Save the Date~

We received this sharp looking piece of mail this week. One remark that has come out of my daughter's mouth has been, "I am so excited! This will be the event of the year!"  Two young people that I have had the privilege to watch grow up and fall in love will be married at the end of the year. It is exciting to hear about the details in the preparation for this big event! There are a lot of different aspects that have to be thought about and decided on. I'm sure there are lists that are being made and even compromises that will be discussed and worked out. It takes time to plan an event such as a wedding. It can be stressful but it should be fun! As I thought about this event I thought about another event that will be coming in the future-Christ's return for His bride.

It is shared with us in a parable in Matthew 25: 1-13

   "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

   And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

   They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

   But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

   While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

   And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

   Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

   And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

   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.

   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.

   Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

   But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

   Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

We have been given an invitation. All of us that have accepted Christ as our Savior are told that He is coming back for us so that we can be with Him in heaven for eternity. The unknown is the actual date. We are told to be ready.

Matthew 24:44  

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

There are things that we are to be doing while we are waiting for that exciting day. We need to be in His Word, learning more about Him and striving to be like Him in all that we do. We should strive to keep sin out of our lives. Keep current with God on all accounts-asking for forgiveness when we have sinned.

Our responsibility is also to be sharing the gospel with all we come in contact with, telling them about Christ and His love and salvation.

Mark 16:15  

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

What is the gospel? It is explained to us in I Corinthians 15:3-4:

 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

   And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

We aren't placed here on earth to be content with where we are. We should be longing for Heaven and Christ. It can be difficult because we are human and this life is all we have known. Our desire can be fed by being in His Word-the Bible-and spending as much time in prayer with him as we can. As we continue here living one day at a time may our prayer be as that of John in 

 Revelation 22:20:

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."