Getting other ready

Matthew 25:1-4 (ESV)

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

Notice that though all of the virgins here were expecting the bridegroom's return, only five were prepared. This parable was written about those of us that have knowledge of Jesus and His return, but have not made ourselves ready. The foolish virgins had not stored any oil for His return. Interestingly, oil is symbolic of the Spirit of God.

This parable teaches us the importance of spiritual preparation. There is really no substitute for it. When we prepare spiritually, by daily reading the Word and practicing worship and prayer, we will become equipped with the oil of His Spirit. Not only will we be preparing for His return but as an extra added bonus, it will empower us to face today's trials. And when those unexpected challenges come, we'll have the power of the Spirit already working within us, helping us through! What a great deal!

Let's get ourselves ready so that we can help others get ready!

Dear Lord, help us to be in the process of helping those around us be ready for Your return. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

On that day will you be ready?

Mark 13:13b (NIV)

…but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

We read in the Bible  "There will be wars, and famines and earthquakes! The sun shall be darkened, and the stars will fall from the sky!

On that day will you be ready?

On that day, what will you want?

Do you know what you want on Judgment Day?

If you are like most people, you want to be prepared.

* So they might be prepared, the ancient Greeks made a pilgrimage to the Oracle at Delphi and then tried to understand her cryptic and poetic prophecies.

* So they might be prepared, the Romans read the entrails of sacrificed animals.

* So they might be prepared, people today call the psychic hotline, read their horoscopes, break open their fortune cookies, listen to the stock market forecasters and tune in to The Weather Channel.

* To be prepared for the unknown and unexpected, we take out health insurance, house insurance, medical insurance, business insurance, car insurance and funeral insurance.

Sadly, no matter how much time or how much worry and cash we invest in our preparations, this sinful world produces surprises and shocks that mess things up. Sooner or later, most of us realize our best preparations will not get us prepared for the unknown hour of Jesus' return.

In truth, all of our perfect plans become pitifully pathetic in the face of the Day of Judgment. Because of Jesus' sacrifice we know we shall stand before the Lord, and He will declare us innocent of all wrongdoing.

Because of Jesus our doom is made into the day of ultimate victory and joy.

Dear Lord, we thank You that we do not have to face Judgment Day on our own. Because of You, we don’t the fear our last breath. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

On That Day Will You Be Ready?

Mark 13:13 (NIV)

Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

The minister was preaching about Judgment Day.

He roared: "There will be wars, and famines and earthquakes! The sun shall be darkened, and the stars will fall from the sky! On that day will you be ready? On that day, what will you want?"

A little boy in his congregation, engrossed by what he was hearing, gave the question some thought. It didn't take too long before he was tugging at his mother's sleeve. "Mommy," he whispered, "I know what I want on that judgment day. I want the board of education to call off school."

That boy knew what he wanted. Do you? Do you know what you want on Judgment Day? If you are like most people, you want to be prepared.

* So they might be prepared, the ancient Greeks made a pilgrimage to the Oracle at Delphi and then tried to understand her cryptic and poetic prophecies.

* So they might be prepared, the Romans read the entrails of sacrificed animals.

* So they might be prepared, people today call the psychic hotline, read their horoscopes, break open their fortune cookies, listen to the stock market forecasters and tune in to The Weather Channel.

* To be prepared for the unknown and unexpected, we take out health insurance, house insurance, medical insurance, business insurance, car insurance and funeral insurance.

Sadly, no matter how much time or how much worry and cash we invest in our preparations, this sinful world produces surprises and shocks that mess things up. Sooner or later, most of us realize our best preparations will not get us prepared for the unknown hour of Jesus' return.

In truth, all of our perfect plans become pitifully pathetic in the face of the Day of Judgment.

It is only when we are brought to the Savior; it is only when we are given faith in Him, who gave His life as the ransom price for our salvation, that Judgment Day is transformed. Because of Jesus' sacrifice we know we shall stand before the Lord, and He will declare us innocent of all wrongdoing.

The day which once meant our doom is remade by Jesus into the day of ultimate victory and joy.

Dear Lord, we give thanks we do not have to face Judgment Day on our own. The fear of our last breath has been remade into the moment when we shall see our Savior’s face. Thank You that it will be a time of gladness. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Remembering 9/11

Revelation 2:10 (NIV)

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

As we remember the 12th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September, 11, 2001, we will most likely be reminded of countless stories of extreme courage in the face of extreme danger. Stories of investment brokers who reenter the twin towers, after they had safety within their grasp, to rescue others; stories of firefighters and police officers giving their own lives so that others could live; stories of ordinary citizens banding together to prevent a plane from reaching its intended destination. As we read or hear more and more of these stories, we encounter some, like that of Todd and Lisa Beamer, that tell of Christian men and women who exemplified this school year's theme verse from Philippians 1:20, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death."

What about us?

2000 years ago St. Paul warned the Thessalonians to be spiritually prepared – 1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

There are plenty of warnings to always be spiritually prepared. Some warnings are personal like illness or the loss of someone close to you. Some warnings are evident on a global level such as wars, tornadoes, tsunamis, or earthquakes. Each event, like the first attack on the Twin Towers, should remind us to be prepared for the day when we meet Jesus.

So instead of dutifully evacuating a building, how can we prepare spiritually? Celebrate Easter every Sunday with regular worship. Read the Bible. Pray. Like exiting the building, they all seem pretty simple, but they will make all the difference in the end.

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of your son Jesus whose death and resurrection assures us that we will be with You. Help us to be diligent in our preparation as we faithfully worship, study your word and come to You in prayer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.