“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven" - Luke 21:11 (NIV).
Many Christian observers following current affairs have noted we are at the threshold of the last days. Matthew 24:7-8 notes, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” Still in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic, now comes a war that threatens to suck in all the major powers, precipitating a World War III!
In one parable, Jesus told the story of ten virgins- five wise one who waited for the bridegroom with lanterns full of oil and five foolish ones without oil in their lanterns. Approaching the hour, drowsy with sleep having tired of waiting, "The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut" (Mathew 25: 8-10).
Times such as these demand each one of us to be prepared lest the bridegroom, Christ, arrives and finds any of us like the foolish virgins unprepared. While none can point a finger to the exact day with all the signs around, we ought to, "stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Mathew 24: 42-44, ESV).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, with all the signs around us pointing to the last days, help us who believe to remain faithful looking up to you for salvation, this I pray in Jesus's name
