The Apprentice
Gemma Adam
Sixteen candidates, one job. Sir Alan's search for his apprentice is over.
The Lord Jesus' search for his followers continues.
THE BOSS : Sir Alan Sugar or the Lord Jesus Christ?
Sir Alan epitomises all our society values most. The notorious business tycoon has raised an £800million global business from nothing. He drives around in a helicopter and chauffeur-driven car. He is able to choose an apprentice from some of the brightest business minds in the country, hiring and firing at will. But with all his wealth, power and success he is not the most powerful man in the whole universe. That place is reserved for the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet when you read the story of Jesus in the bible, his life is so different to that of Sir Alan Sugar and all the 'successes' of today. The baby Jesus was born in a stable, the son of a poor carpenter. As a young man he had no home and few friends. His short life was ended at the age of 33 when he was nailed to a cross. How small and insignificant he seemed and yet the Lord Jesus has more power than Alan Sugar could ever dream of. After Jesus died, he was raised to life to reign on high with God. The bible tells us that Jesus has now “gone into heaven and is at God's right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him” (1 Peter 3 v22). And “since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool” (Hebrews 10 v13). One day Jesus will return to earth again in all his glory and power. On that day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Sir Alan Sugar is nothing compared to the Lord Jesus Christ
THE BENEFITS : A Company or a Kingdom?
Sir Alan Sugar offers his apprentice a salary of £100,000 and a prestigious position in his multi-national corporation. Being an apprentice is described by the BBC as 'the chance of a life time!' But that's the point – everything that Alan Sugar offers will only last a life time, at the most. The apprentice cannot take his six figure salary with him past the grave. One day even Sir Alan's huge business empire will be dust. In contrast, the Lord Jesus Christ offers his followers a place in the everlasting kingdom of God. They will share in Jesus' awesome inheritance and enjoy an eternal life of glory.
A place in Sir Alan Sugar's Company is nothing compared to a place in the kingdom of God.
But God's kingdom in heaven is a holy place, just as God himself is holy, and nothing sinful can ever enter it. The bible explains that “nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” (Revelation 21 v27). No sinful human being could ever hope to get there on the basis of their own efforts.
THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS : Hard Slog or Grace?
We live in a culture where every good thing requires hard work or money. If you want to be Sir Alan's apprentice and earn a six figure salary, you have to get through a gruelling selection process, endure 12 weeks of difficult tasks and beat very severe competition. But the remarkable thing is that Jesus' kingdom is open to even the lowest in society. The Lord Jesus does not decide between people on the basis of their wealth or intelligence, their success at business, their confidence and creativity. The Lord Jesus does not look at the things this world values, he looks at the heart. He looks for a heart that acknowledges, not how great it is, but how wicked and sinful. A heart that realises it has not lived up to God's standards and admits its need for a saviour.
Jesus taught “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Mark 10v15). We need to come to God with complete helplessness and dependence, admitting that the only way we can even dare to approach him and enter his kingdom, is by trusting in Jesus for forgiveness. This is why Jesus died. It was not an unfortunate end to a disappointing life. It was in fact the very reason he came to earth. He died on a cross so that he could take the punishment we all deserve for our rebellion against God and open the way for us to be welcomed into the awesome and holy kingdom of God. This is what the bible calls grace – entry into God's kingdom is a gift which we don't deserve and could never earn.
THE END
At the end of the day we will all have no choice about facing Jesus' final judgement when he returns as God's appointed judge. When he comes again everyone who has ever lived, from every tribe and nation, will have to stand before him and be judged. Jesus will judge each one according to whether they lived their life with him as their Lord and Saviour or lived their lives in ignorance and rebellion against him. Talking of himself, Jesus said “if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man [Jesus] will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels” (Mark 8 v38).
Just as Sir Alan separated the good potential apprentices from the bad, so Jesus, when he returns in glory, will separate those who will face his eternal punishment and those who will enter his everlasting kingdom. Jesus explained exactly what will happen: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world... Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' ” (Matthew 25 v31-34 and v41)
It must have been terrifying for the apprentice candidates waiting outside the boardroom of Sir Alan Sugar, not knowing whether they would be hired or fired. Not to mention the humiliation of Sir Alan's disparaging comments and rudeness. But facing Alan Sugar's “you're fired” is nothing compared to the significantly more terrifying and humiliating judgement of the Lord Jesus Christ. The only way we can have confidence on that day is to repent now, to stop living life our way and start following the Lord Jesus.
Please get in touch if you would like to know more about the Lord Jesus Christ and the joy of living for him.