By Pastora Ruth Cube Keijdener
SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 25:1-5
“At that time 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. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.”
All are bridesmaids. Some are foolish. And some are wise. The thing is, everybody has the opportunity to have oil, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Everybody is given a chance to have access to God through the Holy Spirit. But some choose not to accept that. Everybody is given time, life and the chance to believe all the time because God pursues you with His love. Those that are foolish would rather take it lightly. They think, “Maybe God is going to come, maybe not.” But nobody knows. God has placed His truth in the heart of man. Whatever happens, everyone will always have that inclination in their hearts that God is real, He is alive and He will come again. God is encouraging and reminding everyone that He is coming.
Jesus reminds you that He is coming back.
The bridegroom’s delay means you do not know the time. The expectation that God is coming is there. But when, you do not know. They thought he was coming but he did not come. If you put the same situation at this time, I do not know if God is coming anytime soon. 2000 years ago, they said God was coming but He did not. Until now, He is not there. People have been so distracted with so many things that they do not really care anymore if He is coming or not. Because of the delay.
Choose to be wise people.
But then at midnight, all of a sudden, somebody shouted the bridegroom is coming! There will come a time when you and I will face God. No one is exempted. For those who do not believe in God, after they die, that is it. But the Bible says you will meet God. The bridesmaids who took care of their faith, believed, sought the Lord more, loved Him more, had an intimate relationship with Him and did everything possible to have the fire of the Lord in their heart went straight inside when the bridegroom came. They knew that they did not have any problem coming in. The invitation was given to everybody and those who were ready were welcome to enter. The door was closed to those who were not ready. A lot of people think God is not just. But He is so loving and understanding all the time. He keeps on giving everybody encouragement to come to Him. He pursues you with His love, gives you instructions and everything you need to understand that He is actually for you. But then again, some are really foolish who just shut their door from the Lord. At the end, God does not want everybody to perish. He wants everybody to have eternal life. But at the end, it is your choice to believe Him and receive it.
At the end, God will lock the door. You have to make sure that God knows your name and will allow you to enter at the end. Give Him your everything, your all. You have to belong to Him so that He will know your name. Does He know your name? You have to keep watch and be ready. Make sure that you know His word, worship Him, be in fellowship with other believers, shine in your calling and know your purpose. Keep watch. Make sure you are so intimate with the Lord and the Holy Spirit so that you will all be ready that when He comes, you know that He knows your name. Nobody knows the day or the hour of His return.
Reach and tell people about this truth.
Maybe you are ready. Maybe Jesus knows your name. You have to know that He knows your name and that He loves you. You have to see it, touch it, and experience it continuously. Allow Him to love you. But how about the others who do not know Him? This is a reminder for you who know that He loves you. Maybe there is a sin in you or you have done something wrong. Know that today is a good reminder to go back to the Lord. He says He will wash away your sins when you repent. But at the same time, it is not only for you. It is also for other people. You have to tell them of His love. There will be a day and time when God will come back and you want them to be together with you when that time comes. You want the Lord to know their names too. God is not trying to threaten you with all of this. He is simply trying to remind you of the truth. He is coming back and He wants you all to be with Him. He is giving you all the time, instructions, revelations and second chances. Don’t turn a blind eye and take it for granted. Because there will come a time when you will knock and the door will not be opened for you.
Just like it was during the time of Noah. He was mocked and insulted for obeying the Lord. But he knew his relationship with God was the most important to him. No matter what the people around him were saying, he did not care because he knew that he heard God and wanted to obey His command. No matter how much he warned the people, they did not listen. That was the delay. And during the time when the rain started to pour and God closed the door of the ark, they could not open it anymore. Every single person was knocking on that door. But only the people in the ark were saved.
You would not want that door to be closed for somebody that you love. Jesus does not want that either. His desire is to be with you. He said it is not His desire that anybody perish. His desire is to be with you. There is a God that you need to receive, accept and believe. If you do not do so, when He returns and you are not ready, it will be too late.
That desire to always have extra oil has to mark your heart. Always desiring for purity at heart, for the revelation of the Lord, to obey Him and love Him with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit and just always desiring for Him. But at the same time having the compassion for other people who do not know Him. Because that is who they need.
The bridegroom is Jesus Christ. We know how we were without understanding. Now you and I are the mouthpiece of the Lord. Know, understand and remind the people that Jesus is coming, sooner or later, no matter what.
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