End times.
Words every believer would have heard at least once in their Christian journey. Also words that we probably do not dwell on given the number of times we hear them and still don’t see.. well… the end.
But the end times seem much more real now when death is so close to home. While there may have been suffering in parts of the world before, the panic of seeing a global pandemic sweep across nations in rushing waves grips even the bravest of hearts.
So many controversies
Is ID 2020 really a thing?
Are there plans to put a microchip in vaccines?
Is the mark of the beast that microchip?
Who’s the antichrist?
Will the rapture happen in our lifetime?
Never ending questions in the midst of fear and chaos. Like everyone else, I have questions. I don’t claim to have all the answers to these questions. (Hint: Use the power of the internet to research readily available information for some questions!)
All my questions, however, pale in comparison to what I think should be the bigger question – Is the bride ready?
The bride
I remember preparing for our wedding. That special day girls dream of. From choosing a beautiful white dress to walking down the long aisle towards my groom, every detail was thought out (and rehearsed!) to make sure things were ready and perfect. So much time and energy were invested into it. It was exciting but nervous jitters did hit every now and then.
I wonder if Christ’s bride, the church and followers of Jesus, is prepared for the groom to come. Are we rooted in His Word? Is our relationship with Him growing deeper every day? Have we shared the gospel far and wide? Is there urgency in our hearts when it comes to praying for the lost? Are we looking forward to Jesus coming again?
Because make no mistake. Jesus is coming. We may not know when, but He sure will come back. Matthew chapter 24, verse 36 clearly states that “But about the day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Knowing that Jesus is coming back should impact the way we live our lives.
Let’s be a little less foolish
Ten virgins were waiting for a groom that took a long time to come. (Does this sound familiar yet for those of us waiting for the Second Coming?) The many preparations took time. The virgins needed to be ready at any given time to be whisked away.
There is to be a wedding and some were not prepared with enough oil. Foolishness. That’s what it is.
Are we the fools today who do not have enough oil? Are we rushing out to buy some for ourselves when the bridegroom is at the door step? Are those our voices ringing out, “Open the door for us! We are ready now!”
I hope not.
“I don’t know you.”
As sad as it may be, the bridegroom will say to some those final words.
The door will be shut. Blocked. Bolted.
There is no turning back time.
And like I read on a social media post, those four words are scarier than any pandemic.
Charles Spurgeon said it well, “If His first coming does not give you eternal life, His second coming will not. If you do not hide in His wounds when He comes as your Saviour, there will be no hiding place for you when He comes as your judge.”
Yes, life can be unfair and hard. A pandemic, a natural disaster, persecutions – these are all hard things for mere humans to face. Pain and suffering sometimes seem to be synonymous to being human.
But so is hope. Christ died and rose again to give us that hope. A brief moment here in a broken world. Hope and faith for an eternity with Jesus. The one who believes in Jesus will live even though they die (John chapter11, verse 25).
We will all just have to make sure we are a little less foolish and prepared with enough oil while waiting for the bridegroom. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm chapter 90, verse 12).
Come, Lord Jesus.