MY FRIENDS, WHAT IS DISTRACTING US?

Aug. 26, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WHAT IS DISTRACTING US?

Matt. 25, Jesus likens “the kingdom of heaven too ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish [complacent, and careless because they became distracted right before the Bridegroom was to arrive], and five were wise [attentive, practical, and sensible because they were prepared for His coming]…….. “Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep.

At midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! The Bridegroom [cometh]! Let’s go to meet him.” My friends throughout the years we have all fallen asleep throughout our Christian journey here on earth. “At times of ignorance God winked at our foolishness and complacency towards our responsibility at finishing His mandate here on earth and being ready when He comes.

Now that we have had an opportunity to have that personal relationship with Christ, how will we explain our distraction and lack of interest in eternal things after all He’s done for our salvation. In Matt 24 and 25 His message to all His disciples is, Things will happen right before His second coming so He warns us not to be distracted, for you do not know which day our Lord will come.

And you can be assured of this one thing, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the look-out and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  For this reason, we must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when we do not think He will.” Matt 24:42-44 (NASB)

My friends, it’s easy to lose focus but beware, when we are least expectant “the bridegroom will come, and the door will be shut. But, those who are ready will go in with him to the wedding feast, a feast that will continue throughout eternity. I’m sure we all have noticed, the higher up we go, as we look down the smaller the world below gets.

So, it is with a child of God, the Higher up or closer we get to Christ and His abiding love and grace the smaller the world gets until it’s no longer relevant, only His presence, as we continue to get closer and closer to Him through His word and Spirit. The story is told by the Golf legend Arnold Palmer. “It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament.

He had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. “I felt I was in pretty good shape.” As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew that one distraction, took my focus off of winning.

The next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters.” My friends, Are we spiritually where Christ wants us to be on this journey? And if not, why not? And what on this earth could possible cause us to lose our focus and our salvation this close to Christ second coming? Christ told the rich young Ruler, only one thing you lack. My friends, are we willing to loose it all  because there is one thing we lack?