Several decades ago a music artist sang a song titled, ‘Angel Of Death’. It is about being ready when your time comes to die. Jesus told his disciples “Be ye therefore ready also;”
Let us notice the words of this song.
"Angel Of Death"
In the great book of John
You're warned of the day
When you'll be laid
Beneath the cold clay
The Angel of Death
Will come from the sky
And claim your poor soul
When the time comes to die
When the Angel of Death
Comes down after you
Can you smile and say
That you have been true
Can you truthfully say
With your dying breath
That you're ready to meet
The Angel of Death
When the lights all grow dim
And the dark shadows creep
And then your loved ones
Are gathered to weep
Can you face them and say
With your dying breath
That you're ready to meet
The Angel of Death
When the Angel of Death
Comes down after you
Can you smile and say
That you have been true
Can you truthfully say
With your dying breath
That you're ready to meet
The Angel of Death
In our news we heard of a mid-air plane crash with a helicopter in our nation’s capital. Sixty seven lives were taken in a tragic moment. Did they expect not to land at the airport safely? Were they ready for death? Where will they spend eternity? Had they made plans for their eternal home? It appears obvious they did not expect to leave this earth so soon and so sudden.
Mankind does not know when their life shall be over; whether of old age or from a sudden tragedy. But Jesus said, Luke 12:35-40. 35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Just as the Great Resurrection shall come at a time unknown to mankind, if we are to die before the second coming of our Lord, we also do not know the hour the Angel of Death may come. It is said the Lord shall come as a thief in the night. We must be ready. Peter warns us to make our calling and election sure. 2 Peter 1:10
Let us look at a story about a group of believers and their watching and being prepared for the coming of the Lord. Matthew 25:1-13. This speaking from Jesus to his disciples was right after he had spoken about the coming end of time. (previous chapter) 25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
We can infer these ten virgins were of the same belief or church. They assembled together. They were of the same mind to wait for the groom to come for the banquet. However, they were not all of the same mind being found watching and expecting the Lord to come at any moment. Not all were prepared for whatever challenge may arise before the coming of the bridegroom. Let us see what went wrong.
Five were not prepared for any unforeseen challenges which might arise before the bridegroom came. They did not expect him to linger in his coming. They took no extra oil for their lamps–they did not continue doing the work of their Lord for the kingdom on earth. When the bridegroom came, they had burned their oil and had no extra–they slumbered too long and tragedy came too sudden. They had not continued their work but became slothful and slumbered till it was too late. When they returned from obtaining additional oil, the bridegroom said, “I know you not.” Their lives were not lived being ready and found doing the Lord’s work.
Sadly this is the condition found in many people today; the Lord has not come yet, they do not expect him any time soon. The longer they procrastinate the worse this condition becomes. Others tell stories of the things they expect to happen in the world before the coming of the great resurrection and they deceive many into thinking all is well, there is plenty of time.
But, if we are found doing the Lord’s work until he comes again or he takes us in death, this is what the Lord says concerning stewards of the Lord:
LUKE 12:41-48. 41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
These wise virgins–the five wise virgins–were found doing as the Lord had commanded; they were being good stewards over the Lord’s kingdom. They were prepared for any obstacle they may face because they trusted in their Lord to help them overcome. Here is what the Lord said concerning them:
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. These five wise virgins were escorted into the banquet of the bridegroom–Heaven. They were to be assigned rulers over many things in the Lord’s Heavenly Kingdom.
All too often many are like these who feel they have time to live as the world and not be an honest steward for the Lord. Tragedy may befall them suddenly.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Notice Jesus is speaking of those who are believers in his royalty; the Son of God. We may say they are members of the body of Christ. However, they slumbered and slept because they did not expect the Lord to appear so soon. (VS. 47: And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.) To others who know not Jesus is Lord and have accepted him as Saviour will be treated thus: he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. The Lord’s punishment will not be so severe to them. However, they will still be punished, but not so harshly.
If the Angel of Death came suddenly for you, will you smile and say you have been true? Can you truthfully say you are ready to meet the Angel of Death?
No man knows the hour nor way in which they will die. But, have you made your calling and election sure? Are you doing that daily? The reward of Heaven is too good to slumber and sleep; and miss out on that life. Do what is necessary to insure your reward in Heaven, daily.
