Evening Prayer 11-9-11

Reading:
Matthew 25:1-13

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Do you know when the Lord is going to return?  Do you know when your life is going to end?  These are some of the largest questions that loom around people.  We often think that the answer to this is, unfortunately I do not know.  But is it really unfortunate that you do not know when the end will occur?

You see from the moment of your birth, because of sin, we are destined to die.  That is what sin pays us, it gives us death.  But for those of us that are Christians, we are different in that regard.  In the waters of Holy Baptism, God calls you by name and chooses you for Himself.  He buries your old sinful nature and gives you the righteousness of Christ.  This gift that is given to you in Baptism is the free gift of the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.  So now, we know that unless the Lord returns we are going to die, but we no longer fear death because we have been united to Jesus Christ, the One that overcame death and the grave.

We are to be living each moment as if it could be our last.  We live our lives in state of repentance, surrounded with the Word of God and His Sacraments.  These gifts of God, then produce in us fruits of the Spirit and works of faith where we reach out to meet the needs of others.  We live out faith so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

Waiting until the last minute and then making the change is not what God is looking for.  He wants us to live in the constant state of readiness for His return!  Be like the 5 wise virgins who had their lamps ready for the return of the Bridegroom.