He who has an ear, let him hear: "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first. As it has been said: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion." Hebrews 13:12-15
Listen to the parable of the ten virgins: "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
Furthermore, do not be as the five foolish virgins who received their lamps and were initially prepared and ready to meet the bridegroom. However, they got caught up in their own lives in this world and took their eyes off of what was important, what they had initially committed to do. In the end, no matter how badly they wanted to correct their error, it was too late and their souls were lost. On the contrary, the five wise virgins remained ready daily turning away from the comforts and distractions of this world, eagerly awaiting to meet the bridegroom! In the end, these obedient servants were invited into the wedding feast and their souls remained in heaven forevermore! Jesus declared, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62
The Holy Spirit will guide you along the narrow path if you remain focused on your call to serve the kingdom. Equally, the adversary and the wicked forces at work in this world, labor relentlessly to take you off of the narrow path. Thus, instead of living a life as a servant experiencing sacrifice and potential longsuffering in this world, Satan offers an easy life along the broad path of this world where you can enjoy your fleshly desires and the pleasures of this world. However, anyone found living in this way when the Lord returns are destined for destruction, eternal pain, and never-ending sorrow.
MANY will say, just as the five foolish virgins who had their lamps, I do not need to worry because I have eternal salvation (once saved always saved) because I prayed the sinner's prayer (made a verbal commitment). However, regardless of what they may have prayed, anyone who wanders from the narrow path and remains there, just as with those five foolish virgins, will not be ready! In the end, they will hear the Lord say, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you." Therefore, beware of the false teachings of this world and heed the words of Jesus. Remain vigilant and keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour our Lord will return. Otherwise, the Lord would not have so plainly warned us of this truth!
"Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:23-29
Listen to the parable of the ten virgins: "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
Furthermore, do not be as the five foolish virgins who received their lamps and were initially prepared and ready to meet the bridegroom. However, they got caught up in their own lives in this world and took their eyes off of what was important, what they had initially committed to do. In the end, no matter how badly they wanted to correct their error, it was too late and their souls were lost. On the contrary, the five wise virgins remained ready daily turning away from the comforts and distractions of this world, eagerly awaiting to meet the bridegroom! In the end, these obedient servants were invited into the wedding feast and their souls remained in heaven forevermore! Jesus declared, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62
The Holy Spirit will guide you along the narrow path if you remain focused on your call to serve the kingdom. Equally, the adversary and the wicked forces at work in this world, labor relentlessly to take you off of the narrow path. Thus, instead of living a life as a servant experiencing sacrifice and potential longsuffering in this world, Satan offers an easy life along the broad path of this world where you can enjoy your fleshly desires and the pleasures of this world. However, anyone found living in this way when the Lord returns are destined for destruction, eternal pain, and never-ending sorrow.
MANY will say, just as the five foolish virgins who had their lamps, I do not need to worry because I have eternal salvation (once saved always saved) because I prayed the sinner's prayer (made a verbal commitment). However, regardless of what they may have prayed, anyone who wanders from the narrow path and remains there, just as with those five foolish virgins, will not be ready! In the end, they will hear the Lord say, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you." Therefore, beware of the false teachings of this world and heed the words of Jesus. Remain vigilant and keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour our Lord will return. Otherwise, the Lord would not have so plainly warned us of this truth!
"Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:23-29
