Picture someone standing at a cemetery. In front of him is the hole that has been readied to hold a coffin. It’s a dark hole and once filled, that’s it. Whose turn will it be? In Luke 16:19-31 it’s the rich man’s turn. It’s pretty sad, the rich man is speaking from hell. He lived well on earth but now it’s time for eternity to kick in. Abraham’s words are pretty sobering.
Now go to Matthew 25:1-13 and the story of the ten virgins. Some of them came prepared and some didn’t. Which ones does the bridegroom want? It’s an easy answer, the ones who came prepared. What awaits the ones not prepared? Probably the same as what happened to the rich man.
Dr. Charles Swindoll in his book The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, tells about working as a machinist. He worked with a fellow called Tex who chewed tobacco and left the pouch open in his hip pocket. One evening at work he saw a cricket nearby. He noticed that it was the same color as Tex’s tobacco and wondered if he would notice the difference. He caught the cricket, pulled off its head and dropped it into the pouch. Soon Tex dipped into his pouch and put a big wad in his mouth. He spit wings and body parts most of the evening and never knew he chewed up a cricket. This just goes to prove that people who chew don’t know what’s in their mouths.
Anyway, Tex was always washed up and ready to go before the final whistle of the evening. He was a thorn to the employer because he always washed up before the whistle blew. Dr. Swindoll asked him why he always did this. This is the important part. Tex said that he just stays ready to keep from gittin’ ready. That’s what the sermon covered today.
Our revival starts May 16th at 7 p.m. Please take time and come. Copies of the sermon are always available and we would love to send you a CD of it. They are free. Call (4l7)543-6219 to get a copy.. Have a God-blessed, God-inspired, and God-filled week.
