The Midnight Cry
Introduction: In an a news article from Austin, Texas: The headline read: MAN EXPERIENCES HEART ATTACK AFTER THE RAPTURE
Herbert Washington, whom co-workers at Significant Plastics Inc. say was unduly concerned with the rapture and the second coming of Christ, suffered a serious heart attack when co-workers pretended they’d been caught away without him.
Last Tuesday, they lay work outfits on their chairs and hid in a supply room, and when Herbert came back from the restroom, he thought the rapture had occurred. The janitor, an outspoken Muslim, pretended to have witnessed everyone disappear and ran around the office feigning panic. Herbert fell to the ground clutching his heart and screaming, "I knew you’d forget me, Jesus! What did I do wrong?" He was taken to a local hospital. The employees emerged, sobered, from the supply room and gathered up their extra clothes.
"We didn’t mean to scare him to death," said one woman. "He’s just always talking about it, so today we decided to turn the tables on him."
Washington underwent bypass surgery and is recovering well and "digging into the Bible like never before," says his wife. (sermon central ill.) Probably to pray for his friends, no doubt.
A remake of the movie Left Behind has come out. And we watched it and I enjoyed it. It got me to thinking how we are always hearing about a variety of things that point to our Lords' return, and we can see them taking place around us. Some may say “they have been saying that for years” well that's true, they have. And it is a good thing they did. When they died, they showed that, had Jesus came - they would have been ready. They prove that when they went to heaven they went watching for him. The truth is one of these days He will come and the question is when He does will you be going or will you be left behind?
Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13
Transition: The bridegroom is Jesus, The virgins are professed Christians, The lamp is our christian witness, the oil is grace /operation of Holy Spirit. But I would like for us to focus on 3 key symbols in this parable of the ten virgins, which has one overarching lesson - Christ will return at an unknown hour and his people must be ready! So let's look at the three key symbols: First is the wedding.
I. The Wedding – (the coming of Jesus) - Rapture - The parable is about a Jewish wedding ceremony. There are a couple of things you need to know about Jewish weddings during Jesus' time.
1) There were usually young men (groomsmen) who attended the bridegroom at his house and there were young bridesmaids (virgins) that attended the bride while she was at her father's house. Which may have been down the street, across town, or in another village.
2) As the bridegroom left his house, parading toward his bride, and the virgins learned He was approaching, the virgins would go out to meet him with their lamps lit so they could light his way back to where the bride was, where the nuptials and celebrations would take place.
But it's upon the next point that I want to spend the most amount of our time
3) Jewish weddings were usually at night (thus the need for light) Jesus is going to return during our darkest hour, the midnight hour, so to speak, when we least expect him. “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” I Thess. 5:2 As dark as it seems now, it will get darker. What seems should be our greatest discouragement; the word tells us, it should be our greatest hope. “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Lk 21:28 It's the natural progression of things for night to get darker, until the sun rises again in the morning. Until that happens, as morally dark as our world is, Christians are to be the light of the world until Jesus returns. (Mt. 5:14)
What will these dark days be like when Jesus returns? Well, there is too much to go into today but the best place to look is in the previous chapter which spurred this parable in the first place. In Matthew 24 some of the signs of the last days were: False Christs & false prophets deceiving many people all over the world. Verse 5 refers to false christs. Verse 11 refers to false prophets. And verse 24 refers to both and all three have one thing in common: THEY WILL BE SUCCESFUL - “they will deceive many” (how many millions have been deceived by Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Charles T. Russell etc.?)
The world will be violent, there will be wars and revolutions (uprisings against governments), “Nation will rise against nation” – in the original greek 'nation' was translated as 'ethnos' where we get our word 'ethnic'. It's not hard to deduce that ethnic group will rise against ethnic group. Especially these days. Europeans will rise against Arabs, Arabs will rise against Africans, Germans will rise against Jews. Whites will rise against blacks, blacks will rise up against them, Then they all will rise up against the Jews. One rises up against another. Etc. It's madness! There will also be famines, earthquakes, and Christian persecution- Christians will be hated and handed over to be executed. (Christians murdered for their faith doubled in 2014 compared to 2013 - worldwatchmonitor)
Immorality will be flourishing. And as a result we will find it more difficult to love and forgive. (Mt. 24:12) Some say our 'love will grow cold' because it will be very difficult to forgive those who hate our bridegroom and us and put our brothers & sisters to death, others point to the fact that because there will be so much deception, Christian hypocrisy and apostasy going on, many Christians won't know who to trust or confide in.
And yet with all the signs pointing toward the return of Jesus, none of this seems to move anyone toward Christ. There will be a nonchalance about life, just as it was in Noah's day (24:36-38) - they went on eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage. Living in pleasure and living for pleasure. They will be like the thorny soil- choked out from the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the cares of the world. In Noah's day no one thought the flood would come. . until it came.
While we slumber in the darkest part of night, Jesus returns for his bride.
