Article for Sunday November 12, 2023
Matthew 25:6–9 6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
Have you read the sign? The sign says, “Here I come ready or not – Jesus.” Do you understand the signs? Jesus is coming and He is not going to wait for any of us to be ready. Do you think in the terms of mans understanding of “God’s Time”? Do you think you have a lot of time? Are you ready or do you need to get things in order? Do you have your bags packed? Do you know what being ready for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ means?
Where our lamp oil is our readiness stands. So many people think it is not important to know God’s word. We have a younger generation where some call us those Jesus people. They believe the world and don’t realize the world will define their life after they die. Don’t mistake what I am saying, this disease is in every generation.
Many think we die and become dust in the wind as the song goes. But they don’t understand for them the wind will stop, they will gasp for life, and find an eternal death instead. The world has no oil for its lamp, and it will plunge itself and all who follow it into the darkness where there really will be screaming and gnashing of teeth.
Understand this, the oil is the word of God, and its light that lights our lamp is Jesus Christ. We are being prepared for the coming of the groom each day of our lives. Listen to God’s word and rejoice in it. Many think they can produce their own oil and want you to believe in their darkness. Know God’s word and know how He saves us every day.
The world thinks love is letting each other run into the fire or in front of a speeding Mack truck. The world says if that is what you want you should do it and the world will accept it. The world thinks loving all things is the answer to their passage into heaven. The world does not think, it only reacts to its desires to lust after sin and wants you to die with it. But God wants you to live.
Matthew 25:10–13 10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Do not think that you control God or that mislead faith is the oil that burns the light of Jesus. There is the true word of God and for those who want to destroy it with their false beliefs then know you have chosen not to light your lamps and you will go to the darkness where Christ’s light does not shine for you.
But now that I have hit you so hard with the law, let me enlighten you with the gospel. There is always hope and a means to receive the oil that will light your lamps and prepare you for the coming of our Lord. It is called repentance and forgiveness. It is called the gospel. Jesus is waiting to fill your lamps with the oil that does not run out. For the light of Jesus is eternal, and the life in the light of Jesus is everlasting.
Listen, all of us, to the word of God, His law and precepts are true, and so is the gospel of repentance and forgiveness. Listen, all of us, to the Holy Spirit as He works in us repentance to sanctify us. Let your conscience be ruled by the Holy Spirit that works the word of God in you to lead you to life with Christ.
For Jesus Christ came to share His light with all who will follow Him and leave the thoughts of the world behind. Jesus died so that all could be saved and in hopes that all will follow Him. Know when the world’s word is tricking you by the one who tries to defy Jesus Christ. Remember, our salvation Jesus has bought with His life to give us life.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Stand and watch as we see our Lord descend to us in the clouds. Watch as many who have fallen asleep before us rise from the dead and ascend to the Lord our savior. And watch as salvation unfolds before our eyes. For the death of Jesus paid for our sins, and His resurrection paved the way for all who follow to now follow Jesus into the upper heavens of eternal life.
1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
As we stand with our heads lifted up, our eyes on Jesus and realizing what is happening, know that Jesus prepared you from the cross to burn the oil that never runs out. The light you see is the light of our Lord and our salvation. We too find ourselves lifted up and ascending to the heaven with our Lord Jesus to life eternal with Him. “Ready or not, here I come says Jesus” arms wide open and love in His greetings as He draws us to Him. We live for Jesus; we live forever and ever. Amen.
Written by Pastor Curtis May.