Ready or Not, Jesus is Coming
(A sermon preached by Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo at the Watchnight Service of True Life BPC, December 31, 2008)
It is not a game of Hide and Seek; we better be ready when Christ returns. Do not follow the world. The world does not expect Christ to return at all. In fact they scoff at the thought that someone who died two thousand years ago, will or can ever return to judge this world. The Bible already predicted this: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Pet 3:3-4). The scoffers think that the world has already been in existence for billions of years and will go on for billions of years more to come. By so saying, they changed the truth (creation) into a lie (evolution), and willingly deceive themselves (Rom 1:25).
As believers, when we kept Christmas last week, we kept it with the return of our Lord in view. As sure as we are of His 1st Coming, we are equally sure of His 2nd Coming, and we believe our Lord will keep His promise. In fact, world events are shaping up according to biblical prophecy. This is observed even by non-Christians. For instance, Gideon Rachman in his article, “And Now for a World Government,” published in the Financial Times, December 9, 2008, wrote, “So, it seems, everything is in place. For the first time since homo sapiens began to doodle on cave walls, there is an argument, an opportunity and a means to make serious steps towards a world government.” Human beings are on the road to becoming one, and when that happens, it will be height of human civilisation and the glory of mankind. A modern Tower of Babel is on the rise. Jesus Christ must return to smash this idolatrous abomination of the earth.
So, ready or not, like it or not, Jesus is coming, and if He is coming back and coming back soon, what must we do? The Lord Himself tells us what we must do in the parable of the 10 virgins as found in Matthew 25:1-13. Basically it tells us to make sure that we are truly born again or truly saved. This involves self-searching and self-checking. We must not take things for granted. Do not think that just because you are born into a Christian family, you are saved. Do not think that just by coming to church, you are saved. Do not think that just because you are baptised, you are saved.
How can we tell if we are truly saved? If we are truly born again or saved, we will have the following characteristics:
True Believers Are Indwelt by the Holy Spirit
True believers lead a spiritual life that is motivated by the Holy Spirit who indwells them. We find here that the wise virgins had oil in their lamps, and they made sure they brought with them extra. Oil has been used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit (e.g. 1 Sam 16:13). When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us, and once He takes residence in our physical body which is called the temple of the Holy Spirit, He will never leave or depart from us. Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us that the moment we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, something miraculous happens: “ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” And in our day-to-day life, we will by and by manifest the fruit of the spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ and He will cause us to become more and more like Christ. Do we see this in our life? Without oil or petrol, the car cannot run. Similarly, without the oil of the Spirit, our life is dead. Do you have such a lively experience in your walk with the Lord? If you have, then you know that you have oil in your life. You are one of the wise virgins.
The foolish virgins are those who appear to have the Holy Spirit but really do not. They are like the tares and the goats. They are like imitation goods. They look like the real thing but are actually fake, and in no time, they spoil, they wear out or they fall apart. The genuine, good quality, pricey stuff—they last, and even appreciate in value, and become heirlooms. So, let us make sure we are not fake Christians but genuine Christians.
True Believers Have a Faith That Endures
True believers have a faith that will never say die. The light of faith will never and cannot be snuffed out. In this parable, we find that the foolish virgins had no light in their lamps when the bridegroom finally came. This was because they had no oil. The light is dependent on the oil. In the same way, if there is no Holy Spirit, there is no true, enduring faith. These foolish virgins are like those described in Matthew 13:20-22: “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” Their faith “dureth for a while” just like the foolish virgins—their light only lasts for a while and it is no more.
In the last days, there will be many trials and temptations, and Christians are not spared from these hardships and difficulties in life, and their faith will surely be sorely tested. When life is not so bright, will your faith still shine brightly? Or will we start to blame God and even deny Him. Do we believe in Jesus only if He gives us health and wealth, prosperity and success? When we fall sick, or lose our jobs, or meet with failures in life, do we forsake the Lord? If we do, then we have not truly believed on Him at all, our faith is false. That was why Jesus said in Matthew 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” True faith is a faith that will last. It will endure to the very end, it will always believe and trust in Christ no matter what, in good times and in bad times. Do you have this kind of a faith?
Take note that faith is not transferable. When the foolish virgins asked for oil from the wise virgins, the latter replied, “Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves” (Matt 25:9). This is not to say that the wise virgins were selfish for this is not the point. The point is everyone is personally responsible to make sure he or she has true faith. I cannot believe for you, and you cannot believe for me. I cannot give part of my faith to you to make up for what you lack, neither can I borrow from others their surplus faith to top up what I lack. There is simply no such thing. Your faith is between you and your Saviour, and we are personally and individually accountable for the decisions we make or actions we take in life whether it is for Christ or against Christ, and God will judge us accordingly.
True Believers Are Obedient to the Word
True believers are those who trust and obey God’s Word. We know this from what the Lord said to the foolish virgins in verse 12; despite them calling Him “Lord, Lord,” the Lord denied knowing them, “Verily I say unto you, I know you not” (Matt 25:12). These were the same words spoken by the Lord in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Please realise that the Lord is not impressed by an outward show of religion when there is no true spirituality within. Jesus said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt 15:8-9). The Apostle Paul described it as “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Tim 3:5). This is a hypocritical faith, saying “Yes,” but actually meaning “No.” Jesus pronounced a curse on such who wear the name of God or of Christ in vain, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matt 23:27-28).
So, let us examine our hearts. Do we truly love the Lord and His forever infallible and inerrant words? David showed what having a true heart of faith and obedience is like when he prayed, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps 139:17-24).
Jesus said, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matt 7:24-27). The foolish virgins like the foolish builder here had a disobedient faith, a dead faith which is no faith at all, for “faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:20).
If we have true faith, we will take the inspired and preserved words of God seriously, to hold fast to the forever infallible and inerrant words of everlasting life. We will have the highest regard for His words and will seek to study, obey and defend His words. Will you not resolve to read through the whole Bible in the New Year? Will you not also make it a point to study God’s Word intensively and systematically through the FEBC night classes? Be ye doers of God’s Word and not hearers only.
To be ready for the Lord’s return, we need to ensure that we are truly children of God—indwelt by the Holy Spirit, having a faith that will endure to the very end and is very obedient to the Holy Scriptures. So let us be ever ready while the Lord tarries, for He may come at midnight. When everyone is sleeping, let us be awake and watchful so that we will not be caught unawares when the Lord finally opens heaven’s doors to welcome us home.
