In Revelation 22, Jesus repeats three times: “Yes, I am coming soon!”
What can we say in response to this? For Jesus “will come at an hour when you do not expect Him!”
What does it mean to be ready? According to my own standards? Or according to what Jesus expects of me?
Preparing for Christ’s return is not merely a matter of putting doctrines into practice.
Jesus gives us a solemn warning through three accounts in Matthew 25, which I encourage you to read!
- The parable of the ten virgins
- The parable of the talents
- Christ’s return for the judgment of the nations (the sheep and the goats)
These three accounts therefore confront me with three questions:
• What about my fellowship with God?
• How faithful am I in serving Him?
• What is my attitude toward my neighbour?
From these passages, we can draw some simple truths about what Jesus expects from us:
• They encourage us to live in genuine fellowship with God!
Until midnight, there is nothing to distinguish one virgin from another. It is impossible to tell the wise from the foolish. They all have a lamp and are waiting for the bridegroom; they have all fallen asleep … they look alike and they all experience the delay of the bridegroom!
Then, at midnight, the cry goes out: “Here is the bridegroom!” They all have to prepare their lamps again in order to accompany the wedding procession. But for five of them, the realization is bitter: there is not enough oil left!
Yet they had been under the illusion that they were ready. They had fallen asleep with a sense of security. But the bridegroom was delayed — they had not expected that.
- WE ARE LIVING IN THE TIME OF JESUS’ RETURN!
In sporting terms, we would call it extra time. This is the time in which we are living — perhaps we are even in stoppage time!
• Why this time of waiting?
Because God is patient with us, “not wanting anyone to perish …!”
2 Peter 3:9
And this is precisely where the spiritual weariness of waiting can begin to affect us! During this time, we must constantly make sure that our supply of oil does not run low!
Where do we refill? Not at the Sunday church service, because church is not a petrol station!
But in the secret place, alone with God: that is where we can be renewed! That is where my love for the Lord, for those around me, and for the lost is replenished. The foolish virgins were in the right place and believed in His return, but they did not have fellowship with the Lord in the Spirit!
- OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS THEREFORE DECISIVE!!!
The parable of the talents follows on from the parable of the virgins and encourages us to make fruitful use of what the Lord has entrusted to us! After a long period of waiting, the master returns and looks at each person’s faithfulness according to what they have received. The third servant has done nothing with what he was given and is severely rebuked by his master!
He buried his talent, gained nothing from it, and is cast outside …
This is why we must make fruitful use of what God has entrusted to us.
Be careful here! We are not saved by our works, but by faith! Yet our works will follow us.
Revelation 14:13
The third account in Matthew 25 also reminds us that we are to care about others and do good to those around us, especially our brothers and sisters.
To be ready today, then, is to live according to the principles of the Kingdom of God!
Finally, Jesus speaks of His glorious return and the judgment of the nations.
And He highlights very simple things:
“I was hungry … I was thirsty … I was a stranger or sick … and you welcomed Me.”
This reminds us that our relationship with God is also revealed in our attitude toward our neighbour, especially toward our brothers and sisters and those who are in need.
Matthew 25 ultimately gives us three simple encouragements:
— Remain in genuine fellowship with God.
— Be faithful with what He has entrusted to us.
— Show practical love to those He places in our path.
May the Lord help us to rise to this challenge!
Franz
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