The Midnight Cry - Part 2

Jesus was unambiguous about his return. He told the parable of the ten virgins to assure his disciples of his return. Throughout the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), he told his disciples that he will depart this planet to return in splendour and glory, and take them home with him. "My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3, NIV). His return is meant to be a joyful occasion for his disciples, as the passage above described. It is a reunion of Christ and his church. The Church he promised to build and keep until the last day. It is the hope that every true believer in Christ shares. Imagine the opportunity and reality of seeing Jesus face to face. What a day, what a joyful day that will be. 

In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus emphasised that the difference between the five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins is that the foolish ones were unprepared. For the five wise virgins, there was joy as they were reunited with the Bridegroom, but it was sorrow for the foolish virgins. So, the question is how do we prepare for Jesus' return? 

Peter dealt with this question in the two letters he wrote to the "exiled" Christian community scattered throughout Asia minor in the first century. He wrote the letters towards the end of his life on earth. He reminded them, and us of the "inheritance...kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5, NIV). You will notice that the inheritance (eternal life), which Peter is talking about is kept for us in heaven. More importantly, it is "God's power" that is shielding us until the salvation that is to be revealed. In other words, we can't prepare on our own. We need God's power to sustain us. Very early in my Christian walk, I thought I needed God's power to bring me to salvation, but after I became a Christian, would have to rely on my own power and effort to sustain me to the last day. NO! It is God who initiates, sustains and will complete the work of salvation he started for every Christian. It is his power that will shield and sustain us. All we have to do is to put our faith in him. It is through our continued and unyielding faith in God that we can adequately prepare for the midnight cry.

So, the first preparation is to put your faith in God, who through his power is doing the work of shielding us from every fiery dart of the devil. Peter says "...though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold...may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6-7, NIV). As we wait for the coming of Christ, our faith will be tested. There will be fleshly desires that were crucified, that will keep attempting to raise their ugly heads. Things you thought you had dealt with that will keep seeking your attention again. Other testing may come in the shape of suffering unjustly. It could be in the form of persecution, trials, hardship or sickness that may shake your faith in God. Peter says, these testings will serve to proof the genuineness of our faith. They will expose the motives of every believer, revealing whether we are simply following Christ for selfish motives, for what we can gain from him, or whether we truly love and trust him whatever life throws at us. 

That's why Peter goes on to say "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9, NIV). This joy that we are filled with is produced by the Holy Spirit in us. If you have lost your joy, check your faith. If your faith in God is intact, when you are tried and pressed on every side, the power of God will keep and uphold you, and that unspeakable joy that is not dependent on circumstances will fill your heart. Joy, the fruit of the Spirit is the supernatural work of God through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. 

The second preparation is to "set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." This calls for an awareness and a lifestyle that understands that this world is transient. It is a life that is committed to seeking God, his kingdom and his righteousness. A determination to live by God's standard, not an earthly one. This is what Paul meant when he talked about a life of worship that offers ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him. Not conforming to the pattern of this world, but being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). Peter also used similar words. He says, "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:14-15).

There is a fight therefore, raging in each one of us. A fight to resist the allurement of the enemy and insist on doing the will of our Father God. This calls for a renewal of our minds. An alertness of mind that ensures that no evil and unwholesome thought is allowed to permeate our minds. Evil thoughts that are left unchallenged and unopposed will take root and produce evil and ungodly actions. Ungodly actions that go on and on, unchecked, will lead to attitudes of the heart and form characters and habits that may then take time to unlearn or get rid of. But if you find that the horse has already bolted and the bad habits are now fully entrenched, there is still a way out, and it's in the power of God. Peter says, "...rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Peter 2:1-3, NIV). 

Let's draw near to God in an intimate relationship so that he may build us up and keep us prepared for his coming. Let's keep fighting the good fight of faith.