Even though they were virgins whose light had been burning at one time, that is, they were believers, doctrinally sound, who had been alive in Christ, the Lord will not know them at His appearing. This concept is so contrary to today's Evangelical belief it demands thorough consideration before we keep on telling the congregations they need have no fear because Jesus loves them so much He is excusing their laziness and indifference to spiritual things.

If we expect the Lord Jesus to know us in that day we had better make certain we are living the victorious life, denying ourselves, carrying our cross after the Lord. The way we feel or the fact that we once have spoken in tongues is no guarantee of being known by the Lord when He comes.

God is the God of the now. Today is the day of salvation. If the righteous person begins to act wickedly he will die in his sins. His past righteousness will not be remembered. By the same token, if the wicked person begins to act righteously he will live. His past wickedness will not be remembered. This is what the Bible teaches.

Change is possible today. We should take advantage of it. In the Day of Christ the holy will remain holy and the filthy will remain filthy. There will be no opportunity for change at that time.

Today is your only chance. Change now. Tomorrow may be too late. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

The Parable of the Talents

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. (Matthew 25:14,15—NIV)

The word "again" signifies we still are referring to "at that time," that is, at the time of the historic coming of the Lord.

The Lord Jesus, the Anointed One of God, left the earth and ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. When He ascended He sent down His tremendous anointing to rest on His saints. But instead of each saint having the entire anointing the Holy Spirit gave to each person the ministries and gifts that would enable the person to fulfill the work the Holy Spirit had for him or her to do, the work of bringing each believer to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to maturity as measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Sometimes it seems there are congregations in which virtually none of the members have any idea what their talent is, what it is that God has given them to do. The Pastor and the platform ministries perform most of the activities of the service. This is why Christ is not formed in the believers.

To be continued.