our world is upside down in its values and standards, and that’s a big way in which we miss the time of our visitation.
2. They despised God’s warnings
2. They despised God’s warnings
Hundreds of years before Jesus’ generation, the Israelites had been warned about the seriousness of being holy unto the Lord. They disdained all the prophets, they killed them and now Jesus, their Great Prophet Himself, announces that a price was going to be paid. It’s time for us to be alert to the Word of God and live the life of holiness He intended, prepared, and expects from us.
Now, it was not the prophets any longer, it was THE PROPHET, the Messiah Who came to announce the Kingdom and the judgement of God:
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
Dios, habiendo hablado muchas veces y de muchas maneras en otro tiempo a los padres por los profetas, en estos últimos días nos ha hablado por el Hijo, a quien constituyó heredero de todo y por quien asimismo hizo el universo.
The problem with ignoring God’s warnings is that the Lord of the universe will always fulfill His promises, that’s the same situation it happened before the flood, before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, before the destruction of Jerusalem, and so on...
The problem with ignoring God’s warnings is that the Lord of the universe will always fulfill His promises, that’s the same situation it happened before the flood, before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, before the destruction of Jerusalem, and so on...
again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”
otra vez determina un día: «Hoy», del cual habló David mucho tiempo después, cuando dijo:
«Si oís hoy su voz,
no endurezcáis vuestros corazones».
They did whatever they wanted with Him, instead of enjoying His company
They did whatever they wanted with Him, instead of enjoying His company
Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
transition 2
transition 2
3. They preferred the worldly, instead of the eternal
3. They preferred the worldly, instead of the eternal
This is a classic mistake all of us, age after age, fall into. Being entangled with secular things of this life, putting them before the eternal ones, is something we must avoid at all cost, and Jesus Himself warned everyone on several occasions during His ministry about these matters. Every time we focus on things and not in Jesus, we are missing the time of His visitation.
The example of the rich young man:
The example of the rich young man:
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Entonces Jesús, mirándolo, lo amó y le dijo:
—Una cosa te falta: anda, vende todo lo que tienes y dalo a los pobres, y tendrás tesoro en el cielo; y ven, sígueme, tomando tu cruz.
Pero él, afligido por esta palabra, se fue triste, porque tenía muchas posesiones.
The result of despising things of eternal value is what happened with three characters we know well in the Bible:
The result of despising things of eternal value is what happened with three characters we know well in the Bible:
Esau - couldn’t get if seeking with tears;
Samson - Did not know that the Lord had departed from him;
Gehazi - He would rather have the treasures of Naama than the anointing of Elisha.
Where do you have your treasure?? Stay with Jesus!
Where do you have your treasure?? Stay with Jesus!
FINAL APPLICATIONS
FINAL APPLICATIONS
The Bible talks about the sons of Issachar, “who had understanding of the time”, to know what Israel should do
The Bible talks about the sons of Issachar, “who had understanding of the time”, to know what Israel should do
Today, the warning of God given in the times of king David continues echoing:
Today, the warning of God given in the times of king David continues echoing:
“Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,
When your fathers tested Me;
They tried Me, though they saw My work.
«No endurezcáis vuestro corazón, como en Meriba,
como en el día de Masah en el desierto,
donde me tentaron vuestros padres,
me probaron y vieron mis obras.
Verse 41 says: “IF you had known...” - the same Nation of Israel did not recognize Him in the days of Moses;
Verse 41 says: “IF you had known...” - the same Nation of Israel did not recognize Him in the days of Moses;
The Jews let go and missed the greatest opportunity was ever given to mankind!
The Jews let go and missed the greatest opportunity was ever given to mankind!
ILLUSTRATION - MOVIE “CLICK” (2006) - THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOU!
ILLUSTRATION - MOVIE “CLICK” (2006) - THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOU!
Today, Jesus is still inviting, through the Holy Spirit
Today, Jesus is still inviting, through the Holy Spirit
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Yo estoy a la puerta y llamo; si alguno oye mi voz y abre la puerta, entraré a él y cenaré con él y él conmigo.
In summary, in order to be aware of the visitation of the Lord in our lives we MUST:
In summary, in order to be aware of the visitation of the Lord in our lives we MUST:
1. NOT to live calling evil good;
1. NOT to live calling evil good;
2. NOT ignore His warnings;
2. NOT ignore His warnings;
3. To be more connected with the things from above, instead of the worldly ones.
3. To be more connected with the things from above, instead of the worldly ones.
Let’s pray.
Let’s pray.