Focus: Don't Let It Happen!

Text: Act.1:20

"His bishoprick let another take."

For greed Judas lost the friendship of Christ and the privilege of being a leader under Christ. Paul tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil. Judas lost everything and ended up in taking his own life. He made the money he wanted, but couldn't live to eat it. He got what he wanted but didn't want what he got. His position of leadership was given to another person. 

The psalmist says, "Let another take his office." It was a negative prophecy which had no one's name to it, but due to avarice Judas submitted his name to experience the reality of an awful prophecy. At the shrine of opportunity he slaughtered principle. He became the betrayer of his own Master. He lost his office and his life. The psalmist says, "Let his days be few" (Ps.109:8). Luke says, "Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein" (Act.1:20). It was a very sad end for Judas. 

Don't let this happen to you! Make sure that it never happens! Money turns into a monster when you make an idol of it. The god of money is a demon; he ruins your life and future. God has given you an office; don't lose it!

The Lord Jesus Christ says to a church, "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Rev.3:11). With these words of Christ we can understand that crowns can be lost. Saul lost his crown to David. Samuel says to Saul, "The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou" (1Sam.15:28). God found David a better man for the job of kingship. He had a sweeter disposition and a beautiful attitude.

Crowns can be lost. John tells us that on Christ's head were found many crowns (Rev.19:12). One head wearing many crowns! I believe these were the crowns that those who once had them lost. They failed, and so they lost their crowns. But Jesus Christ who never failed collected them. The ever unfailing Jesus Christ took all the crowns of those who failed. The writer of Hebrews says that God "taketh away the first, that he may establish the second" (Heb.10:9). God took away Ishmael, and established Isaac. He took away Esau, and established Jacob. He took away Saul, and established David. He took away the first Adam, and established the last Adam. And for us, God has jettisoned the old man by way of the cross, and has brought on board the new man by way of His own resurrection. In Christ we died, and in Him too, we have risen from the dead.

Don't lose your bishopric! Don't lose your God-given office! Don't lose your crown! Don't sell your office for money! Don't merchandise the anointing! Don't let greed be your ruin! Don't be the first that becomes the last! Never let it happen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter