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Tag: Second Coming

  • The Great Divide

    The Great Divide

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    Part 4 of The Second Coming series, by Rosie Moore.

    Jesus gives us a glimpse of his full majesty and mission in the last eschatological parable recorded by Matthew. In the parable of the sheep and the goats, we see that Christ’s return will be in stark contrast to the humble scene of his birth in Bethlehem, ‘while shepherds watched their flocks by night’. The second coming will usher in the final judgment, when Christ the King will separate the nations of the world, like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The parable is about the great divide between two contrasting groups, the boundary between life and death.

    Final judgment is the ultimate goal of history, when the Lord’s majesty, justice and mercy will be on full display.

    “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

    37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

    40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

    41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

    44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

    45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

    46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matt 25:31-46)

    Three aspects of the final judgment struck me most in this parable:

    1. Only two identities will separate humanity.
    2. The mark of Christ’s sheep is their love for one another.
    3. Judgment day is the only rational basis for justice in this world.

    1. Only two identities

    If you’re a city dweller, you may be confused about Christ’s analogy of sheep and goats. Sheep and goats look similar, but being raised as a farm girl, I can assure you that they are very different animals!

    Sheep have wool and goats have hair. Sheep tails point down and goat tails point up. Sheep are grazers, while goats are browsers that tend to eat everything in sight. Sheep have a strong flocking instinct and follow their shepherd, while goats are more independent.

    In Jesus’ time, shepherds allowed their sheep and goats to graze together in the day, but at night they would divide them into two separate groups, as their coats provided different levels of protection against the cold. In case you’re wondering, there’s nothing inherently good or bad about sheep and goats. They’re all delightful creatures, doing exactly what God made them to do. But Jesus used them as a useful picture of two different animals with distinct characteristics and destinies.

    Jesus tells his disciples that on the final day, there will be a great divide of humanity unlike anything the world has seen. He will separate the nations on the basis of two identities—Sheep and goats, the righteous and the unrighteous. There is nothing fluid about these identities. They are binary.

    Nor will the Lord ask on that day, “What would you prefer to identify as today—a sheep or a goat?” Since sheep and goats are separate species, we cannot choose or alter our identity on that day. Since they have different DNA, a sheep can never become a goat, and vice versa.

    Moreover, the destinies of the sheep and goats are also in stark contrast: The blessed and the cursed. Those who are invited to come into God’s kingdom and those who are told to depart. Those who inherit an eternal kingdom prepared for them since the world’s creation, and those who go to eternal punishment. The sheep on the right hand of the King (a position of honour and privilege) and the goats on the left. Outcomes are based entirely on whether people are sheep are goats.

    Some argue that this parable is about believers’ rewards or doing good works to escape judgment, but it is difficult to see how this is possible. There is no hybrid identity or destiny in this parable. So if we care about what Jesus is saying, it’s crucial to define our terms. Who do the “sheep” represent?

    Scripture consistently identifies God’s redeemed people as his sheep. For example, believers often say together the words of David,

    “Know that the Lord, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Ps 100:3).

    In John 10, Jesus identified Himself as the good shepherd promised by the prophet Ezekiel—the one who would rescue his flock and judge between people (Ezek 34:22, 23). Jesus claimed to be God’s Shepherd who knows his sheep and calls them each by name, who leads them out and gives them abundant life (John 10:3, 10). He lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11, 14).

    Jesus himself said that He is gathering his sheep from every nation into one flock and one sheepfold (John 10:16). These are the sheep from every nation who will inherit Christ’s future kingdom (Matt 25:34-36).

    And so, the ‘sheep’ in Christ’s parable can only be those who know His voice and follow him as their own Shepherd (John 10:4). The sheep are those who enter the safety of the sheep pen via the door, who is Christ himself (John 10:9, 12-13). They do not find some alternative way to climb in.

    “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). And so, it is only by repentance and faith in Christ that we become His sheep– Jews and Gentiles alike (Matt 4:17; Acts 20:21).

    Isn’t it amazing to think that Christ knows his sheep from every nation on earth, through every generation of history? He will not have to be introduced to his people. He will call out each one by name on the final day of judgment. And God’s sheep will follow their Shepherd all the way into the new creation—a kingdom of justice and righteousness. There, they will find eternal shelter in His presence:

    “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore, the sun shall not strike them nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:16-17)

    2. The mark of Christ’s sheep.

    Care and compassion for spiritual siblings are spontaneous instincts of Christ’s sheep, as irrepressible as huddling in a flock, grazing on grass or drinking from a stream. On the other hand, carelessness and callousness reveal the heart of a hypocrite.

