We start off on our Christian journey as a joyous Christian. But the years go by and we begin to believe the Lord will not come during our lifetime. It is easy then to cease pressing forward, pressing forward, pressing forward until we are dwelling in untroubled rest with Jesus Christ in the center of the Person and will of God.

Several times in the Gospel accounts the Lord declared that His coming would be as a thief. If we knew the calendar date of His appearing we could prepare ourselves. But it may be this afternoon. It may be a thousand years from now. Only the Father knows. We have to always be ready, especially at midnight.

You know, when we read a parable, or even a prophetic statement, we form in our mind a picture of what it will be like when the event occurs. But in many instances we are incorrect. The Jews have an idea what it will be like when Christ comes. The idea that Jesus on the cross was Christ is not acceptable to the Jews.

The same thing is true of us. We know the Lord said two would be in a bed, one would be left and the other taken. In the present parable we picture that in the Day of the Lord there will be a loud voice saying the Bridegroom is coming, and then we will go somewhere to meet Him.

I believe both of these ideas are true. But if I am not mistaken, there may be another dimension to that of two people in the bed and one being taken; and also of the ten virgins going out to meet the Bridegroom.

I think some of this is going on today; perhaps not the fullness of the prophecy, but elements of it that are dreadfully important.

There will be a worldwide appearing of Christ when every eye shall see Him. We know this is true and scriptural.

But think for a moment. Isn't it true that in another sense, Christ is here now? Didn't He say that where two or three are gathered in His name He is there in their midst?

Well, is He there or isn't He there?

It may be true that even in our day some are going in to the wedding. It may be true that even in our day two are in one bed, one can hear the voice of the Lord and one cannot.

It may be true that even in our day the talents of some are being taken from them and given to another, and they are entering spiritual darkness.

We need to be careful that we do not miss the day of our visitation. The Jews missed the day of their visitation because they were not walking with the Lord. But Anna and Simeon saw Christ as a baby in the Temple. The important members of the Jewish religion were looking for a great king to come like Solomon. But Mary was holding the King in her arms.

It is easy to be active in our religions practices and miss God.

We say if we had been in the Temple we would have recognized the thundering God of Sinai in Mary's arms. Would we? Maybe in one sense the midnight cry is sounding now. Are we hearing it, or are we busy in the activities of the church and not really walking with the Lord?

Watch and pray!

To be continued.