Dear beloved: As we look to events of the day, it is important to keep in mind the Main Event that we are to be looking for: the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have just passed through the fall feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles, which all remind us prophetically of the coming return of our Savior. The question for us is this: Are we watching the events of the day and letting them overshadow our preparations to go in an instant when the Lord returns? The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:51, Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. v52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trump shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.
Some who are here on earth will not taste physical death, as Paul says, we shall not all sleep. He explains this in further detail in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. v16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: v17 then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so we shall ever be with the Lord. V18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. So Paul says also to be ready, that when He comes it will happen in the twinkling of an eye, a heartbeat, an atomic particle as it moves and joins Jesus in the air. It is comforting as we think about these words, that no matter what happens here in the earth, for those of us who are born again believers we will always be with the Lord, whether here on earth or in heaven with the saints in glory.
In the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, we see that five are wise and ready for the Lord's return, and five are foolish and were out shopping for oil when the Master came back. This is a picture of what you see in the world today; about half of those who claim to know the Lord are actually ready and watching for His return, the other half are saying to themselves, we still have plenty of time, let's play, shop, party, and have some fun. After all, those serious Christians have been saying for a long time that Jesus is coming back, and look, nothing has happened yet. v5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. v6 And at midnight there was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom cometh, go out to meet him. Well we know that the five foolish had no oil so they missed the coming of the Lord.
Watch and pray, beloved, for the coming of the Lord will be as a thief in the night! Get oil for your lamp now and be ready, it is the midnight hour. God bless you, in Christ, Jim
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