by David Brenneman
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 25:1-30.
The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. That's what the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
While they are things about peace and safety...destruction will come. That's in the very next verse.
Knowing whether or not you are saved makes a Heaven or Hell difference in where you will spend eternity.
All of the repercussions of your current and past and even future woes of life don't compare to what your decision on that question means. Nobody is guaranteed a today. Not a single person.
You can be taken from this world in an instant and at that point your choice to either be saved or not is sealed for all eternity.
Choosing is in your hands. Nobody else's. Even indecision is a decision. Choosing to avoid the question is a decision. Choosing to put any part of your wants and desires before deciding the answer to that question may mean an eternity of regret.
We are given a day at a time out of the grace and mercy of God because He really doesn't want anyone to die apart from Jesus. Grace is giving us what we don't deserve and mercy is withholding from us what we do deserve.
In the book of Romans tells us that everyone has sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are all born condemned due to sin. Also in Romans it says that the wages of sin is death. That what everyone is due is a death sentence, eternal separation from God in a place of painful torment. For those who choose to come to Christ for salvation there is no condemnation. When God looks upon such people all He sees is the perfect righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Our sin and the guilt of our sins has been taken away. Remembered no more.
But you, my Dear Reader, must choose with all your heart to ask Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.
Our choice in this single matter determines where we spend eternity. Why are we still here after coming to Christ? Because of those others in our lives who need to know the urgency of the hour. Because of maybe the impact of our lives for future generations who will come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior too.
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.
Why is the Lord taking so long to come back if He's coming back at all? Dear Reader, for that very thing of not desiring that anyone go that place of torment. Hell was never designed for the souls of human beings but rather the fallen angels called demons.
Paul, Peter believed it possible that Jesus could return in their time. Looking back over the centuries we now can see that various prophetic events had to take place first. Most of these have taken place. Not that people are trying to fit the Bible to world events but rather that world events are aligning to what was written thousands of years ago.
Are you ready? It's only by what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary that saves anyone. Nobody's good deeds and good life are enough to erase 1 sin. If anyone ever answers in any other way than because of Christ then their answer is no good as to why they should be allowed into Heaven. The thief on the cross...he did nothing on his own other than to turn to Jesus and asked to be remembered when He comes in His Kingdom. Jesus said that he would be with Him in Paradise. Because of Jesus.
Where do you stand with regards to being saved? Are you going to be among the foolish who weren't ready when He comes? The foolish who will cry out from the deepest depths of their hearts to come back to get them too?
There's going to be no sign to be seen when Jesus comes back for His Church. Just all the effects of it having happened. Global disasters that liars will convince the world were something else that just happened.
Decide today to receive the free gift of salvation. Agree with Jesus that you need Him to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. Ask Him to save you.
Noah preached for over 100 years for the world to repent and turn to God. Jesus said this world would be just like those days were...a world dead set on living for self. We live in exactly those days.
The book of Revelation speaks of a new Temple. Know this that all the religious requirements for building one have been accomplished in recent months. This Temple isn't said to have to be built before Jesus returns. With today's construction techniques they could build a new Temple in mere months. This is a verifiable fact.
Are you really saved? Settle this today. Don't give into fears of what others may say or do. Don't give in to fears of what Jesus might ask of you. Don't let your fears consign you to an eternity crying out in pain to God who will not listen because of the choice you made in rejecting Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Most know of or have heard John 3:16. Read the rest of Jesus's answer to Nicodemus.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." John 3:16-19.
What's your decision? What you choose makes a Heaven or Hell difference.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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