    It’s evident from the parable that Christ is not judging the nations on the basis of their charity, but on the basis of their identity (Matt 25:33). Since Scripture cannot contradict itself, we can be sure that we are always saved by grace, through faith in Christ, not by our works. Nothing changes on the day of judgment (Eph 2:8-9, Rom 11:6).

    But the King’s response in Matthew 25:40 and 45 are striking statements about the distinctive DNA of Christ’s people. True disciples will be known for their intuitive, unselfconscious charity towards their brothers and sisters in Christ– “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine”. And we need not guess what Christ meant, because He defined his ‘brothers and sisters’ in the spiritual sense (Matthew 12:46-50.)

    So, in this parable, Jesus is not describing a generic compassion for all in need (which is also a good thing), but is highlighting the special kind of love that flows naturally out of his followers when they see their spiritual family in need– whether hungry, thirsty, unclothed, sick or in prison. We need only think of the many persecuted Christians around the world, as well as those close to us who are facing troubles, to know that ministries of mercy and compassion are really needed in Christ’s Church. It’s what identifies us as God’s people.

    Remarkably, Christ identifies so deeply with the Church—his body—that whatever was done by the sheep, or omitted by the goats, was done to Him too. This bond is illustrated by Christ’s High Priestly prayer where he asks his Father to create unity and love amongst his present and future followers (John 17:11, 21, 23, 26).

    Therefore, we can be sure that our Shepherd shares in the suffering and persecution of his Church today, the body for whom He died. It also stands to reason that Christ is greatly offended when believers hurt, lie and slander one another.

    But when we minister to a fellow Christian who is grieving or needy, we are not performing some sort of ritual for Christ, nor earning brownie points for the day of judgment. Notice the genuine surprise of both the sheep and the goats at Christ’s verdict. They weren’t even aware of what they were doing when they acted or failed to act for his sake (Matt 25:37-39; 44).

    This brotherly and sisterly love will always be the distinctive mark of a sheep waiting expectantly for Christ’s kingdom, because down-to-earth charity is the fruit of true faith (James 2:14-24).

    “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” (1 John 3:14).

    3. The only basis for justice.

    What’s clear from the parable of the sheep and the goats is that Final Judgment will be both a fearful and wonderful thing, as God will do what is right in the end, and all the world will know that it is just. Justice is a buzzword today, but the Bible tells us that God will establish perfect justice on earth.

    Deep down in our hearts, most people long for justice to be done. The idea that there might be no judgment at all—that people might get away with gross evil, abuse, tyranny, corruption, theft, oppression, rape, child trafficking, genocide, violence, greed and murder —is sickening.

    Every human cry for justice is based on the fact that we’re made in God’s image and we instinctively know the difference between right and wrong. The Lord’s judgment is a pledge that the Creator hears our cries for justice and will not ignore any injustice or sin. He will overthrow evil and put all things right. His throne is established on justice.

    Seven hundred years before Christ’s parable, Isaiah prophesied that one day the righteous Messiah would establish justice on earth:

    “And he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

    He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
        or decide by what he hears with his ears;
     but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
        with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
    He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
        with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:1-4)

    A few decades after the Lord’s death and resurrection, the Apostle John saw this apocalyptic vision of Christ the Judge:

    “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-16).

    If we believe that history has no goal or purpose– that we are just the product of time and chance; that the fittest should survive and the weak should not; that there’s no final day of reckoning– then there cannot be a rational basis for applying justice in this world. There’s not even a logical foundation for right and wrong.

    But Christ’s parable assures us that the day of reckoning is coming for all of us. We will either face judgment as a sheep, because Christ has absorbed the demands of justice on our behalf. Or we will face judgment as a goat, because we’ve not taken shelter in the Shepherd.

    Christ’s redeemed people need not fear that day. It is a day of mercy, hope and blessing for his sheep. We are called his eternal heirs and siblings, not because we are better than others, but simply because Christ has absorbed God’s judgment in place of those who have placed their trust in Him. At the Reckoning, the sheep will be glorifying God because of His grace, nothing else.

    The Good Shepherd has taken the punishment we deserve by laying down his life for his sheep. Isn’t it only natural that we would do the same for our brothers and sisters, as we wait for him to return?

    This is the last devotion in a series on “The Second Coming”. If you’d like to read the previous three in this series, just click on the links below.

     

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  • How to wait for Jesus

    How to wait for Jesus

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    Part 4 of “The Second Coming” series. By Rosie Moore.

