How many times have I wondered in these posts....dozens probably.....will this be the week that our pulpits awaken. Will they begin to warn anyone.....or weep in the pulpit? The following post is from last April:
The labor pains....or "birth pains" as Jesus described them in the 24th chapter of Matthew....are increasing at what should be to us an alarming rate.....only the latest being the sudden news and speculation from North Korea....check that....today's proclamation that we will destroy Iranian gunboats. The Parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25 is what comes to my mind. This is one eschatological passage that we all know. I'll give some slightly nuanced thoughts on it. The bridegroom....Jesus Christ....delayed.....and that is exactly what He has done for almost two-thousand years now. Five virgins....the "foolish" ones....took no oil. They had some in their lamps....but they weren't hoarders....they weren't fanatics about it.
The other five....the "prudent'....their lamps were going out too but they brought along some extra oil in flasks. The bridegroom returned but by the time the others went to find some oil and came back the door was shut....(too late to read about this 'born again' thing)....and the bridegroom uttered those terrible and devastating words...."Truly I say to you, I do not know you." Then Jesus warned us....you and I...."Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour."
The virgins were to go out to the approaching bridegroom with lit torches to light their way. It must have been real dark.....just like today. The church....at least those who can take out their copy of beliefs and dust it off....knows that the bridegroom is coming back someday....but who knows when that might be. Worst case scenario they think is that the bridegroom comes back....they don't have any oil....(they are not born again yet)....they'll make their way to the wedding somehow. Surely they'll get in....their tithes are paid up!
We have not taken the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior seriously for quite some time....even though He has consistently and increasingly given us warnings that He is really near. It's the twilight before the darkest night in this nation's history....including the Civil War and World Wars....God is judging us....two peoples in one nation....sniping at one another for thirty years....and verbally ripping each other to shreds for the last three years....neither willing to repent for fear of the other getting the upper hand. Paul pleaded with the Corinthians in the sixth chapter of his second letter....please read it again....not to let all they have heard from him to be in vain. The fields are ripe folks....night is approaching....today is the day...."now is 'THE DAY OF SALVATION'."
