April 24: WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Now as [Jesus] 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.” Luke 19:41-42
Jesus tearfully lamented over Jerusalem’s rejection of truth. Rejection of truth and spiritual blindness are inextricably intertwined. Jesus continued: “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…” (vv.43-44a). Even so, divine mercy lingered for nearly an entire generation before the fulfillment of Jesus’s prophecy that not one stone shall be left upon another because you did not know the time of your visitation (44b). Roman soldiers, in 70AD, did just as Jesus described. But because the Christians recognized the danger and were obedient to the Lord’s instructions (see Matthew 24), not a single Christian lost his life. The brutality of the Romans in 70AD foreshadows the deadliness of departing from truth. Today, false doctrines are closing in on every side to level you to the ground.
The message of truth came to France through Jacques Lefevre, William Farel, and Louis de Berquin—and was rejected. But, in keeping with the longsuffering character of God, another invitation to the gospel came. John Calvin set about his work quietly, outside of Paris, under the protection of Princess Margaret, sister of Francis I. She had high hopes that France, as a nation, would be won to the gospel. Calvin went from house to house, teaching the Word of Christ, the testimony of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Some houses were castles, and some were cabins. But he was received with great favor and many hearts were won for the Lord! Soon Calvin was back in Paris. He continued his teaching from house to house. At one point, while the king was away, Princess Margaret opened the royal palace for daily preaching at the same hour each day. Thousands from all classes would attend and listen. When the king returned, instead of forbidding the assemblies, he ordered two churches of Paris opened for Protestant preaching. The Roman church hierarchy were exceedingly displeased (no surprise there!). Nevertheless, Protestant preaching continued for two years in these two Roman churches. Francis’s stand against the Romanists was not because he was a follower of the gospel, but for his own political purposes. He was making a show of tolerance. Even though the majority of the French people rejected the gospel message, there were some during these brief two years who accepted it wholeheartedly.
Beloved, we are living in the hour of His judgement (Revelation 14:7). The window of time that we have left is fleeting, and the central-most subject is worship of the one, true God: our Creator and Savior. We must tell the world! When the window closes, this decree will sound from heaven: He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. (Revelation 22:11)
By God’s grace and power, we are instructed to persevere while it is day, for the night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4). If God’s people will make their relationship with Him the top priority, the sharing of His Word will become as natural as breathing! Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). Here’s what can happen again:
Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. Acts 5:14