Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Ten Virgins and the Narrow Gate

Matt 25:1-13 - Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, "Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!" Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, "What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves." While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us." But he answered, "Most assuredly I tell you, I don’t know you." Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

We have no idea what truly lies before us.  This is the time when we need God to develop our strength, trust and faith in Him--not at the last minute, for surely we will not be ready in that time.  I spoke about wisdom.  It is now that we need it most.  We need to determine which narrow path we are to take. Do we want to walk in our own wisdom or God's?

I think of the parable above of the ten virgins. They were going to be invited to the great feast of the Bridegroom.  They were to have their oil lamps ready--filled with oil and wicks trimmed.  Only five were truly ready and allowed to partake in the feast.  Five knew the feast was to come but they felt they had plenty of time to get ready, but when the Bridegroom called, they were not.  The Groom did not know them.  That Groom is Jesus. And although only half of the virgins were ready in this parable, I fear there is more than half in this world who are not.  That is not wise.  Many are on the more widely traveled path.

It has been prophesied that there is a day coming that Jesus will return to gather His people to Himself for the great final marriage supper of the Lamb.  I await that day.  I pray I am among those who are truly ready. I pray that He will help me to reveal Himself to those who are not.

In the last days it is said there will be revelry, self-centeredness, wars, trials in all the world.  People will be going about their days doing their own thing--without thought of God. He should not just to be a thought on Sunday but every day. They will not be ready for His return, His invitation, His feast.  I would prefer to always be ready up front than find out I'd run out of time...and oil!

I can see the signs today. Are those I know ready?  It may seem like I'm over reacting, but we just don't know. Although many do not recognize the signs of the times, there are some whose eyes are being opened. If all that we read about in today's papers are ushering us into the final days, I pray He will reveal Himself to us--those who desire to know Him, those who need to return to Him, those who just need a touch from God for encouragement.

God's will will be done.  What we see happening in the world today probably is part of His will.  It is to draw all  to Him rather than to other men.  Let His kingdom come, a kingdom that will be filled with true peace.

I thank God for His faithfulness, His love, His heart toward those who love Him.  I pray that He reaches out and takes hold of us, that He draws us closer to His safety.  He is our Strong Tower, the mighty Rock and it is under His wings we are kept, if we so desire. Open the floodgates of praise in my heart that I might glory in these days.  Glory and praise to God, our King, our Salvation, our reason for all things.  What an incredible plan He has and always has had.  I hope others recognize this plan for mankind and for each of us.

Bless us, O Lord, our Door, our Gate.  Let all mankind enter into Your salvation. Open hearts to receive and open mouths to proclaim!  The glory goes to You.

Matthew 7:13-14 - Enter the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it.

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