Here’s a parable that ought to be remembered–especially those verses which are usually ignored.
A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return… But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. [When the nobleman returns as king, he rewards his servants who put his money to good use while he was gone, and punishes the one servant who didn’t. And then he sees to another matter.] But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
(Luke 19:12, 14, 27)
These verses came vividly to my mind yesterday, when I saw the news story about the feminists pantomiming the “abortion” of the baby Jesus: they will not have this man to reign over them. Nor are they the only ones.
God so loved the world, the world that He created, that He sent His only begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, to save it. The worldly authorities of this fallen world crucified the Son–because, as they themselves confessed, they had no king but Caesar. They rejected forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and eternal life. Like, who needs all that, when Caesar can reward you here and now? Only here and now doesn’t remain here and now for very long.
Those who will not be ruled by Jesus Christ will receive the harshest punishment that God can give: He will let them have their wish. They will not be admitted into Christ’s Kingdom, and will have the rest of eternity to wish it were otherwise. But God will have already granted their wish: no taking it back.
For them the good news is that they can humble themselves before God and ask forgiveness for their sins–and claim it, too, by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood has already purchased our forgiveness. They can be admitted into the kingdom of salvation today, for the asking.
That’s the good news, even for them–if they can only believe it.