It tells us to be ready for there is a reward for those who are and a punishment for those who
aren’t. When the children were little we practiced waiting for Tim as often he would work
overtime. We would watch and pray for his safe trip home, and when he pulled up, we would go out
to meet him, genuinely happy for his return. The house was clean, and a meal was ready.
Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto ten virgins: five
were wise and five were foolish. The five foolish virgins took their lamps but didn’t
have any oil. They were not ready for the bridegroom to come. Instead of getting ready they
thought they could beg from the ones that were ready. Let me tell you, salvation is an individual
thing. If you do not receive it straight from Jesus, you certainly won’t get it from the church
or anyone else: “One by one we’ll gain the portal, there to dwell with the immortal.” The
five foolish virgins were told to buy the oil themselves from someone else. They went looking but
couldn’t find it in time. They missed out on the marriage, and the Lord told them, “I know
you not.” Oh, how sad. How does one wait and watch for the coming of the Lord? Peter
tells us to give diligence to make our calling and election sure, for if we do these things we
will never fall: “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
He also said that the Lord according to His divine power hath given us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue,
whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises
that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to our
faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity
(these are the fruits of God’s Spirit.) If we have these in us abounding, we won’t be idle or
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.While we are here on earth, God gives us gifts or talents that
we are to use for the furtherance of the gospel (not our own gain, for we can only
gain in Christ as we lose ourselves in Him.) As we watch and wait for the Lord Jesus Christ, we
clean house; we feed the children; we train our children to know Him; we have a meal prepared for
Him. We’re listening for His voice. We’re making investments with the things that he gives
us. We’re telling people about His great love and life-transforming power. We’re encouraging
our friends to be ready. We’re using His gifts to share His love.
We want to run out to meet Him. We want Him to say, “Well done,
thou good and faithful servant.” We want to be the beloved of our Lord Jesus.