WHERE WILL YOU BE WHEN THE DOOR CLOSES?
Text: Matthew 25:1 - 13
The story is told of neighbors having a conversation. The “…were talking over the back fence. “I went to a wedding this weekend,” said one, “but I don’t think the marriage will last.” “Why Not?” asked the other. “well when the groom said ‘I do,’ the bride said don’t use that tone of voice with me.’ ” (Steve May. The Story File. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000, p. 203). We laugh but there are some marriages that perhaps we all might wonder of there was even going to be a honeymoon phase.
Beyond the honeymoon phase, there is the journey of marriage that is supposed to last as long as they both shall live. “A couple had been married for fifty years. “Things have really changed,” she said. “You used to sit very close to me.” “Well I can remedy that,” he said moving next to her on the couch. “And you used to hold me tight.” “How’s this?” he asked as he gave her a hug. “Do you remember you used to nudged my neck and nibble my ear lobes?” He jumped to his feet and left the room. “Where are you going?” “I’ll be right back,” he said “I’ve got to get my teeth!” (Steve May. The Story File. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000, p. 204). A marriage is supposed to be til death do us part.
One of the saddest things in the world is the fact that there are many of the lost who have been married to worldly ideals instead of having a relationship with the creator, sustainer and redeemer! As we know from events of last Sunday, when 26 were shot and killed at a worship service at a small town Baptist church in Texas. Life and death can be very unpredictable! In this life, God wants us to have a relationship with the Savior, His only begotten son Jesus Christ. Despite what others say, Jesus is the only way to heaven! Were they all ready when the door of this life closed for them? How about you? What if the door to this life would close today, would you be ready to meet the Lord?
Today’s text is about the stewardship of your soul. Have you been saved or is salvation like a taxi cab ride? There is a relationship beyond your baptism because as it has been said, “your baptism is like a wedding ring”. How have you been doing with the your life since you were baptized?
HOW IS YOUR LAMP?
How many times have you been at a wedding awaiting the arrival of the bride? When the music for “Here Comes the Bride” starts, everyone gets ready to see the bride process up the aisle. Those in her wedding party, the bride’s maids and the groomsman are usually in front of the altar. The bride usually comes down the aisle with her father or another relative to present the bride to the groom.
Have you ever wondered what it was like for the weddings in the ancient customs in the days of Jesus’s earthly ministry? Listen to the answer to that question.
The usual Jewish custom was for the “friends of the bridegroom” to conduct the bride to her husband’s home; and when the procession arrived, the bridegroom went forth to lead the bride across the threshold. The imagery of the parable, however, implies that the bridegroom himself went to fetch his bride, perhaps from a great distance, while a group of maidens await his return, ready to welcome him in Oriental fashion with lamps and flambeaux (Carr).
(The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary).
You can see traces of those customs of our weddings of modern day.
Could it be that the lamp is a symbol beyond its ceremonial purpose in this parable? I think it is. 1) Signpost: Could it be that the lamp is a symbol beyond its mentioned purpose? In this parable the anticipation of the arrival of the groom points to the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2) Blackout: Could it be that keeping your lamp lit is a metaphor for staying in the right relationship with the Lord? What do you think? Obviously, Satan wants to create a good news “blackout” in order to prevent you from seeing the light of the gospel (II Corinthains 4:4). 3) Stewardship: If the answer to the previous question is yes, then could it be that this parable is a reminds us that we have stewardship in our salvation? How is your spiritual lamp? Bright, dim or blacked out? 4) Evangelistic stewardship: Don’t we have stewardship responsibility in the sacred trust that God has placed on us to be salty and bright in sharing the gospel with others?
DO YOU PROCRASTINATE?
If all of the maidens had lamps, and they did, then why did half of them procrastinate? Does how we set our priorities determine how we handle the stewardship of our our souls? God gives to us the gift of salvation. We are all pilgrims on a pilgrimage. Satan would love to do nothing more than cause us to focus on things that distract us from our pilgrimage.
Illustration: “A football widow finally reached the end of her rope and burst out in frustration to her husband, “You would probably miss my funeral to go to a stupid ball game!” The husband looked at her in disbelief and asked, “What made you think I would schedule your funeral on the day of the game?” (Steve May. The Story File. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000, p. 204). This guy is liable to get a frozen TV dinner thrown at him with an attitude like that.
Could it be that anything that makes us procrastinate can become an idol? 1) Stewardship of your soul: Are there any idols that would keep you from making the stewardship of your own soul a priority? 2) Stewardship of your faith: Paul wanted Timothy to have the kind of faith that lived in his grandmother, and then his mother and encouraged him to nurture that faith in himself: “… fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6 ESV). 3) Stewardship of doing God’s will: It is not up to other to carry someone else burden of salvation when we have been called by God to “work out our salvation with ear and trembling while allowing God to work in you enabling you to both will and work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12,13 NRSV). 4) Stewardship of putting God first: If the light is missing from the lamp of your life could it be that it is because you have not put God first? In our thoughts and actions? Our work? In our living and giving? (Matthew 6:33). Are there any idols in your life that keep you from putting God first? Can any of those idols “that would keep us keep us” give us the gift of eternal life?
If there are idols that would keep us, then what do we need to to about them? Your life is being lived on loan! Your soul belongs to God. The lost souls that God has sent us into the world to pursue and evangelize all of the would-be disciples. God gives us the gift of each day; the gift of friends family; the gift of children; the gift of each breathe we breathe; the gifts of being equipped for service in His kingdom here on earth while utilizing the gifts of the Holy Spirit; the gifts of our income. If we can trust God with our eternal future, then shouldn’t we trust him with all of the things that He gives to us that we just mentioned?
Life is not a dress rehearsal! Life does not give us a rewind button. “True repentance has a double aspect. It looks upon things past with a weeping eye, and upon the future with a watchful eye”. (E. C. McKenzie. 14,000 Quips & Quotes. Grand Rapids: Baler Books, 1980, p. 446). Any repentance that does not do that fails because is about changing directions from previous infractions to embracing a way of life that produces fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8).
What does this parable tell us about preparing for eternity? First, it tells us that we cannot borrow nor profit from the preparation of others. We all have to test our own work and carry our own individual spiritual burdens (Galatians 6:4,5). Secondly, there are two other things that we cannot borrow from another and "faith and character." (William Barclay. And Jesus Said. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1970, pp. 137-138). Thirdly, this parable tells us that one day the door will close forever (Matthew 25:10). As we know from Revelation 3:8, God can open doors no one can shut which also mean that in this passage of scripture God can close the doors to His kingdom that no on can open. Which side of the door will you be on when it closes? Will you be on the grace side or the exclusion side? One thing is certain. That one thing is that saying “Lord, Lord” will not serve as an alibi Matthew 25:11 is an echo of Matthew 7:22 because in both places those who plead “Lord, Lord” will fall short because their discipleship.
