TODAY JESUS STANDS at the door of your heart and knocks. Do you hear Him knocking and will you answer Him?
These were a few of the questions Reverend Barbara Gittens asked passers-by as she conducted her weekly Wednesday open-air lunchtime preaching at Six Roads, St Philip.
Her message was centred on Matthew 25:1-13 – the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom prepared themselves for the coming of the bridegroom and five who did not.
“This is a parable that stresses the importance of the return of Jesus,” Gittens declared. “Jesus is coming back and when He returns, He will either find you awake and alert or sleeping and slumbering.
“Satan wants us to be unprepared for the Lord’s coming. He wants us to become so lazy, lukewarm and laid back that we forget or we get so busy and distracted that we no longer think about it.”
She noted that five of the virgins had prepared for the bridegroom’s arrival and possessed an abundance of oil. They believed He was coming and took action. She added that as for the foolish five, they did not bother to get enough oil because they believed they had plenty of time and took no action.
“For the wise, this was fine, since they were ready. For the foolish, this was fatal since they were not ready . . . . When He comes it will be as a thief in the night and every eye will see Him.”
Gittens said believers should deliberately prepare for Jesus’ coming by paying attention to their character, watching their commitment to God and watching their companions.
“You are known by your companions. Don’t be caught in the wrong crowd when Jesus comes. Make time for God now. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come or the years draw nigh when thou should say, I have no pleasure in them.”
She concluded her sermon by asking: “Today are you awake? What is your supply of oil? Don’t depend on past experiences or blessings. What about now? When your bridegroom comes, will your robes be white?”
She next urged those within the hearing of her voice to look up, around and within, and prepare for the great day that was coming.
“Be baptised into Christ today, or come back to be renewed, revived and restored,” she pleaded.
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