The Wise Are Prepared
Matthew 25:10
“The clock is soon to strike midnight, it is time to quickly shift our focus and reinvest our treasures, attention, and affection from the here and now on earth to the here after in the kingdom of heaven””
The power of the Holy Spirit is urging us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” in an accelerated unwavering manner. (Philippians 2:12) All of us are so easily distracted with the daily preoccupations and enticements with the here and now of this passing world and it’s unceasing pulls. The clock is soon to strike midnight, it is time to quickly shift our focus and reinvest our treasures, attention, and affection from the here and now on earth to the here after in the kingdom of heaven. It is written, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Therefore, dear ones, “keep seeking the things above, where Messiah is seated … Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (1John 2:15, Colossians 3:1-2) It is further emphasized, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” “So as to live the rest of their lives no longer for the lusts (desires for this world), but for the will of God.” (Luke 11:28, 1Peter 4:2) “The world is passing away … but THE ONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD LIVES FOREVER.” (1John 2:17)
“The Evil One has cunningly lured multitudes of “Christians” off the “straight and narrow path” leaving them deceived, unprepared, and spiritually unfit for the holy King and His Kingdom of Heaven””
Time is of the essence, Moses said, “teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) Satan, the enemy of our souls has successfully removed “the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom” from the hearts, lives, and spiritual walks of many professing believers. (Proverbs 9:10) It is written, Satan has come to “deceive”, “to steal and kill and destroy.” (Revelation 12:9, John 10:10) It is vital that we seek to understand God’s word and will also to clearly recognize Satan’s cunning schemes and hidden traps. The Evil One has slyly lured multitudes of “Christians” off the “straight and narrow path” leaving them deceived, unprepared, and spiritually unfit for the holy King and His Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 7:14) Our Savior warned us, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:4) “Evil men and imposters will precede from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived … You, however, continue … in the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yahshua [Jesus Christ]. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” (2Timothy 3:13-17)
“Strive [make every effort] to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able””
Someone asked, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And Yahshua (Jesus) said to them, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction … the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) “Strive [make every effort] to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:24) Our Savior gave this well-known parable saying, “The kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” (Matthew 25:1) For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in flasks, along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. “But at midnight there was a shout, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” (Matthew 25:3-6) Five of them were foolish and five of them were wise.
Yahshua (Jesus) is giving us wisdom to pay attention to His warnings and strive to be part of the righteous remnant, the bride, symbolized by the wise virgins. Through this parable our coming holy “Bridegroom” is urging us to cultivate a spiritually deep, personal eternal relationship with Him. The five wise virgins are those who are growing deeply in love with the bridegroom. They continually purchase “the oil” of the Holy Spirit, by exchanging the worthless things of the selfish desires and preoccupations of this perishing world for that which is of His Spirit, having eternal value. The sold out remnant, as a bride, have their hearts, minds, eyes, and ears eagerly attentive to His Word. They are always “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” obeying what His Spirit is saying to them. They “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness” [of the flesh and the world], but instead expose them.” (Ephesians 5:10-11) They joyfully and humbly yield to the Holy Spirit and continue to say, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” in response to their Beloved who says, “If you love Me you will keep [obey] my commandments.” (John14:15)
“Keeping their focus heavenward, the wise virgins vigilantly assert self-control and war against their selfish sin nature””
As a redeemed righteous remnant, they are also as enlisted courageous soldiers, who in the face of much opposition, spiritually “fight the good fight of faith.” (1 Timothy 6:12) Keeping their focus heavenward, they vigilantly assert self-control and war against their selfish sin nature, keeping watch over their hearts, emotions, mind, and thoughts from being enticed and distracted away from their Bridegroom. The compelling desire of their lives and their utmost hope is to be eagerly ready, waiting, and wisely prepared for eternal union with their coming Bridegroom, Savior, and King, together forever in His righteous kingdom. From here to eternity, they are inseparable through the bonds of infinite love, uniting them as “one in the spirit.” (1Corinthians 6:17)
“The righteous redeemed remnant, as a bride in waiting, is consumed with getting their bridal garments ready to be “pure and spotless” and adorned with “the fruits of the Spirit”
The bride “counts everything as a loss” to know Him even more intimately through sharing “in His sufferings” (Philippians 3:8,10). They are forever grateful and lovingly indebted to Yahshua (Jesus) for coming to earth, “bearing their sins in His body”, and “pouring out His lifeblood” “to forgive” and cleanse them of repentant sins. He “purchased” them with His own blood that they would be His holy eternal bride (1Peter 2:24, Matthew 26:28, 1Corinthians 6:20). Their love and indebtedness compels them to seek and “do His will” with a humble obedient heart that strives to “glorify Him and His Father in all their “words and deeds” (John 7:17, 1Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17). The righteous redeemed remnant, as a bride in waiting, is consumed with getting their bridal garments ready to be “pure and spotless” and adorned with “the fruits of the Spirit”, desiring to be found most pleasing in the bridegroom Savior’s sight (Ephesians 5:27, Galatians 5:22).
“Prayerfully and longingly waiting for our Beloved Redeemer keeps our heart and mind fixed upon Him and with our spiritual ears riveted to hear His voice through His Word and in prayer””
The righteous remnant, like a bride, are eagerly preparing and longingly “waiting” for their bridegroom Savior to come and bring them into His kingdom. It is written, “ So Messiah [Christ] … will appear a second time for salvation … to those who eagerly await Him” (Hebrews 9:28). They are living self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while they wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of their great God and Savior, Yahshua Messiah [Jesus Christ]... “ (Titus 2:12-13) As it is written,“We have waited for Him, and He will save us.” (Isaiah 25:9) Waiting patiently is a prerequisite in order to be ready, watchful, and wisely preparing for Yahshua (Jesus) to appear. Prayerfully and longingly waiting for our Beloved Redeemer keeps our heart and mind fixed upon Him and with our spiritual ears riveted to hear His voice through His Word and in prayer. The Scriptures often magnify the importance of waiting. May this encourage all of to be found waiting and wisely redeeming the time, to purchase the oil of the Holy Spirit, to have a supernatural abundance of oil reserved to keep our lamps burning brightly ascending on the “narrow holy path, listening for “the midnight cry” to run and meet our coming Bridegroom. He said “[I am] coming at an hour when you do not think [I] will” (Matthew 7:13, 25:6, 24:44). This ordained delay has been a gift of time for many more to also be ready as a pure redeemed bride in waiting, to be holy and pleasing in the coming Savior’s sight. It is written Yahshua (Jesus) will “bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” and also in Isaiah, “this is our God we have waited for You eagerly; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls. At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently …” “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, [our bridegroom] “the Lord Yahshua Messiah [Jesus Christ]” (Hebrews 9:28, Isaiah 26:8-9, Philippians 3:20).
There are many wise virgins who have gone before us that serve as an inspiration and motivation for us to be victorious in our wise holy walk with Yahshua (Jesus). The following verses described how they prepared for their bridegroom and His kingdom: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Yahshua [Jesus], the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-4).
