When Jesus Christ returns, it will be a time of separation.
The wise will be separated from the foolish.
The faithful servants from the unfaithful.
The blessed sheep from the cursed goats.
The wise virgins had oil, and were prepared to meet the bridegroom.
Many people profess to be Christians, but do not have the Holy Spirit, and are not born again.
They may mingle with the saved, but they are not really one of them.
And they will not enter into the marriage feast.
His coming also means evaluation.
As we wait for the Lord to return, we must invest our lives and earn dividends for His glory.
Christ gives us opportunities that match our abilities.
And the one-talent servant is just as important as the five-talent servant.
The key is faithfulness – where God measures us against ourselves, and not against the other servants.
Are you afraid to step out by faith?
And take some risks for God?
When Christ returns, it will be a time of commendation.
We will be surprised to learn of ministries we performed that we thought were insignificant, but that He will reward.
This parable is not teaching salvation by good works.
Christ's sheep know that they are sheep, but they do not always realise what their service means to Christ.
We will experience some surprises in that day.
We'll see here that life presents us with many opportunities.
How we respond to them depends on what we love and what we look for in life.
The Jewish leaders looked for opportunity to destroy Jesus.
While at the same time Jesus was anticipating the opportunity to obey His Father and bring Him glory.
Mary used the opportunity she had for expressing her devotion to Christ.
But Judas used that same opportunity to criticise her.
See, nothing given in love to Jesus is ever wasted.
Judas was the one who ended up wasting his entire life.
Jesus eagerly anticipated the opportunity to be with His disciples, even though He knew that one will betray Him, one will deny Him, and all will forsake Him.
He sought to help them and prepare them for the trial before them.
Peter missed his opportunities to become strong and be a victor.
He boasted when he should have listened.
He slept when he should have prayed.
He fought when he should have surrendered.
And followed when he should have fled for safety.
But when the opportunity came for him to repent, he wept – that was the right thing to do.
No matter what others did, Jesus was in complete command and knew how to make the most of every opportunity.
'Not as I will, but as You will' - that's the secret to life – submitting to the will of God.
God will give you many opportunities today.
Use them wisely.
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