WORDS OF LIFE’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE (LUKE 17:20-37)

REFLECTION Words of life’s ultimate challenge is the theme for our reflection. These are words that put our readiness to enter into the Kingdom of God at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to the test. The words of life’s ultimate challenge are “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Aug 16, 2025

2–3 minutes

REFLECTION

Words of life’s ultimate challenge is the theme for our reflection. These are words that put our readiness to enter into the Kingdom of God at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to the test. The words of life’s ultimate challenge are “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” (Luke 17:33-37). In other words, those who are faithful to the Lord to the point of death shall be saved and their reward shall be the Kingdom of God or eternal life but those who deny the Lord for the pleasures and desires of this world shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

The ultimate challenge is how to remain faithful by overcoming the temptations of this world until our departure or the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, how do we lose our lives on this earth for the Lord so that we may gain it in at the second coming of Jesus? The answer lies in our daily personal decisions and walk with the Lord. The song writer says “I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus,no turning back, no turning back” Once we have decided to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit will empower us to overcome the ultimate challenge of entering into the Kingdom of God or attaining the eternal life at the final appearing of our Lord and Master Jesus. To overcome the ultimate challenge, the Lord greatly encourages us to “…Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ (Revelation 2:10-11). Shalom.

PRAYER

Jesus our Lord and Saviour, may the Holy Spirit empower us to endure the ultimate challenge that will precede Your Second coming so that we shall be counted as worthy citizens of the Kingdom of God. Amen.