By: Scott Adkins, Sling ‘n Stone Ministry
Carter County Times
Recently, we’ve urged folks to weep for, and to warn, the lost. What else must we do? We must watch. (Mark 13:37 “I say unto you all, watch.”) Watch for what? Watch for His return. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:42) Matthew 25 explains how to watch, and warns what befalls those who don’t. First, we must stay always ready (Matthew 25:1-13); and second, we must always be about His business, the work He gives us each to do for His kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30; Mark 13:34).
Remember the foolish virgins? They arose at midnight to go meet their lord, and readied their lamps to light. Then, they shockingly realized they’d not kept enough oil to light their journey (Matthew 25:7-8). Their lord had arrived, and their time to prepare had passed. They got left behind (Matthew 25:10-12).
Remember the three servants? Their lord gave each his goods to work with (Matthew 25:14-15). Two worked faithfully for their lord, awaiting his return. One, although he preserved his lord’s goods, he faithlessly hid what the lord gave him. Out of fear, he did nothing for his absent lord. After a long absence, the lord returned and rewarded his faithful two. The third? The lord punished his “wicked and slothful servant” (Matthew 25:26, 30).
Like yesteryear’s five foolish virgins, those today who neglect staying always ready will be left behind when Jesus returns. They will beg to come along, but our Lord will say: “I know you not” (Matthew 25:12). Like yesteryear’s wicked and slothful servant, those today who refuse to stay ready and then go sinning without one care will be “cast into outer darkness… weeping and gnashing” their teeth (Matthew 25:30; Luke 12:45-47).
How do we avoid getting left behind or ending up in outer darkness? We avoid getting left by daily, and by gladly, paying discipleship’s cost: “let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23; 14:26, 33). How do we avoid outer darkness? We must live holy lives because “without holiness, no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). We must use for Him all He’s given us. That means soul-winning; pitying the poor; loving; and forgiving all (Matthew 5:48).
To those who stay ready for Jesus’ return and occupied with His business until He does, Jesus will reward them, saying: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Wow! To those who don’t, Jesus will punish them, saying: “I never knew you, depart from Me” (Matthew 7:23). Awful! God reminds us of many who thought He means not, or does not, all He says. Remember Pharaoh in Exodus? Pharaoh found out the hard way that God meant, and did, all He said. Beloved, God never changes. Daily we must do as He says; and so, watch, we must.
