FROM THE PASTOR
April 30, 2017
I thought you might want to know… it’s only 239 shopping days till Christmas. Seriously, can you believe that? And by the way… that means it’s only 236 days to the first day of winter. How’s that for a sock in the gut? Sorry to be bearer of such news but I just want all of us to be ready for what is to come… you see, what may seem like an eternity away is only a blink in time.
Can you imagine what was on Jesus’ mind when He informed the Disciples…
Matthew 24:42-43 (NASB)
42 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
or…
Mark 13:35-37 (NASB)
35 "Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—
36 in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 "What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'"
As I read the record of Jesus’ teaching it occurs to me that He desired to implant an urgency into both the heart and actions of those he taught. The same urgency we should have. Yes, I know it’s been almost 2000 years since Jesus spoke those words but what is 2000 years to someone who has “always been”.
We look around us and the evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the Lord’s soon return. And it is imperative that we are ready. The last position we want to be in is that of the 10 virgins…
Matthew 25:1-13 (NASB)
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
3 "For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
5 "Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
6 "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
7 "Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 "The foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
9 "But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'
10 "And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
11 "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'
12 "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
We need to live like the song I sung as a child…
“Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning. Give me oil in my lamp I pray. Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, burning, burning. Keep my burning till the break of day.”
Thank You for your faithfulness! Pastor Larry