    The key question asked in Matthew 24 and 25 is this: How do we wait for Jesus?

    I’m much better at doing than waiting! Actually, one of my distinct childhood memories is waiting for my parents to arrive at the end of term to fetch me from boarding school and take me home. Sometimes they were late and I’d sit at my dormitory window longing and praying for their car to drive around the circle. It was hardly a traumatic experience, but it did reveal my impatient nature early on!

    But when we look at Christ’s parables of the Ten Virgins and the Bags of gold, we see that believers are not expected to wait for Christ’s return like passengers standing idly at the taxi rank, or fiddling on our cellphones while waiting for an Uber. Christians are supposed to wait as stewards or trustees who know that they will give account to the Lord for their lives.

    According to Jesus, His return at the end of the age will cause an irreversible division between people: One will be ready, while one will not (Matt 24:40-41). The wise bridesmaids will usher in the bridegroom with brightly lit lamps, while the foolish will scramble for oil in vain (Matt 25:1-13). Faithful servants will be working conscientiously in their Master’s household, while the wicked and lazy are abusing their positions (Matt 24:46, 49-51).

    In Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus answers the key question of how to wait, using pictures and stories:

    “Wait as those who don’t want to be surprised or shocked by your Master’s return (Matt 24:36-39). Wait as wise servants who are ready and expectant at all times, ‘because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you don’t expect him’ (Matt 24:42-44). Wait as those who know that your Master will be delayed a long time” (Matt 25:13).

    “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions” (Matt 24:45-47).

    So how do believers wait for Jesus? Jesus told us to wait as stewards who must give account for our service. This is the point of the parable of the bags of gold, which we will focus on today.

    The parable of the gold.

    The parable of the gold bags builds on two previous stories Jesus told—the absentee house owner and the Ten Virgins (Matt 24:45-51; 25:1-13). It’s important to place it in this context.

    In “The Midnight Cry”, we saw that the only way to prepare for Christ’s future return is to accept His gospel invitation now, by faith. The folly of the five virgins was not merely that they were forgetful or negligent. They were foolish because they expected to be admitted to the wedding banquet while utterly unprepared to meet Christ as their Bridegroom. They did not know Christ or the holiness that only the Bridegroom can impart (Matt 25:12). And so, without ‘oil’ in their lamps, they were gatecrashers in God’s kingdom.

    No small fortune.

    The parable of the bags of gold (also known as the talents) rests on three assumptions already established in the parable of the ten virgins: The Lord’s return will be 1) after a long time, 2) at an unexpected time, and 3) only those who know Christ personally will be prepared to meet Him on that day.

    The parable is about three slaves commissioned by their Master to invest some of his huge fortune while he is away. Because it’s usually called the parable of the talents, I often pictured ‘talents’ as human gifts, like a little toolkit of personal strengths or spiritual gifts that God has given to each person. While this is true, it misses the meaning of the Greek word ‘talenton’ in the parable.

    A single talenton was a measure of money worth about six thousand denarii, roughly twenty years of wages, or around one million US dollars in today’s terms! A single ‘talenton’ of gold was the most valuable measure of all, worth many millions of dollars. And so, for an average South African, a single talenton would be worth more than a lifetime’s earnings. Imagine a room full of gold bars!

    So, when the Master entrusted his slaves with five, two and one ‘talents’, he didn’t just toss them a few coins to invest on the Jerusalem Stock Exchange! They were commissioned to invest a massive fortune belonging to the Master, “each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey” and “returned after a long time” (Matt 25:15; 19).

    Once we understand the value of the talenton, it’s clear that the property owner demonstrated shocking benevolence towards his slaves, giving them liberal latitude and responsibility when he “entrusted his wealth to them.” He expected them to step up to the plate; to actively buy and build businesses, farms, bakeries, mills, wells and fishing boats.

    Although slavery in the first century was very different to the African slave trade, this liberal stewardship given to a slave would have stunned Jesus’s hearers. These three slaves were expected to use their discretion and skill to build buildings; to be enterprising and strategic in their planning, and to employ people in the name of the Master, over a long period of time. They were not commanded to wait passively for their Master to return.

    When we think of what this stewardship implied, let’s remember that in those days, there was no online trading from the comfort of high-rise offices, no robots like Blackrock’s “Aladdin” to compute failsafe investment algorithms! They were expected to take calculated risks and work diligently, as they invested millions and millions of their Master’s wealth.

