I hate taking tests.
But I'm a bit on the lazy side though too, for I tend not to study as hard as I should. Even so, tests, as most of you would probably agree, are not fun to take.
I used to take piano lessons from my mom, and she'd tell me over and over "practice makes perfect". If you didn't practice all the time, then recitals wouldn't go over very well would they? And what would you actually learn?
The Bible talks about Christ's second coming, but unfortunately we don't know when that will be. (Read Matthew 24:3-31 Tribulation/End Times, Second Coming)
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:26-44
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' 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. Matthew 25:1-13
So Christ tells us to "be prepared" at all times. If we aren't, we'll be like the five foolish virgins—locked out and kicking ourselves for not having been prepared.
Or practiced enough.
Or studied up enough.
You're nodding your heads now aren't you?
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51
So we need to be ready every minute of every day—not just when we go to Church, or read our Bibles. Every minute of our life that goes by means one more minute till either the second coming or the end of your life. I don't say this to scare you. Only so reality will dawn in your brains, your hearts, and your souls.
Ready to study? Let's go!*
Whitney
