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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for November 15, 2010
“The Owner Is Returning”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
The old joke goes like this.
A man is talking to God and says, “Lord, the Bible says that, to You a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Okay so, to You, how much is a million dollars?”
God says, “About one cent.”
“Really? So can I have . . . a penny?”
“Sure, just a minute.”
That’s just a joke, but it’s based on scripture. Second Peter 3:8 says, “…beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
Why did Peter write that? It was his response to those who would scoff and say, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
He said the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (v. 9)
So the promise of His coming has not been fulfilled, and now it’s been a couple thousand years...which is really only a couple of days, according to Peter.
Now read what Jesus said in Mark 13. “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And He will send His angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.”
And what was the timetable for that?
Jesus said in Mark 13:32, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Remember the book “88 Reasons Why the Rapture will be in 1988”? I guess that guy didn’t know either.
So the day is coming, but no one knows when except the Father.
And what are we to do until then?
“Be on guard! Be alert!” “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” That’s what Jesus said.
Then He told this little story to illustrate His point. He said, “It’s like a man going away: he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back.”
Maybe it’s hard to grasp the whole “Son of man coming in the clouds” thing, but it’s easy to picture some servants left in charge of an estate while the owner leaves on a trip. Human nature being what it is, the servants will keep things up for a while, then relax their standards as the owner delays his return.
But did you notice the one important person in the story? I’m talking about the guy who was told to keep watch at the door.
So picture it. The owner leaves and the servants are in charge, carrying out their assignments. Let’s say one of them was in charge of landscaping. He’s out there trimming the bushes and it’s hot and, frankly, he’s getting tired of trimming bushes. He hasn’t seen the owner in forever, so what’s the difference?
Then he looks up at the house and sees the servant standing at the door. He’s looking down the road toward the horizon. He is watching for the owner’s return.
Sure, the owner didn’t come back yesterday or the day before, but that doesn’t mean he won’t come back today. And how is he going to want those bushes to look when he finally returns? He’s going to want them to look great.
So back to the landscaper. He’s weary in his work, but then he sees the servant watching for the owner’s return. It reminds him that the day really is coming. It could be today, so he gets back to work.
“But Doug, Jesus only said that to His disciples.”
Okay, look at the last verse of Mark 13. Jesus said, “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
So the question is, are you watching today?
It’s easy not to, because it seems like He’s never coming back. But He said He would, and to God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day, so even though it’s been a long time, it’s really only been a couple of days.
Peter said the day of the Lord will come “as a thief in the night.” In light of that, he said we should conduct ourselves with holiness and godliness, and be found by the Lord in peace, without spot and blameless.
And finally, Second Peter 3:17 says, “…since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
So just because His promise is delayed, do not fall from your steadfastness.
We must continue each day to watch and be ready . . . for the Owner is returning.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2010 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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