READY OR NOT…HERE CHRIST COMES (Outline)
November 11, 2007 -
END TIME 2 / LAST JUDGMENT -
Matthew 25:1-13
INTRO: Do you remember some of your favorite childhood games? There was hide-and-seek or kick-the-can. Both involved someone being “it”. They had to count to give everyone a chance to find a safe place. The time ended with the phrase, “Ready or not, here I come!” The time was up. There was no more opportunity to hide or find a safe place. Such will be the case with the Last Day. Now is our time of grace to be found safe and secure in the hand of our loving Father. But the time will come when the Lord Jesus returns as the Judge. Ready or not, here Christ comes! Of course, this is not a game but the reality and truth of God’s word. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come"(MARK 13:32,33). The Lord wants us to be ready and be prepared. Our theme:
READY OR NOT…HERE CHRIST COMES!
I. Many are not prepared.
II. With wisdom we wait.
I. MANY ARE NOT PREPARD
A. Jesus’ parable here is a continuation of his teaching about the Last Day from chapter 24 (read).
1. Verse 1. The ten virgins, friends of the bride and groom get ready to meet the couple.
2. The bridegroom would go to the bride’s house. The short ceremony takes place.
3. The groom brings his new wife to his home. It is dark and they need light – ten virgins.
B. These friends look much alike. There is a big difference among the ten virgins, verse 2.
1. Foolish was a strong word to be used. We are told why they are foolish in verse 3.
2. The five foolish virgins were ready to celebrate. They were not prepared to provide light.
C. The ten virgins wait and wait and wait and sleep, verse 5. The call goes out the bridegroom comes.
1. Now the foolish realize they are not prepared, verse 8. They need oil. They go to buy some.
2. The wedding begins for all those prepared. The foolish return and want to enter, verse 11.
3. It is too late! Verse 12. They are left standing in the dark, the door is shut. Ready or not….
D. Ready or not…the bridegroom comes. Ready or not, here Christ comes! How is it that some will not be prepared!?! God’s word is clear. The Jesus will return. Christ will come as the judge of the living and the dead. Just like the five foolish virgins there will be many who think they are ready but they will not be prepared. This happens because we live in a world filled with earthly attractions and devilish distractions. Make no mistake many have made their little heaven here on earth. Many are unconcerned about an eternal future. "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation (wickedness), drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap"(LUKE 21:34).
E. To be prepared takes more than just thinking we are ready. Preparing for the Lord’s return means we are to be watching, waiting. One thing is certain the Last Day will come suddenly. We may not always be ready but we are to be prepared. Many are caught unaware simply because they are not watching. Please read chapter 24 of Matthew. Jesus describes the day to day living of people before the end. Jesus tells us that the love of most will grow cold. This is a fitting description of how man mistreats man today. "To those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good"(TITUS 1:15b, 16). Ready or not, here Christ comes.
F. Scripture reminds us that the Last Day is the Last Day. There will be no more time to repent. There will be no more chance to put off the inevitable. The Lord Jesus, our Bridegroom, comes. The wedding is ready. The door is shut. Many try to deny that there will be a judgment day. Many like to picture God as a grandfatherly type sitting in his rocking chair. Our God is our righteous God who promises blessings to those who keep his commands. Our God is also the righteous God who threatens to punish those who sin against him and his word. Many deny this truth and reject this truth. God’s word is still the truth. "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power"(2 THESSALONIANS 1:8,9). Hell is a real place with real eternal punishment.
READY OR NOT, HERE CHRIST COMES!
I. Many are not prepared. II. With wisdom we wait.
II. WITH WISDOM WE WAIT
A. The ten virgins came to provide light for the bridegroom and bride as they came to their new home.
1. There were 5 foolish and 5 wise. The wise virgins were ready and prepared, verse 4.
2. The 5 wise virgins knew what to expect and what was expected of them.
B. The bridegroom finally arrived and the cry went up to meet him, verses 6,7.
1. The foolish needed oil. The wise did not share, verse 9. Consider oil as faith, Holy Spirit.
2. Simply put, the wise could not believe for the foolish. Faith is not transferable.
C. Everyone prepared enter the wedding. Verse 13 - believers are prepared who keep watch.
D. Our Lord Jesus will return. We do not know that day or hour. Even the virgins had to wait until the next day before the bridegroom arrived (it was at midnight by the time he arrived). Between now and the time our Savior comes the devil is alive and well and active. Ready or not here Christ comes. But ready or not here Satan is. Certainly Satan is saddened to see anyone safe in the hand of the Lord Jesus. He wants us to be foolish not prepared. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour"(1 PETER 5:8). With wisdom we wait.
E. What is that wisdom that makes us prepared? It is not worldly wisdom. It is more than mere human understanding. God’s wisdom becomes our wisdom by grace through faith. We cannot save ourselves. By grace our loving Lord and merciful Father in heaven changes our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. By faith we look to the Lord for answers. In God’s grace we are prepared to welcome bridegroom whenever he returns. "And he said to man, ’The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding’"(JOB 28:28). Godly wisdom prepares. God’s wisdom moves us to shun evil.
F. We know it is always a struggle to be waiting and watching for the Lord’s return. Probably none of us woke up today thinking that this is the day the Lord will return. At times we may not always be ready for the return of the Lord. We are always prepared. God’s gift of faith has prepared each and every one of us. We are saved by grace not works. Once saved it is our privilege to follow Jesus. "Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience"(HEBREWS 4:11). All too many point to themselves as the source of wisdom rather than Christ.
CONC.: Ready or not…here Christ comes! This is not meant to scare anyone. It may be scary to those who do not believe – but do they really care? Remember the childhood games? When we heard “ready or not, here I come” there was a certain amount of excitement and anticipation. It is to be the same as we look to the Last Day and the Lord’s return. Here Christ comes we are excited at his return. We anticipate the time Jesus returns and invites us into the wedding. Then the door will be shut. Thankfully the Lord does not leave us to our own strength to watch and wait. Thankfully the Lord gives us his wisdom to be alert and watching. Thankfully the Lord gives us his assurance that we are safe in his tender care. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand"(JOHN 10:27,28). READY OR NOT …HERE CHRIST COMES! Sadly, many are not prepared. With God’s wisdom, we wait and watch. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
WORSHIP SER.: SAT – 1:00pm @ NCF Min.,
& SUN – 9:30am @ Church & 12:00pm @ NCF Medium
Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
2ND END TIME readings:
JEREMIAH 26:1-6; 2 THESS. 1:5-10; LUKE 19:11-27
(PSALM 90)
