"Don’t Be Late For The Wedding Banquet”

There is a “door” that leads to heaven. It is the door of God’s grace, held open by the bloody cross of Jesus Christ. For 2,000 years that door has been open to the entire world. Today the door is open but our Jesus reminds us that the door will not be open forever.

One striking feature of the parable occurs when the foolish virgins ask the wise virgins to borrow some of their oil. The refusal may seem selfish and unkind unless you understand the situation. To loan the oil would mean that no one would have enough oil. And the larger point is clear. No one can “borrow” another person’s faith. You can’t get into heaven by living near a saved person. One day you will stand before the Lord and he will say, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” What answer will you give?

“My mother was a godly woman,” you might say. “And that’s why she’s in heaven,” the Lord will reply, “but what about you?” “My dad was an elder,” you say. “Fine, but that’s not why he’s in heaven, and anyway his eldership won’t do you any good,” the Lord replies.

A number of years ago, a father who had taken his two children swimming in the Atlantic, realized the tide was pulling them out to sea. Knowing his limitations, he told his daughter, the older of the two little one. “Honey, I’ve got to get your brother to shore. When I do, I’ll come back for you. I want you to float on your back till I return. You don’t have to swim. Just float on your back.” With that the father swam away, brought his son to shore, and in a state of near exhaustion, with some lifeguards, went back out to find his daughter. She wasn’t where they expected her to be

Further out to sea they searched. After two hours, they spotted a little body floating in the water. No, don’t worry, she was OK. After they brought her aboard one of the lifeguards asked, “Were you frightened being out in the ocean all by yourself?” She answered, “I wasn’t afraid. My father told me to float on my back, and he promised that he would come back. I trusted him. He loves me, and never lies.” (from a sermon by Rev. Ken Klaas)

This is the attitude Jesus expects of us. He expects us to remember that He loves us. He has not forgotten about us. He expects us to live our lives, serving our families, telling our neighbors about God’s love, and practice Christian values and characteristics until He comes. Martin Luther said, “If I knew that Jesus was coming tomorrow I would plant a tree today.” John Wesley said, “I would spend my last day exactly as I expect to spent it now.” Jesus said: “Keep watch, because you do not know the day nor the hour.”