Isaiah 55
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

We must pursue the Lord with all our heart at this time – to seek him with all our might. To know the truth of the man who sold all he had to gain the pearl of great price. How easy is it to sit in indolence, indifference, or apathy, assuming that all that now is, will remain. Newsflash: it will not.

Or perhaps we live life pulled in every way, distracted by so many things. I know this reality well, our culture sometimes appears to be little more than a curse with its insatiable demands. We have a good role model though – our Lord knew what it was to be in demand, and he knew what it was to withdraw that he might have communion with His Father.

The important thing – the imperative now – is to race after Him. All things are passing, and only He will remain. Your job, your family, yes, even your religion, are not rocks that will hold firm. There is only one Rock that will hold the anchor of your life – Jesus Christ.

All things appear to be continuing, and the temptation is to put off for tomorrow a decision that can be made today. Do you know if there will be a tomorrow for you? Will your tomorrow be filled only with regret?

The call – WAKE UP! Shift out of apathy, WAKE, Church, AWAKE! It is the twilight of the current age, and we bask in its fading gleams.

I am aware as I write this, that I am not saying anything new, nor something that has not been said so many times before. I am, though, also aware of the myriad of folk who, riding the rhythms of the age, have been lulled to sleep, only awakening when the music finally stops. Too late. So, if I can awaken one sleeper, then I would write the same thing again, and again, and again.

There will come a time, individually or corporately, when the writing will stop, the music will cease, and the Book of Life will be opened. Would you play dice with this terrible finality? Hoping that you may perhaps slip in by a side door? Not going to happen. Either you have a wedding garment, or you do not. And tomorrow may be too late, far, far too late.

For those walking the path, I exhort you, encourage you – see through to the end that which you have begun. The crown of life awaits those who finish the race of faith. Doesn’t matter how you get there or whether you are wounded on the way. Nothing will be so hard that you are not given what you need to see it through. Fear is greater than the object feared. For sure, the enemy will seek to see you stumble, but He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world. So do not be afraid, just focus your eyes on the finish line, upon Him who is able to give immeasurably more than you ask or can imagine.

Matthew 25
1 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 ‘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.’
10 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.
11 Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
12 But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.