Yesterday (last Sabbath, Saturday) we had another good day. My uncle met us at church again, though we didn’t get to sit together like last time, since he came way later than we did (for we had made it somewhat past 11 a.m.).
The sermon was based upon the Ten Virgins parable found in Matthew, chapter 25. The speaker, after giving us the cultural background surrounding the marriage ceremony customs of the time, went on to explain that:
Just as the five foolish virgins were as desirous to enter into the marriage feast as the five wise ones, they were left out because of their lack of preparation. They let themselves become distracted, not building a relationship with the groom (to know the signs for when he’d arrive) nor obtaining adequate oil, as they should’ve been doing during their time of waiting.
We Seventh-day Adventists also look forward to entering into that wedding feast, but many of us will be left out because of the same reasons.
By neglecting to build a strong relationship with God and receive the fulness of the Holy Spirit in this time of probation, we will find ourselves unprepared for the time of trouble and for His return. We would’ve neglected to observe the signs of the times and to obey all that God had told us to do, by His grace. We will find ourselves outside the shut door and it will said unto us by Him, “I do not know you.”
And just even logically think about it:
If all this time you have been rejecting God and His counsels (as given to us in the KJV Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy — His inspired writings shared with us through His prophetess Ellen G. White), literally refusing to thus build a strong relationship with Him, how could it be said that you two know each other?
For persons to “know each other” they spend time together, getting to learn one another personally. If you’re rejecting everything that God has to say, shutting your ears to Him, then you don’t know Him — because you literally won’t let Him speak to you and tell you about Himself.
Although God indeed does know everything about you, you on the other hand know nothing about Him — you shut down every opportunity for a relationship with Him to built; so yes, He will say unto unprepared Christians: “I do not know you. Depart from me you who practice lawlessness” — you who refuse to listen and obey, by His grace.
I like this church. The people’s sincerity and the messages are just lovely, very convicting and true, Amen.