    Moreover, each slave was individually responsible to multiply and improve his Master’s assets until the settling of accounts. Like the ten virgins, accounts were not settled as a collective.

    This is how the slaves responded to their Master’s commission and this is how the Master responded when he settled accounts with them:

    Settling accounts

    “The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

    19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

    21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

    22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

    23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

    24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

    26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

    28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matt 25:16-30)

    From this parable, there are at least two practical implications of what it means to wait for Christ’s return.

    1. Live to improve our Master’s assets.

    Don Carson points out that there is no sin in the quiet pride of the first two slaves. They simply know that they’ve worked hard and invested wisely with what was “entrusted” to them” by doubling their capital (Matt 25:20, 22). There is nothing narcissistic about knowing that they have increased their Master’s assets.

    The first two slaves recognise that the Lord assigned them their place in the world “each according to their ability”. They take no credit, nor feel shame, for their initial loan, because it was the Master’s wealth to distribute as he pleased. They understand that they are stewards, not owners of what God has given them.

    And so, as faithful stewards, we’ll joyfully embrace our role as Christ’s slaves. Our job is not to create a name or legacy for ourselves, but for Him and His kingdom. We have the freedom to be industrious and creative wherever God has placed us, so there is dignity and individuality in this role.

    As faithful stewards, we recognize and improve whatever the Lord has put into our hands by his providence — Time, education, money, gifts and skills, mentors, good health, living in a country where we still have religious freedoms; being raised in a Christian family; having a local church where we can serve and support others; owning a home or business. We are alert and put all this to work for His kingdom.

    This parable opens our eyes to the vast bag of treasure God has placed in our hands to steward. Do you long for him to say, “Well done, my good and faithful slave? Come and share in your Master’s happiness!”

    1. Work as if it matters.

    The foolish virgins failed because they thought their part in the Groom’s return was unimportant, so they made no provision for it.  But the wicked, lazy slave failed, not because he only had one talenton, but because he thought his part was too hard and unfair. His disdain and resentment towards God is palpable, so that even what he had was taken from him.

    It’s ironic that the lazy slave refused to serve his ‘harsh’ Master, who was actually stunningly generous towards him in the first place. This was Christ’s accusation of the Pharisees who rejected his offer of grace, but there are still many ministers of the gospel and pretenders today who are lazy and disinterested in their commission.

    Instead of working for the Master’s eye, they exploit and mislead people for their own ends, building their own kingdoms of wood, hay and stubble. False teachers lead others to believe that God is a cruel taskmaster and they live as if they’ll never account to Christ for their work.

    But the ‘waiting’ of a faithful steward means ‘working’ as if it matters. The first slave was alert and “went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.” Instead of taking his commission casually, he was a gutsy entrepreneur for his Master. His accountability and loyalty drove him to action.

    There’s no pleasure in a month of Sundays. Our work matters, because the way we serve God today prepares us for our work in eternity. In this world, work takes many shapes and forms, but when Christ returns, He will set up a fruitful Kingdom on the new earth, filled with diligent, responsible, joyful, persevering, creative workers! (Revelation 22:1-21)

    We will be part of a massive, productive labour force that never goes on strike and is never retrenched. It will be labour minus the fatigue, frustrations, jealousies, failures, bankruptcies, redundancies, discouragements and negative cash flow of much of our work, marred by sin. And every precious person we have led into the Kingdom will be there to share it with us.

    When the Lord returns and the accounts are finally settled, faithful stewards will be given more responsibilities and will share in our Master’s happiness. Can you conceive of a greater reward for our labours?

    “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” (Revelation 22:12)

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”center center” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”2%” margin_top=”2%” margin_bottom=”2%” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Receive our latest devotion in your Inbox[/fusion_title][fusion_code]Q2xpY2sgZWRpdCBidXR0b24gdG8gY2hhbmdlIHRoaXMgY29kZS4=[/fusion_code][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Other devotions from the God Walk…[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_recent_posts layout=”default” hover_type=”none” columns=”3″ number_posts=”6″ offset=”” cat_slug=”devotion” exclude_cats=”” thumbnail=”yes” title=”yes” meta=”no” excerpt=”yes” excerpt_length=”0″ strip_html=”yes” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][/fusion_recent_posts][fusion_text]– more devotions –[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • The Midnight Cry

    The Midnight Cry

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    Part 3 of series “The Second Coming”, by Rosie Moore

    “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!’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:5-6; 13)

    Jesus is coming back! We know this is true. Jesus’s prophesies and parables in Matthew 24 and 25 tell us that His return will be sudden, swift and spectacular. Like Noah’s flood, it will be unexpected and unmistakable, final and inescapable. No last minute bargaining will be entertained on that day. That’s why the Lord instructs his followers to be spiritually prepared for his coming, “Therefore keep watch, for you do not know the day or the hour” (Matt 24:42; 25:13).

