October 28
Mark 13:32-37; Matthew 24:36-51; Luke 21:34-38; Matthew 25:1-46
Are you saved? Have you made that decision, or are you waiting for that right time? Perhaps a little more “fun” before you follow God. If you have made that decision, what are you doing with it? If your life were a pie, are you giving God slivers of your life or are you allowing Him to be the filling which permeates every facet of your life: church, home, work, etc. When Jesus returns what is it that you hope to be doing? There is a battle going on, for believers as well, between the flesh and the Spirit. It’s not that your salvation depends on what you are doing at that moment, but if you were to close your eyes and script your actions when He returns, do they correlate well with what you do with the bulk of your time, or are you hoping that He comes during one of those rare moments that you are actually engaging Him. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”. Our every thought in obedience to Christ, that should be our desire.
We read two of Jesus’ parables in the Olivet discourse in today’s reading: “The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins” and “The Parable of the Talents”. In the first, there can be no mistake that the Bridegroom is Jesus Christ, and the oil is the presence of the Holy Spirit. We don’t know the time or the hour. The five with the lamp and the oil were true believers, ready for His return. The five without the oil were false believers. They might have looked the same, went to the same church, but they figured they could wait, but they were wrong. He came when they were not expecting Him, and the results were as written in Matthew 25:10-13, “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” The Parable of the Talents has much to do with stewardship. Though this refers specifically to the Israelites during the Tribulation, we can’t miss the general application. We have all been imparted gifts to be used for the kingdom of God. Have we used these gifts or taken them lightly. There are serious consequences of neglecting to apply and understand His instructions to us in His Word. Everything that we have is a gift from God: our families, our jobs, our money, etc. We can either use this for ourselves or use it for His kingdom.
We read in Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” May we meditate a bit and reflect on our own lives. The most important question, have you made that most important decision to be born again, having repented and accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation. The next thing to reflect on is what are you doing with this decision. In appreciation for what He has done for us, shouldn’t we in return offer Him our best in every sphere of our lives and not our leftovers.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: