"26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father."

Firstly, we read that those that overcome to the end will receive power over the nations. This gives me great joy, but also great grief towards those that are not overcoming. How terrible also if a wedding starts off with great joy and ends in sorrow and on the rocks. The Bible says that marriage must be held in honour by all and that God has set aside a day on which He will judge the fornicators and adulterers. Even an adulterous look of lust will be judged in the same way.

Now, if marriage is so honourable and it is so wicked to break it, how much more judgement will those receive who have made vows to God to serve Him to the end and then breaks it. They will never inherit the Kingdom of God. God's Kingdom is only to those that conquers to the end.

What bewitches a person to say that he received Christ as Lord and the next day forsake Him? With some it is not the next day, but after years that they forsake the Lord. Remember John Bunyan's book, Pilgrim's Progress, how that there was one who entered hell at the gates of heaven. So, pray earnestly to God that you would conquer until the end.

It's a rarity these days to find a young man or woman to live a pure life and be a real young man or woman. If this was common, AIDS would not be a problem as it is today, for it is spread primarily by a loose life. Don't be proud of an immoral life, but cry to God to save you from death. In the same way must the parents of today observe Jesus' words and cry for themselves and their children. But, it is wonderful to marry young people who have lived in sexual purity.

Are you conquering the world, or are you conquered by world, anger, lies, lust or alcohol? Don't excuse yourself that you're not a believer, for you will still be judged by God.

Those that overcome brings much joy, but those that are overcome brings much grief and sorrow. If there's repentance, there's joy in heaven, but oh, woe to those that afterwards brake their vows.

Each one has his calling of God, but woe to you if you do not finish your course, but go off on a tangent. Get back to the calling God has called you to. No one else will do your duty God has given you. Whether it is easy or difficult, You need to complete it and be faithful. Call on God that you will finish your course. Remember that we live before God and must be faithful to Him - even in secret.

Secondly, "... and keeps My works unto the end". We read here that it is God's works that we need to keep. The life that you live in not your own, but belong to God. Are you conscious of the fact that you are doing God's will and His works? Remember Paul who said "it is not I that live, but Christ lives in me"

Woe to you, if you call your possessions your own. They will send you where you do not want to go.

When Jesus comes into your life, He works His works in you. Do you experience this in your life? Are the things that you do inspired by God's Spirit? Do you experience His Word dealing with you? Jesus even said "the works that I do are not My own, but from the Father" When Jesus comes in your life He performs His works in you, and makes you useful in His work. Do you experience this and know that you please Him? When Jesus was only 12 years old, He was already in His Father's business. Are you also busy therewith? Are you keeping His works and are obedient or are you pharisaical and hypocritical, following your own emotions and feelings?

Each of us will be judged by Him and need to examine ourselves, whether we are busy with His works and keeping His works. I want this to be crystal clear, lest you say on judgement day, why did you not speak clearly. There is a woe on your life if you are not keeping His works.

There were two missionary ladies in east Africa whose hearts were burning for God. They taught the local people to read and write and also spread the Gospel, by teaching the little children about Jesus, how he came to save them from their sins. One day there arrived a small boy from quite far away. He wanted to learn to read and write and get a good education. They called him Luke. He told the missionary ladies that no one from their area had any education. They were overjoyed, believing that he was sent from God to spread the Gospel to his people. They taught him and he was very diligent. Within a short time he was on a par with the other children. His teacher prayed incessantly for him that he would meet with Jesus. One morning there was a knock on her door. It was Luke. He told her that he could not sleep any more and need to meet with Jesus. She was overjoyed and showed him the way to Jesus. After six months, he told her that he want to go back to his people and tell them also of this wonderful Saviour that he has found. She was perplexed as to what to do. He was only saved for six months. So she asked him if he was sure that it was God's will. Eventually she gave in and let him go. As he went home he wondered whether his parents and family were still alive. Just as he was coming over the last hill, he spoke aloud to himself, asking if his people are still alive. Suddenly a loud voice said behind him, they are all killed and soon you will be too. As he looked around, he saw six warriors from the opposing clan, with evil painted faces and spears in their hands. Quickly he asked them if he could just pray to his heavenly Father before they killed him, and he prayed the whole Gospel aloud. As he said Amen, all six spears entered him and he went home to be with his Father. At the mission school they were waiting for him, but Luke did not return. One day, after six months, the children cried suddenly aloud. As the teacher looked, she saw the six warriors with their painted faces and spears. As she went out to meet them, they laid down their spears and told her the following story. Six months ago they killed Luke, but the words that he spoke in his prayer stayed with them, how that Jesus saved him at this mission school. They too wanted to give themselves to this God of Luke. All six of them then got saved and went back to their area and preached the Gospel in such a way that even the tribal wars came to an utter end.

Luke had worked the works of His Father and have conquered until death. He was not afraid to die, but preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of death.

We read that those that overcome to the end will rule the nations with a rod of iron, but those that are overcome by sin and the world, hell belongs to them.

Remember Luke and these words, keeping the works of Jesus Christ to the end.