The Parable of the Ten Virgins

This is one of Christ's warnings regarding those followers who aren't watchful for his coming. The five foolish friends of the bride groom were careless and foolish. They figured they wouldn't need oil in their lamps. I suspect that they assumed the bride groom would come when it was light. Perhaps they also were careless about being ready.

Whatever  the case, this parable warns us to be alert and not fall into an attitude of complacency. As we read in Matthew 24:44 (BBE), "Be ready then; for at a time which you have no thought of the Son of man will come."

But why are some believers blase in regard to Christ's return? One reason is the anaesthetic of money and possessions. Paul warned in 1 Timothy 6:17 (BBE) regarding rich believers, "Give orders to those who have money and goods in this life, not to be lifted up in their minds, or to put their hope in the uncertain chances of wealth, but in God who gives us in full measure all things for our use;"

Jesus also told a parable about a farmer whose enemy spread tare seeds, a weed which looks like wheat, into his field. The farmer didn't want the servants to uproot those plants lest the good ones would get pulled up too. In Matthew 13:40 (BBE), Christ explained how these look-alike churchgoers would suffer on Judgement Day.  "As then the evil plants are got together and burned with fire, so will it be in the end of the world."

Jesus likewise told a parable about four sorts of ground on which the seeds of the gospel were sown. He explained the kinds of people those soils represented. Mark 4:16   and 17 describe those who are believers only for a while. "And in the same way, these are they who are planted on the stones, who, when the word has come to their ears, straight away take it with joy; And they have no root in themselves, but go on for a time; then, when trouble comes or pain, because of the word, they quickly become full of doubts."

Then there are those who are stunted in their spiritual growth. Mark 4:18 and 19 (BBE) says, "And others are those planted among the thorns; these are they who have given ear to the word, And the cares of this life, and the deceits of wealth, and the desire for other things coming in, put a stop to the growth of the word, and it gives no fruit."

This is why Bible study is crucial. Without the knowledge of the scriptures, believers become stunted spiritually or distracted from growing in the Lord.

It's why I want to write my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? I feel deeply grieved when people attend only Sunday services and just read devotionals. Believers miss so much when they neglect studying the Bible.

On Saturday, I'll post about a lovely rock song and the wonderful world God promised his faithful followers.

The Most Frightening Day in History

What would you say was the most frightening day in human history? I'm sure we all would have a list of those disastrous events. But a day is coming where billions of people will be panicking but it'll be too late for them.

Jesus said he'd come back in judgement of all people who ever lived. Matthew 13:47-50 BBE) reads, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, which was put into the sea and took in every sort of fish: When it was full, they took it up on the sands; and seated there they put the good into vessels, but the bad they put away. So will it be in the end of the world: the angels will come and take out the bad from the good, And will put them into the fire: there will be weeping and cries of sorrow."

Notice that it's the Kingdom of Heaven which Christ was describing. The church has both saved and unsaved individuals in it. Jesus told a parable about a farmer sewing good seed and an enemy spreading weed seeds on the land during the night. But the weeds weren't pulled up lest they also root up the good wheat. At harvest time, meaning the end of this wicked age, the wheat was gathered up but the look-alike tares were burned. Matthew 13:40 (BBE) warns, "As then the evil plants are got together and burned with fire, so will it be in the end of the world."

Jesus likewise described the fate of the phoney Christians in Matthew 7:22 and 23 (BBE). "A great number will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power?' And then will I say to them, 'I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil.'"

But this most-frightening day also includes every sinner who ever lived on this planet. Revelation 6:15 and 16(BBE) declares, "And the kings of the earth, and the rulers, and the chief captains, and the men of wealth, and the strong, and every servant and free man, took cover in the holes and the rocks of the mountains; And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Come down on us, covering us from the face of him who is seated on the high seat, and from the wrath of the Lamb:'"

When Christ comes again, every person will be separated according to their nature. The righteous will be on his right and the wicked on his left. As Matthew 25:31 and 32 (BBE), using a livestock metaphor, explains, "But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he be seated in his glory: And before him all the nations will come together; and they will be parted one from another, as the sheep are parted from the goats by the keeper."

Furthermore, hell is so horrific that the Bible uses metaphors such as fire, darkness, and worms to describe it's torments. Mark 9:48 and 49 (BBE) ends Christ's description of that place of eternal punishment. "Where their worm is ever living and the fire is not put out. Everyone will be salted with fire."

Even angels aren't immune to being exiled to hell. Jude 1:6 tells us, "And the angels who did not keep to their kingdom but went out from the place which was theirs, he has put in eternal chains and in dark night till the great day of the judging."

I hope you're a child of the Lord and not of your father, the Devil. So many folks assume they'll be paradise bound when they die but they'll end up incarcerated with demons eternally. That's why I'm writing my book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? I want none of my readers to end up in such a horrifying place.

On Saturday, I'll post about a sunken ship and that was immortalized in a song by Gordon Lightfoot.