Did you ever stop to think that tomorrow is not guaranteed for you?
So many of us, myself included, live as if we have many years of life ahead of us and don’t stop to consider that our tomorrow is in God’s hands.
Only if we encounter a close brush with a possibility of death that we stop to consider how wonderful it is that we have this life!
In the gospel of Matthew we read about the parable of the wise 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 any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The Bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s 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,’ they replied, ‘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 the oil, the Bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with Him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13)
In the parable of the wise virgins, the Lord is pointing out to us that the Bridegroom can come at any time He chooses and that we must be ready when He comes.
How do we keep ourselves ready?
We keep ourselves ready by living a life consecrated to the Lord, a life of purity and obedience to the word of the Lord.
We must keep ourselves in continual prayer and spiritual vigilance. We must watch our words, thoughts and actions to align them with the word and will of God. We must love the Lord with all our hearts, minds and strength and show this love in our actions toward one another. We must be kind to one another. We must forgive any wrongs done to us. We must love peace and pursue peace. This way we show the world that the Lord is truly our Bridegroom. The Lord said that the world will know that we are His disciples if we love one another.
By living this way, God will fill us with His peace, a peace which transcends all understanding, and we will be ready when He calls us.
Today I challenge you to live your life as if today is your last day on this earth!
What would you do if you knew today is the last day of your life on this earth?
Would you pray more?
Would you read the Bible more?
Would you fast more?
Would you do more charity?
Would you start a ministry to spread the word of God?
Would you ask someone for forgiveness?
Would you forgive someone you have not forgiven for years?
If you would do any or all of these things then I challenge you to do them TODAY!
Don’t waste anymore time!
Do these things TODAY!
Tomorrow may not come!
God may decide to take you from this earth tomorrow!
Pray TODAY!
Read the Bible TODAY!
Fast TODAY!
Do charity TODAY!
Start the ministry TODAY!
Ask forgiveness TODAY!
Forgive those who have wronged you TODAY!
If you don’t, you will be left behind!
The wise virgins who were ready went to the wedding banquet and then the door was SHUT!
Do you want that door to be shut in your face?
Consider this very seriously.
Repent NOW!
Don’t wait another moment!
Tomorrow may be too late.
“Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”