John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
O my friends. Lets bask in the glorious promise of Jesus the Son of God. Over the past forty years of being a bond Servant of Christ Jesus, I have attended to many who were ready to leave this world to go home to be with their Savior.
There have been those who had no fear at all. Those Saints had been faithful to study God's Word regularly and to attend a good Gospel preaching Church that preached not only the Gospel and repentance from dead works but taught the whole council of God. They were ready to go.
Others who did not have the background of such a wonderful relationship with their Lord Jesus, did not have that joy of entering into what Jesus had prepared for them. As a result, I often quoted these verses to them and the Holy Spirit did minister to them.
Are you ready this day to move from this life to the next? Scripture says....
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
O friends, our life could be snuffed out today from a heart attack or other physical trauma. An accident on the highway going to work could happen. A soldier on foreign soil could die from a sniper's bullet. We are not promised another day here. Are you ready"
Lets look at a verse in Revelation....
Revelation 4:2 "And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."
Theologians have argued in favor of several interpretations of these twenty four Elders. Keeping with Christian wording, Elders are not angels or Israel. They are believers in Christ Jesus and are seated where His Throne is in Heaven, more than likely, the New Jerusalem before it comes to the new earth. These are the raptured Saints who will behold the Tribulation period and the saving of Israel by the 144,000.
I point this out because as John see's it, the promise of entering the Kingdom of God is a reality. The rapture is a reality, and to die and go on to be with Jesus is a reality.
O my friends. lets all get more serious about our relationship with Christ Jesus and stimulate our spirituality with consistent Bible study and prayer. Lets take the parable of the 10 virgins as an example....
Matthew 25:1 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
25:9 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.
25:10 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.
25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
This is a very serious parable. Only half of those who wanted to be united with Jesus were ready. In my mind, I believe that the "oil" represents the Holy Spirit which is very active in those who have regular Bible study, devotions, Church attendance, and other fellowship with believers who are ready to meet Jesus the Son of God. Lets be like the five virgins who were ready.
