It’s been awhile since I’ve written in this blog, but I’ve been very busy working on my books, among many other things. I need to get them finished and published, hopefully sooner than later!
The last time I wrote a blog post, I mentioned being ready because we really don’t know when Jesus Christ will come for us. He tells us in the Word of God (The Bible) that we will not know the actual time, but we will know the season. All the signs indicate we are in the season of His coming.
Although words written many years ago can’t possibly be up-to-date with the modern advances of today, things like lamps that require oil are written of in the Bible. These lamps are rarely, if ever, used anymore. Obviously, nowadays, we can simply flip a switch on to bring light to a room for electricity instead. However, what if there wasn’t any electricity? When we have hurricanes here, where I live, we often lose the power that generates our lights.
What would you need to see the path to meet Jesus? Will we have our flashlights and lanterns with batteries ready?
The Biblical description below describes a time when it will be dark outside:
“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ‘At midnight they were roused by the shout, “Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!” All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.” (Matthew 25:1-13)
Do you have your “oil” ready? Do you have enough ready? Certainly, we’re most likely referring to batteries today, but do you have enough to light the path to meet the bridegroom, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord?
This is not the only thing we need to be ready. We need to have clean hearts. We need to be pure, to the best of our ability, to meet the one who has saved us. Can we go, even if we have enough light, to meet the Lord with sin and not have ever accepted Him before?
When the bridesmaids whose oil was running out finally arrived back to the place where the Lord was at, the door would not be reopened. Why? He told them he didn’t know them. They were not prepared. They must not have ever repented. Maybe they never truly believed. It seems obvious they never accepted Jesus into their heart. Some things were truly wrong with them. They were not ready.
Jesus knows us when we are ready to meet Him. If we’re ready, we will go to Heaven and enjoy the marriage feast. What a celebration it will be when we get there!
We are warned to be wise. If we’re not wise, we’re not ready, and it will be too late. There will be no do overs. The bridesmaids were warned, but some were foolish. They didn’t know the Lord or had not accepted Him into their heart. They were forever lost.
The scripture tells us that we must not only be ready, but we must keep watch! What are you doing to be prepared? Are you keeping an eye out for the Lord to come and take us with Him into Heaven? What do we need to do differently?
Just like the two hurricanes, two years in a row, wreaking havoc on many homes and lives here in Florida and other locations, we needed to be fully prepared. This year is predicted to be the third in a row with strong storms.
We need to be hurricane ready. We need to be prepared for the Lord even more. It won’t be like a hurricane where we have advanced warning. Instead, we will have no more warnings other than the signs of the times, which we can see already!
So, I live in anticipation. I get ready by doing several things. I make sure that I continue to forgive others immediately. I try to stay in relationship with the Lord daily. Yes, there are times I stray from reading my Bible, but I am making a very strong effort to continue this again daily, and I wish to do so for the rest of my life. It’s so much better when I do stay in The Word!
We need to stay away from sin, and live in obedience to God. It is not always easy, but I’m careful to stay away from the traps of the enemy and stay close to the Lord and His path.
Even when we don’t know what direction to go, I’m certain God will show us in His perfect timing. We’ll see the right path when we need to see it. In the meantime, we need to keep praying and keep asking Him for direction while we keep doing His will, His way. Try not to stray. We must be ready or it will be too late! This is way too important not to be ready for His coming to take us with Him. Wow! What a day that will be when we get to see God face to face. Like the song, and the wonderful movie, too, “I Can Only Imagine.”
Please feel free to comment below and share what you are doing to be ready and to be wise for Jesus’ coming. Do you have your “oil” ready? Please consider subscribing to this blog so you’ll receive the new blog posts directly to your email. Thank you to those who have done so already.
We are all human, and we are not perfect, but the closer we get to seeing the Lord, the less time we have to be ready. Please get your life in order to meet your maker.
It’s your choice to enter into and enjoy eternal life with eternal joy and no pain and no more tears. Or it’s also your choice to live in eternal separation from God with eternal suffering. Please choose wisely!
In the Bible, in Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 11, we are given the truth that God has already planted eternity into our hearts. Why would you choose eternal suffering over eternal life with God (eternal joy)? Again, it is your choice!
Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.
God’s Word for Today: “And they [the unrighteous] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)
Copyright © 2018 by Patricia Shehan
All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set it italics
