Conditions of Peace before a Lionlike King
The Lordship of Jesus Christ
“Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.” - Luke 14:31-32
This is good counsel from a gracious God. These are strong reasons to become a true disciple of the Messiah. War is coming! It’s midnight, and in the morning a great battle will be fought. Sinners will one day see it with their own eyes in all of its dreadful glory, but for many it will be too late. They will not survive the war because when God offered peace they didn’t come to terms with the divine agreement. Even so, every detail of divine prophecy will be fulfilled.
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” - Rev 6:15-17
Two thousand years ago, at the 1st coming of Christ, the Son of God appeared as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36). In love and humility, the Lord Jesus Christ passionately pursued the salvation of sinners through making the ultimate sacrifice (Isa. 53:2, Matt. 11:29). He shed his own blood for our souls!
In the near future, at the 2nd coming of Christ, the Son of God will appear as a Lionlike King to take over the world (Rev. 5:5, Gen. 49:9-10, Num. 24:9). In wrath and vengeance, the Lord Jesus Christ will zealously pursue the annihilation of rebellious sinners with such ferocity, the carcasses of sinners will be scattered about from one end of the earth to the other (Jer. 25:30-33). He will shed the blood of the nations and stain all His garments red through the violence of war (Isa. 63:1-6, Rev. 19:11-21).
Do you see the difference? Where the Son of God was meek before, He will then be majestic; where He was lowly, He will then be lofty; where He was mortal, He will then be immortal; where He was weak, He will then be all powerful; and where He was criminalized and crucified before, He will then be an all-conquering King!
When great monarchs of ancient history went to war, the conquered nations became subservient through a covenant of peace. Even so, Jesus Christ is extending to you conditions of peace long before the war. What are the conditions of peace? Wave the white flag of surrender! Make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior. Come to a place of absolute surrender before the LORD. The power of the Gospel can accomplish this in your depraved human heart (1 Cor. 12:3).
Don’t get this wrong! Jesus Christ is not asking you to repent. This isn’t an invitation. The Son of God is commanding you repent (Acts 17:30)! The Lordship of Jesus Christ requires absolute surrender and total subjection from sinners, or you will have to face the unrelenting power of divine wrath without mercy (Heb. 10:26-27). Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and if you don’t give him your all, you will be counted among His enemies (Ex. 20:3, James 4:4; Luke 6:46-49).
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” - Luke 19:27 (Php. 2:10-11)
