The judgement in the end by Mike Bamiloye
When Jacob was about to die in the land of Egypt, he issued out a very strong instructions and parting word that was not only meant for his biological children, but was extremely prophetic pointer to all children of God.
Genesis 49:1-4 KJV
[1] And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
And I so much wondered why Jacob would use those chosen words as “the last days” in his words to his children. He said they should gather together. That was where I felt the Word of JACOB for his children was beyond the lifetime of his children, but prophetically addressing the children of God on what would befall them all in the end.
And another chosen Word in the prophetic statement of Jacob was: “Gather yourselves together” and that reminds me of the verse of the Bible that says:
2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
When the children of Israel had gathered at the last minutes bed-side of Jacob, their father, then, the word of Judgment began to roll out of Jacob’s mouth to each of them one after the other. However, the most frightening pronounced judgement came upon the first child of Jacob:
Genesis 49:3-4
[3] Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
[4] Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it : he went up to my couch.
That was a horrible pronouncement that came on Rueben on Jacob’s death bed. An irrevocable curse. A verdict of the end. A terrible parting
Gift from a man who had an encounter with God and saw a traffic of angels ascending and descending an heavenly ladder. but when did Reuben commit the sin that ruined his glorious destiny?
Genesis 35:22 KJV
[22] And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it . Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
When did Rueben commit the abomination that earned him the curse that was to be placed on him several years later? He slept with his father’s wife many years before the death of Jacob. He committed the sin ever before Isaac died. He did the abominable act ever before Joseph was sold into slavery, ever before Joseph had the dream of his future, ever before Joseph went into Egypt.
Rueben had committed the sin and God was quiet about it. The Bible says Jacob heard it and there was no comment Jacob made about it. No punishment. No rebuke. No apparent repercussions. Reuben did not fall sick and he did not die for committing that abominable act of sleeping with the wife of that great man of God. His life continued normally with no apparent dangerous consequences of the sins he had committed.
He was sent to Egypt among the rest brothers to look for food. He walked into the palatial mansion of Joseph. He also ate the luxury food in Joseph’s palace. He enjoyed so many privileges and opportunities, even after committing such evil.
Probably, he thought, events had covered the possible consequences. He had probably thought God had overlooked the sins and would not require it. So, he never apologized. He never begged his father. He never felt sorry before the Lord and never asked Him for His mercy and forgiveness. We never saw him remorseful for what he had done. He forgot about it. And Jacob also never mentioned it. And God was quiet also about it.
But when Jacob was about to die, the hidden unconfessed atrocities was brought out into the open before the rest “gathered” people. No more thing to hide. At “The last day”, the judgement was pronounced upon him and there was no longer chance for him to apologize or repent. He had neglected all the opportunities of seeking for forgiveness and his Moment of Grace had expired. He stood before his “Father” and received a damnable judgment:
Genesis 49:4
Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it : he went up to my couch.
Now, when you see some of your fellow believers who are contravening and breaking the Lord’s commandment, and are still enjoying all privileges and opportunities of Divine Grace, don’t ever envy them, because all those moment of Grace are to call them back into repentance and rededication of lives. When you see that sins and unrighteousness are not quickly judged by God, that unfaithful and unreliable brethren in Christ are gliding on smooth paths to success and promotions, do not envy their ways, because their Judgement is surely accumulating to spring up surprises at the end, if they do not repent and have a change of way.
Among many children of God are dubious and seared conscience believers. Among the sons of God are believers full of envy and jealousy; bitterness and covetousness. They do a lot of bad things against fellow believers and still live their lives without problems; they enjoy their lives and have successes in their undertakings. Their wickedness and unfaithfulness is worse than that of many that know not Christ. Some children of God join the unbelievers to embezzle official funds, falsify records and still go to church and do the Lord’s services. They keep having promotions and honors, that the faithful children of God who live lives of serious self-denial and consecration keep wondering if their godliness is not in vain after all.
Those who live in sins and still enjoy all the privileges of God. Those who never feel remorseful for their numerous sins in the house of God, but continues in His service as if sinful life is normal. The children of God who see nothing bad in bad things. The Unfaithful children of God who lure faithful children of God into Compromise and backsliding.
NO. DON’T LOOK IN THAT DIRECTION AT ALL.
2 Peter 3:17 KJV
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
STAND IN YOUR OWN STEADFASTNESS AND DO NOT YIELD TO THEIR COMPROMISE.
Their judgement, like the judgement of Rueben at the bed-side of Jacob may have slept, but not dead. It shall surely arise in the end.
THEREFORE, THE LONG-SUFFERING AND PATIENCE OF GOD TO WITHHOLD EVILS FROM THE WICKED AND DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN IS TO GIVE ROOM FOR REPENTANCE AND TURN-AROUND FROM THEIR BAD WAYS.
IT IS THE OPERATION OF GRACE.
May the Grace of God upon our lives never be in vain.
MIKE BAMILOYE
#mikebamiloyedevotionals
mikegloria.blogspot.com
