“As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.” Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:57-62).
Today there are many who claim they know Christ and that they have plans to follow Him once the time is right in their lives. However, the reality is they are filled with excuses as to why they cannot do so right now. Furthermore, most of those making this claim falsely believe they are “saved,” because they prayed some form of sinner’s prayer, and truthfully have no idea they remain eternally lost. Sadly, they have been told that salvation is based on praying some prayer and not on a surrender of one’s life in this world. God measures one’s intent on what is in one’s heart and not simply the words that come out from one’s mouth. Thus, if a person never fully surrenders their life in this world to follow Jesus they are no more saved than any other lost soul. Jesus clearly identified these folks in the parable of the sower, “The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).
Regrettably, if they wait too long they will never gain the personal relationship with the Lord required to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Moreover, if they go on rejecting the truth and selfishly hold onto their sinful life on earth Satan will continue to blind their minds from the truth forevermore. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). No one knows the day or the hour the Lord will call upon our soul. The time to repent of a sinful life and seek first the kingdom of the Lord and His righteousness is now, tomorrow may be too late!
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:1-13).
Today there are many who claim they know Christ and that they have plans to follow Him once the time is right in their lives. However, the reality is they are filled with excuses as to why they cannot do so right now. Furthermore, most of those making this claim falsely believe they are “saved,” because they prayed some form of sinner’s prayer, and truthfully have no idea they remain eternally lost. Sadly, they have been told that salvation is based on praying some prayer and not on a surrender of one’s life in this world. God measures one’s intent on what is in one’s heart and not simply the words that come out from one’s mouth. Thus, if a person never fully surrenders their life in this world to follow Jesus they are no more saved than any other lost soul. Jesus clearly identified these folks in the parable of the sower, “The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).
Regrettably, if they wait too long they will never gain the personal relationship with the Lord required to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Moreover, if they go on rejecting the truth and selfishly hold onto their sinful life on earth Satan will continue to blind their minds from the truth forevermore. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). No one knows the day or the hour the Lord will call upon our soul. The time to repent of a sinful life and seek first the kingdom of the Lord and His righteousness is now, tomorrow may be too late!
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:1-13).