    Jesus’s parables in Matthew 25 clarify what it means to be ready for His return and how to live until He comes, because every generation of believers should be spiritually prepared to usher Him in as King.

    Although there is debate about the details of these eschatological parables, it’s hard to miss their essence: One day the door to God’s kingdom will shut. No one can borrow or buy spiritual preparation at the last minute, because each of us is responsible for our own condition. In this sense, faith is a matter of individual, not collective, responsibility.

    Let’s hone in on the first of these parables.

    The Ten Virgins/ Bridesmaids

    The concept of ten virgins waiting for a bridegroom sounds strange to us, but when we understand a first century Jewish wedding, it becomes clearer and richer. Customary weddings were by no means instant or casual affairs. The air bristled with expectation, anticipation and preparation for the Groom’s arrival. Don Carson provides helpful cultural context:

    “Normally the bridegroom with some close friends left his home to go to the bride’s home, where there were various ceremonies, followed by a procession through the streets—after nightfall—to his home. The ten virgins may be bridesmaids who have been assisting the bride; and they expect to meet the groom as he comes from the bride’s house…Everyone in the procession was expected to carry his or her own torch. Those without a torch would be assumed to be party crashers or even brigands. The festivities, which might last several days, would formally get underway at the groom’s house.”

    Actually, the marriage celebration started months before the wedding day, in contrast to many couples today who waltz off to Home Affairs to appear before a marriage officer. The anticipation of a Jewish union began on the day that a father would arrange a bride for his son and then pay a pre-determined “bride price” on her behalf.

    The son would return to his father’s house to make arrangements and prepare a home for his wife, while the bride prepared and consecrated herself, in anticipation for the groom’s return to her house. Then the bride and groom shared a final glass of wine together before parting ways one last time.

    Suddenly, at an unexpected moment, the groom would return to fetch his bride and take her to the wedding feast. The lamps would be burning brightly, so the groom could be welcomed with joy and ushered to the feast, after which the groom would take his bride home and the marriage would be consummated.

    And so, there was a considerable delay between the paying of the bride price and the wedding feast. As Jesus says, “the bridegroom was a long time in coming” (Matt 25:5). The fact that we’re still waiting for Christ two millenia later is no surprise to Him.

    Here’s the Bridegroom!

    Christ’s parable of the ten virgins gives us a glimpse of the intimate bond that God has forged with his people and our eager anticipation of his return. What a privilege to watch and prepare for the Bridegroom in our own lifetime!

    But Jesus says that we need “oil in our lamp” to do our job. Filling our lamps with oil would be like charging our LED torch before Stage 4 loadshedding sets in! Once the electricity goes off, it’s futile to plug the torch into the dead socket. Similarly, once the Bridegroom returned, there would be no chance of buying oil to fuel the wedding lamps.

    But the metaphor of the bridegroom wasn’t an arbitrary one. Jesus pictured himself as the Bridegroom who will return to take his people to the home He has prepared for them. (John 3:27-30; Matt 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; John 14:2-3).

    In our times, people are free to identify as whatever or whoever they feel is their authentic self, but Christ’s self-identity was particularly controversial in his day. It riled the Jewish religious leaders that Jesus called himself the Groom, as they knew that He was identifying as Yahweh.

    Throughout the Old Testament, it was God who pictured himself as the Bridegroom of his people, Israel (Isaiah 54:4-6, 62:4-5; Hosea 2:19).

    In the New Testament, Paul fleshes out Jesus’s metaphor of Himself as the Bridegroom. He describes the Church as Christ’s Bride for whom He laid down his life, in order to sanctify her and present her “in splendour, without spot or wrinkle, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:25-32).

    Most commentators agree that the ten virgins represent those who profess to be part of God’s people, his Bride. But there are foolish and wise virgins in Christ’s story. The wise ones took oil along with their lamps, while the foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. At the sound of the midnight cry and the returning bridegroom,

    “All the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

    9 “‘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.’

    10 “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.

    11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

    12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ (Matt 25:7-12)

    Once the midnight cry comes, it will be too late to cross over from being a foolish virgin to a wise virgin. No matter how long the delay seems, there will be a day when the door to the kingdom will shut (Matt 25:10-12). The time to be wise is now.

