Ten virgins

This week as I have been preparing the message, I have found myself humming and singing lines from the Impressions 1960s hit, “People Get Ready” (much to the chagrin of those around me!). It is a great gospel-inspired song about the return of Christ, comparing his return to a train, “picking up passengers coast to coast”, while some are ready, others are not.

The end times and the return of Christ are always captivating topics for Christians. But spend a couple of minutes on YouTube and you will find there is much confusion out there .If you are anything like me, it can be hard to keep all your terms and categories straight (e.g. pre-, mid-, and post-tribulation, amillennial, premillennial, postmillennial etc.). While it is important to understand what Scripture says about these things and to be aware of our times and to have a sense of what may come, these things don’t speak to how we should live as we await Christ’s return. However, if you join us this Sunday, we will be looking at the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) and what it says about how we can be ready as we wait for Christ’s return.

Series: Simple Stories: How the parables of Jesus change everything
Nathan Hooper
Message: 10 – Ten virgins
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Matthew 25:1-13
September 1, 2024

To be ready for Jesus’ coming, I will…

…rest in him (v. 1-5)

Ephesians 2:8–10

Psalm 4:8

Matthew 11: 28–30

The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven’t yet come to the end of themselves. We’re still trying to give orders and interfering with God’s work within us. The rest he offers is the rest of meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and cease to pretend.
A.W. Tozer

…anticipate the Day (v. 6-10)

2 Corinthians 4:16–18

God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

…know what is at stake (v. 11-13)

Matthew 25:34, 41

This is another sobering reality that Christians must always keep in mind. If something is God’s perfect plan and purpose, it is infinitely glorious. No dimension of the gospel, absolutely no dimension of God’s work, reflects anything less than that infinite glory. If we are embarrassed by the biblical teaching concerning judgement, we are embarrassed by the gospel, embarrassed by Christ and embarrassed by the true and living God.
Albert Mohler

On the day that Jesus returns, our hearts will be exposed. The true nature of who we are before God will come to light. Nothing will be hidden; everything will be revealed. All the things we like and presume to cover up will be made known…Many people will be shocked on the last day to find out that the road they have been on, a road they thought was the narrow road leading to heaven, was actually the broad road that leads to hell.
David Platt