Transition: The other symbols of this parable are the virgins. The virgins represent professed Christians. Five foolish and five wise. Lets begin with the five foolish virgins
II. The Five Foolish Virgins – False Christians
“The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.” v.3
They have no operation of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They have a lamp in their hand the same way a person has a profession of faith in their mouth but they don't have the necessary supply of Christian principles within them to carry them through the darkest part of night. These false believers enjoy the benefit of the church without true love for Christ. They're more concerned about the party than seeing the bridegroom. Charles Spurgeon said “You must be renewed in your nature or you will not be ready.” And this is true for the foolish virgins, they are not ready. They are like the seed that was planted in the rocky soil, they grow outwardly up into the air, but not down into the earth. The word of God may come out of their mouth but it never went into their heart. Everything is external. Everything looks good on the surface. These false believers are like that old Texas saying: “They are all hat and no cattle.” They are like a vendor at the fair that sets up his stand but has nothing to sell. They have enough for show, but not enough for use.
“The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 'No,' there may not be enough for us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'” v. 8, 9
When they awaken to the reality that they don't have what it takes, their only hope is that their association with true Christians will save them. One person's faith in Jesus can't save another, and no one can get to heaven on the back of another saints work. Some will cry “but I used to go to church!” or “My mother and father loved you so much” or “My brother, my uncle, my father, my friend was a believer, Sunday school teacher, a deacon, an elder, a pastor..” It won't do them any good to try to borrow oil from other virgins just as it won't do you any good to attempt to sneak into heaven by the good reputation of other believers. We can't count on people, even good people, even saved, sanctified, spirit filled, believing people to give us what we can only get from Jesus: oil of grace. Getting grace is a work of time that doesn't happen on a whim. (to get good soil it is broken up, fertilized, and well watered.) Jesus commands us to be born again. There must be regeneration. The old is gone and the new is arrived. Pray for the deceived and backslidden, their only hope is for more time. How many have hoped for more time to repent and wound up dead before that time came?
Ill. C. Spurgeon once used an illustration he found from an old gospel tract, in it a little sketch was written by a man who had had crossed the Great Lakes often, and was in the habit of having a life jacket in case he needed it. One night, while he was asleep, an alarm went off and he rushed on deck with his life jacket on, but found that it was a false alarm. He went back downstairs and as he laid in bed, he had a vivid daydream. He thought he was on board a great ship and that a great and terrible storm came. There were some men on deck with life jackets on. They had been laughed at while the weather was calm and the sea was smooth, but, as they stood there, with the vessel rocking and the timbers straining, there wasn't anyone mocking them now, instead many of them greatly envied the peace they had.
As this man stood on deck and looked around, he heard one man say, “I was going to buy one of those life jackets. I lived just across from the shop where they were sold and my friends would always tell me to get one, and I meant to—but I put it off , so I went on without it, although I meant to get one.”
The man saw this man without a life jacket washed overboard, with the others who didn't have a life jacket. His good intention could not save him. No doubt there are many who meant to get the spiritual life jacket and they mean to do so now, so they say.
Heaven is being filled with people who have believed in Jesus—and Hell is being filled with people who meant to believe in Jesus, but never did! That is the difference between the two, but what a difference it will make between them when they die! Charles Spurgeon said “These are the people who crowd the corridors of Hell”— men and women who meant to trust the Savior, but never did. They lived across from the church, just across from the place where these life jackets were and they always meant to get one—but they never did and when the last great storm came they were lost, and lost forever! (personalized from Spurgeons sermon 'Entrance and exclusion' #2500)
As we read in verses 10,11:
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil the bridegroom arrived...and the door was shut. Later the others also came Sir! Sir! They said 'Open the door for us'!” (v. 10, 11)
This is the desperation of fools. There will be many who will seek admission into heaven when it is too late. Like Esau who pleaded for his father's blessing, after his father had already blessed his brother. Isaac said “what can I possibly do?” It was too late.
If we knew when Christ was coming, we would be ready, but He comes to catch us as we really are, not who we pretend to be.
Ill. Mexican jails are not known for their tidiness or orderliness. Shortly after having taken office, the then President of Mexico, Luis Echeverria, decided to do something about this. Without giving any advance notice, he chose to visit the jails at midnight. He found guards away from their posts, prisoners not taken care of, and other discrepancies between the expectations and reality. [If the president had come when they expected him to you know as well as I do that everything would had been cleaned up and guards would had been doing their finest, but once he left everything would go back to the way it was.] In stead He came at night to catch them as they really were and He proceeded to fire people and clean up the system.
Those that were supposed to be watching weren't and as a result of their inattentiveness they lost the good position they had. (adapted from a sermon Central ill)
Matthew Poole said “let us know that as a tree falls, so it must lie.” Once the door is shut it is shut. And it is shut for eternity. There is no reversal once Christ comes. And it will be a sad day for those false believers who thought they were ready but were not.
Transition: But because of the next symbol of the wise virgins, there is great hope for us. Let's look at it together..
III. The Five Wise Virgins – True Christians
These are true Christians. True Christians are ready Christians. True Christians are fruitful Christians. They produce joy, love, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Because they were once good soil, the gospel seed takes root into their souls and as it grows it produces fruit.
