Handed Over to Death

Our eternal fate never rests on some future event or day.  What we are doing and thinking right now at this moment is where our fate hinges. So, Christ´s words to us as He teaches should sink deep under our skin. We should listen for guidance to help us in our day. Spiritual urgency and concerns found in the Bible should find their weight on us now. They are never intended for some imagined future day. On that day, it is always too late.

Christ´s foretelling of the final days can be understood in different ways. Some try to gleam a warning of what not to let ourselves come to. As if we were already perfect, they hope they are protecting themselves from sliding. Others hear but like to imagine the Lord pointing His fingers at another crowd. It is easier for them to digest if they shift the eye of scrutiny toward unbelievers. And then others will hear Jesus´ words and use them to test the timber of our faith today.

Christ talks of people who are so wrapped up in themselves that they are no longer concerned for others. Brothers don´t care about the spiritual or moral state of their brothers. Even parents let their own children walk right into the grave. These kinds of warnings should disturb us. We should shudder at the thought of losing those we love. We should panic to think that any of God´s children might not get to know Him and enter His embrace forever.

Dear Lord, tune our hearts so closely to Yours that we feel as You do. Let the importance You place on everything be important to us. If we can grow close enough to You, we will recognize when others are in need. We can concern ourselves with spiritual concerns if we walk with Your Spirit today. Draw us near. Open our eyes and ears. We pray. Amen

Hebrews 3:15-19 ESV / As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Isaiah 43:19 ESV / Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 ESV / Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Matthew 25:11-13 ESV / Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.