Article: ARE WE SMALL BUSINESS?

Thursday, October 24, 2002 - 08:28 PM

ARE WE SMALL BUSINESS?
By Patrick D. Andrews

The advertisers are indicating that a great many innovations and inventions throughout the history of our nation's advanced industrial network have come from the smaller of businesses. Small business has it's place in the economy of this nation, but all business is not small business.

Just what is your business in the kingdom of God--small or great? Are you minding your own business or are you minding the business of another? Jesus indicated to His mother that His Father's business was important! Luke 2:49b ....wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Therefore, we can conclude that our Christianity is an issue of the "family" business.

It was God's business to develop a method of redeeming man--He sent His only begotten Son. In response to the judgment in the garden, the eternal plan was set in motion. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. He sent His Son into the world to save man from the demanded justice against sin. John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. As it is God's business to send us a Savior, so it is our part in the business to be obedient to the God who sent Him. It is the only business--we are either obedient to Him or we will face the consequences. John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.</B The :"family business" is preparing for the time when these days will cease and the day of judgment comes.

It's God's business to ensure that the Holy Spirit came to man's aid at just the right time and place. Through Him, the mystery of God is revealed unto us, and it is knowable--He said so! 2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The Spirit came in fulfillment of the Holy Promise. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The Holy Spirit came and conducted the Father's Business. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

God's business, from before Creation, is to ensure the availability of salvation to His created man. God's justice demanded that man be judged and displaced from the Garden of Eden--sin is the cause. He commanded them to not eat of the forbidden fruit--they did--God judged them. God's business is His justice--it is seen in the flaming sword. However, God's business also includes His mercy--it's seen in the Cherubims. Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Now that we have the means to know the will of God, His business includes our acceptable obedience. It requires man's complete and unequivocal repentance. When there is repentance there is always obedience. Without obedience there can be no saving grace. The grace is give to the obedient. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

It is God's business to forgive man of his sin. It is a conditional love and conditional forgiveness. He will conditionally forgive man for his sinfulness, but only if man will unconditionally repent of his sins. It's the message that the prophets brought to the people of God--repentance. It's the message that John the baptizer and Jesus preached when they began their ministry. Repentance is the key to forgiveness. We cannot have forgiveness without the blood of Christ and the forgiveness will not be granted unless we are willing to repent. Where there is repentance, there is always (not a hyperbole) obedience. It's God's business to tell man the need to repent of his sins.

It was God's business to send Jesus as the Christ to lay the foundation and begin the kingdom, which is His church, which is His body. Matthew 16:18 It is man's business to preach the gospel as God gave it and to obey the terms of pardon as Christ gave them. The Lord adds us to the body. Acts 2:47b And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. He died for those within the church. Ephesians 5:23b and he is the saviour of the body.

It is God's business to judge each of us according to the spoken word. John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. Salvation and grace are not universal--everyone will not be saved. Some will be lost. It's good business to preach the Word--seek and save the lost--keep the saved saved. Galatians 1:9-9 He will offer no other means of grace. Only those in the church will be saved. Those outside, who have failed to be obedient, will be eternally lost. It seems very essential--we desperately need to understand the business of God--that's not a small business issue.