Gambling With His Return?
Henry Omotayo
Gambling With His Return? (Matthew 25:1-13)
Message No. 0506 | Twitter @GodandUs |
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Imagine driving on a long trip and at nightfall, you see a road sign saying, “Next gas station is five kilometers and thereafter no gas station for 200 kilometers.” You look at your fuel gauge and it’s almost down to a quarter, but you couldn’t be bothered to stop to fuel your car because you are enjoying the journey and any attempt to stop will reduce your energy to drive. You continue driving the next 100 kilometers and driving is smooth, no problem, but you look at your fuel gauge again and at this time it becomes very clear to you that your tank will not carry you for another 100 KMs. What will you do? Will you park by the roadside and start waiving to passing vehicles to stop and draw some fuel from their tanks for you?
The Christian journey does not only require faith. It requires common sense. It abhors carelessness or recklessness. It demands that we do not deliberately take some decisions that would ridicule our (Christian) way of life, that we do not do things that would make people to call Christianity to question. Our journey does not support gambling, because gambling, in itself, is the opposite of faith.
What do you think would have happened if Elisha was distracted in the final hours of Elijah on earth? He had been servant to Elijah and on sensing that the Lord was about to take his master away, he wanted a double portion of his anointing. Assuming that he got distracted or joked with such incredibly spiritual matter like the other sons of the prophets, what would have been said of Elisha in the Bible? ‘Stay here,’ Elijah often told Elisha, ‘for the Lord has sent me to Bethel or to Jericho or to Jordan,’ but Elisha always responded, “As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” As hard as what he asked from Elijah was, he got it because he was tenacious and would not take No for an answer.
In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus gave the parable of the ten virgins who were waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. Five of them were wise, by taking their lamps with vessels filled with oil and five were foolish by taking only their lamps (without vessels). As they waited, they all fell asleep, while their lamps continued burning. Then suddenly, the unexpected expected happened. The Bible says in verses 6-10:
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
In our world today, many of us Christians are beginning to live our lives like the foolish virgins, aren’t we? Aren’t we behaving today as though Christ will not come in our lifetime or in our generation? Aren’t we already acting like the generation of Noah when, despite Noah’s warnings, people paid no attention until the flood came? Aren’t we already agreeing with the world who says there’s no such thing as the return of Christ to rapture His church? Aren’t we beginning to gamble with our Christian journey like the hypothetical example in our opening paragraph?
Here’s what the angels told His disciples when Jesus was taken up after His resurrection:
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Here’s what Jesus told John in Revelation 22:7:
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
As God’s children, it is upon us to not be so distracted by the world around us, but to hold tenaciously unto our faith, “Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Are you still expectant for His coming? Are you ready?
PLEASE ACT NOW:
If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!
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