The race against time

Posted on February 18th, 2023 by Redeemed

Exodus 12:31 - 32, 34

He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the Israelites; and go, serve the Lord, as you said.

Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone! And [ask your God to] bless me also.

The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders.

 

Matthew 25: 5 - 6, 13

While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep.

But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!

Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.

 

Time is on a lane of its own, it waits for no one. The clock ticks on, slowly but surely. With each tick it announces night and day, and seasons. It also ushers in the plans and purposes of God.

It started at creation, when God called forth the sun and the moon to separate the light from the darkness, and the night from the day. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

God created time to determine the beginning and the ending, and bring order into creation. Creation therefore is bound by the limit of time. Everything on earth exist within the context of time.

At the fullness of time they came to be or seize to be. Their Maker has preordained their existence and also their departure. History confirms that nothing last forever. If this is true, how then should we live?

Our scripture for today advices us how to live - to watch and be prepared.

 

Isreal was in slavery for so long that when God sent Moses as a deliverer, they didn’t  believe him at first, but God being merciful did just what he had promised to do. For their sake, Egypt experienced the judgement of God at the fullness of time. God displayed His power with such acts of judgement such that Pharaoh sent for Moses by night and asked Isreal to leave and serve the LORD. He finally acknowledged that God is LORD. Isreal had to leave in a hurry, suddenly they experienced the freedom they longed for, for God had told them before hand that He was going to pass through Egypt that night and they were to eat the Passover lamb as though prepared for a journey. For suddenly when they least expected it, God was taking them out of Egypt into the promised land.

 

Exodus 12:11 And you shall eat it thus: [as fully prepared for a journey] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover.

With God nothing is impossible, for the things that seems impossible to men suddenly became possible when God appears in the scene.

Things are happening so fast that we need to be close to God to discern the time we live in and prepare adequately. We therefore need to be alive in Christ and be tuned to the move of His Spirit.

 

The sermon of the ten virgins drives home this message. We must be watching as Jesus’ bride. Keep the lamp burning always. God commanded Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to keep the lamp of the temple burning evening and morning everyday.

 

Exodus 27:20-21 KJV

And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. [21] In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord : it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

 

The fuel that keeps the fire burning in the temple was made of pure olive oil and I believe it’s symbolic of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believers. So, the Lord says the five virgins that were foolish didn’t think to have enough oil in their vessels but the wise virgins ensured they had enough oil in their lamps and some extra as spare.

What therefore was the difference between the foolish and wise virgins? One thing for sure, they were all virgins - people of God. The difference was the foolish ones were complacent, lazy and careless, whilst the wise were the exact opposite of the foolish virgins.

Apostle Paul said, let he that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he falleth.  (1 Corinthians 10:12)

 

The Lord commanded Isreal to be ready as if going on a journey as they ate the Passover lamb. He didn’t tell them when exactly they would have to leave, they were simply told to be ready, like wise the ten virgins. Only those who heeded the advice of Jesus made it to the feast prepared by the Bridegroom.

We as God’s people are warned to keep awake and not let the pursuit of things take our focus away from focusing on the soon coming Bridegroom.

The world is getting busier by the day, and time is racing so fast, taking us closer to the coming of Christ for His Church, and we must make every effort to keep focus on Jesus and live lives that will glory His name.

For the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, neither is bread to the wise nor riches to men of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11;

Apostle Paul admonished us in Hebrews 6:12 not to grow weary or disinterested but to imitate those through faith and patient have inherited the promise.

We are indeed nearer to His coming than when we first believed. So therefore, we must be watchful.

 

God bless.

 

Shalom.

Share:

Read More

• 

  The State of the Harvest

• 

  King of beasts

• 

  Saving Grace

Comments