JESUS ON JUDGMENT

Living with the end in view involves
Learning About Christ

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!”

But he answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matt. 25:10–13)

What reward do we have for asking the Lord to bless His messages of readiness with real fruit in our lives? “Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding.”

The long-distance runner needs to keep the reward in mind because the finish line is afar off, she has an ache in her side, and the pain in her foot is telling her that the padding of her sneaker is coming loose. We need to be reminded of the future glory because the overdue bills may distract us, working with difficult children may discourage us, and life’s relentless unfairness may flatten our faith.

The virgins who went into the wedding were known for their wisdom. Where do we get wisdom? From Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). There is no substitute for learning about Christ, pondering how He lived, and taking hold of what He has for us in prayer. There are no shortcuts to imitating Christ. We gain wisdom as we walk in His shoes.

The Lord is our teacher and trainer. He equips us for the race, runs alongside us by the Holy Spirit, and in the end He is our supreme prize. The Lord is our door into everything we need for the race. When I take hold of Him in life’s daily duties, I am enjoying my prize ahead of time!

When I keep entering the door of prayer in my dependence on Him and keep telling Him about my life, I establish an intimate relationship with the Lord. He will find it impossible to tell me, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”
It’s not enough for me to be one of the ten virgins; I want to be in that number of those who go marching in.

Living with the end in view means to maintain a relationship with Him of love.

Steps of faith:
Learn to invite the Lord into the everyday affairs of your life.

--Steve Husting