March 24, 2009
Too Late
I was up early this morning to make sure the garbage got out on time. I had
forgotten to put it out last night and the garbage men often come early. I
didn't want a repeat of last week.
I had forgotten garbage day entirely last week, until I heard them pull up and
by then it was too late. In the time it would have taken me to get my shoes on
and get outside they had already moved down the road.
It wasn't that I didn't know when garbage day was. I had simply become side
tracked and it slipped my mind until it was too late.
There are things in life that one wants to be prepared for and not miss out one.
Compared to them, missing garbage day is a pretty minor event.
"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, 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. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!'
"But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Matthew 25:1-13 NIV
(For more parables on the same theme see Matthew 25:13-46)
Jesus is coming back. He promises us that and He always keeps His Word. We know
for certain that He's coming and that His return will be sudden and without
warning. Are you ready?
Until next time, may you live your life as if He was going to appear any moment
(and He might just do that).
Be blessed
Darrel Mason