“The wise, however took oil in jars along with their lamps.” v. 4
These wise virgins took oil for their lamps because they supposed that the bridegroom might tarry. He may not come as quickly as they hoped but they were prepared if that should happen. There are Christians that are looking for Jesus with eagerness. They have saving faith. They keep waiting and watching with hope and joy! They have a deep spiritual understanding of Jesus.
They are not fans of Jesus, they are followers of Jesus, unlike those who know of Jesus, these wise virgins (Christians) know Jesus personally – how? by a great desire to do so, they have a personal relationship with him. They became familiar with him through much prayer. They pray and they pray often, and they pray with seriousness and sincerity, they value the church and church members, and it pleases them to please their Lord. They meditate on Jesus and his wonderful meanings to them, they read and study the bible, not because it will earn them salvation but because of salvation their heart rejoices to do it. They love the Lord! Our Lord's grace has a deep root inside their souls. And like the wise virgins they have extra oil to maintain their faith.
“.. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.” v.10
This was like shutting the door of the ark, once Noah was in, he was secure. What a glorious thing to be shut into paradise with our Lord. Eternal security. Eternal love. Eternal life. Adam and Eve may have left that door open but the Lord closes it to keep us inside forever!
Transition: What do we need to do to make sure that we are like the wise virgins?
Be watching (v. 13)
Notice that all ten virgins fell asleep, both wise and foolish. In spite of our efforts to stay awake, several things are working against us: 1) we are tired, 2) we are bored from waiting, and 3) it is late at night. We are tired from waiting for what seems to be a long time, and late at night when we are used to lying down and going to sleep, even the best saints can't help but to succumb to sleep.
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Even though we have waited some 2000 years, the time is ripe to catch us sleeping, which makes it all the more important that we are ready once He comes. Our number one priority should be to keep our souls ready for the coming of Jesus. Because we don't know when that day will come.
Ill. The Lord told us not only to wait for him, but to watch for him, and he has pronounced a special blessing on those who watch. The difference between waiting and watching is illustrated in a story told of a Scottish fishing village.
After days at sea, the skipper of a fishing boat was bringing his craft back home. As the boat neared the shore, the men gazed eagerly toward the dock, where a group of their loved ones were waiting. The skipper, looking through his glass, identified some of the women, saying, "I see Bill's wife Mary, and there is Tom's wife, Margaret, and David's wife, Anne." One man was very anxious because his wife was not there. He left the boat with a heavy heart and hiked across fields, and up hills and around familiar creeks, where he saw a light in his cottage. As he opened the door, his wife ran to meet him, saying, "I have been waiting for you." He replied, "Yes, but the other men's wives were watching for them." (Sermon central ill.)
It is good to always be ready and hoping for the Lord's return. That means you are watching!
We shouldn't be discouraged if it doesn't happen when we think it should. How many before us have thought the same thing? The bridegroom will tarry longer than we think He should but when He comes, we will think “Wow! The rapture is happening! It's really happening!” Even strong Christians might suddenly realize their procrastination, wishing to have done even more than they did for Christ. The Rapture is coming and coming soon! And once He comes there is no time to go back and get more oil.
Conclusion: I may never have another opportunity to speak to you again. Who knows? I may not make it here next week. And I wouldn't want God to show me that I preached to you 'smooth things' to give you peace so that you never were convicted to truly repent and follow Christ. I don't want your blood upon my hands. 'Choose you this day whom you will serve.' I pray you will choose Jesus. Because Jesus is life. Once the door is shut, it is shut forever. Like the sword of the spirit divides soul from spirit and bone from marrow, this door separates eternal life from the eternal death. The most important question is: Which side of the door will you be on when the Lord returns?
Those that flatter themselves about their works and excuse their wrongs, but never have a deep spiritual conviction to confess a single sin to Jesus or have a sincere desire for his forgiveness, will truly be in the worst shape of all. Like the foolish virgins, they have no oil. As angry as the sinful world makes me at times, I truly feel horrible about their future. If we knew the extent of their torture and torment we would cry day and night “Why didn't they listen?!” “Why don't they come to Jesus?” “Why would they not get saved!?” How will the Lord find your soul when He comes?
Altar Call: Can you humble yourself to confess your sins to Jesus? You may think I have a sin that He won't forgive. You are being lied to by the devil. I John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and WILL forgive us from all unrighteousness.” The stipulation for forgiveness is confession. The question is: Will you receive the oil of grace and trust Jesus to save you? Or will you harden your heart again and refuse to humble yourself and confess to God what you have done or are doing is sinful? If you are here and want assurance. If you want salvation. If you want to be ready.
Pray this prayer with me: I open the door of my heart and invite you to come in, King Jesus. Please save me from unrighteousness. Please save me from Hell! I have sinned against you but I believe you died on the cross for me, to save me from those sins. Please forgive me of my past sins, my current sins, and guard me from; and convict me to confess and repent of future sins. Amen.