    Spot the difference.

    The foolish and wise virgins had much in common. They all professed to be virgins. All “took their lamps”. They all professed faith to “meet the bridegroom”. And yet the foolish took lamps but no oil, while the wise did both (Matt 25:3-4). This was the only difference.

    The Puritan, Thomas Shepard (1605-1649), preached for four years on this parable! (You can read his sermon notes here.) Shepard described the wise as having been born again, filled with the Holy Spirit and the power of grace. In contrast, he described foolish virgins as “refined hypocrites in the visible church” when Christ returns, like those discussed in Hebrews 6:4-6,

    “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”

    The story of the Ten bridesmaids is an exciting parable, but also a warning.

    An incentive.

    This parable is exciting, because it points to the perfect love story spanning from Genesis to Revelation. It reminds us that the Father sent his Son to secure his treasured Bride, the Church, for himself. He paid an exorbitant price to consecrate his Bride— the life of his own Son (1 Cor 6:20). This is the ultimate dowry or lobola for those who love Him.

    What a privilege that our names are on the wedding guest list! We are invited to meet our Bridegroom (Rev 19:7-8; 1 Thess 4:16) and accompany him to the home He has prepared for those who love him (John 14:2-3). What an assurance to be bound to our Groom in this unbreakable relationship!

    It is because of this covenant that Peter urges believers to be holy, watchful and awake as we await Christ’s coming. Being holy is integral to how the Bride makes herself ready:

    “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16).

    But waiting passively is not enough to keep our lamp alight.

    Christ’s delayed return is not an excuse for believers to sit around and speculate, quit our job, or become disillusioned with the world. Rather, it’s a motivation to live out each day as if it were our last, whilst also living as if our whole life stretched ahead of us. Our readiness includes preparing the next generation for their service to the King.

    We hold tightly to our Bridegroom, who is holding fast to us. We charge our lamps by living holy lives that look different from the world around us. We draw our fuel from the oil of the Holy Spirit and a deep affection for Christ. That’s how we will be wise.

    A warning.

    But this parable is not only exciting and motivating. It’s a snapshot of Christ’s return as Judge and King. The midnight cry will evoke a cry of joy, but also a cry of mourning (Matt 24:30; Matt 25:6; 11).

    Jesus warns that when he returns, there will be participants in a church, Bible study or spiritual setting, enjoying the benefits of God’s people and tasting God’s goodness. They look like they belong to the bridal party, but will ultimately be exposed as gatecrashers and “foolish virgins” who do not have a relationship with the Bridegroom at all. They do not know him personally (Matt 25:12).

    Jesus’s parable implies that no friend, pastor or family member can stand in as a proxy for our relationship with Him. It would be as insane as expecting a proxy to take one’s place in a marriage. It’s easy to walk and talk like a Christian, but the question that Jesus asks in verse 12 is not if we called Him “Lord, Lord” in our lifetime, but if we know Him and He knows us.

    And so, the uncertain date of Christ’s final appearing is not a reason to be complacent or skeptical. Rather, it’s an urgent incentive to accept Christ’s invitation to the wedding feast now, while the door is still open (Matt 22:1-14).

    After all, for over two thousand years, the gospel invitation has been going out into the streets, to both the “good and the bad” (Matt 22:9-10). Until the day the door is shut, God’s wedding hall has infinite capacity for guests.

    Prayer.

    Lord, we know that your delay means we are still living in times of patience and grace, when many more will enter your kingdom. We long to be part of that work! Make us faithful and wise servants who invite others to your banquet, so your wedding hall may be filled with guests before the door shuts. Give us your Spirit’s grace and light, so that our lamps will always shine brightly with joy, peace, gentleness, faith, hope and love. Help us to hold tightly to our Bridegroom, as He holds fast to us.

    Amen.

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”center center” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”2%” margin_top=”2%” margin_bottom=”2%” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Receive our latest devotion in your Inbox[/fusion_title][fusion_code]Q2xpY2sgZWRpdCBidXR0b24gdG8gY2hhbmdlIHRoaXMgY29kZS4=[/fusion_code][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Other devotions from the God Walk…[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_recent_posts layout=”default” hover_type=”none” columns=”3″ number_posts=”6″ offset=”” cat_slug=”devotion” exclude_cats=”” thumbnail=”yes” title=”yes” meta=”no” excerpt=”yes” excerpt_length=”0″ strip_html=”yes” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][/fusion_recent_posts][fusion_text]– more devotions –[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]