In this series on the Wedding Garment that began with Part 34, I pray your eyes have been opened, so that you will truly be prepared for the Lord's return. This means that you will be wearing not only the Garment of Salvation, but also the Robe of Righteous - Wedding Garment - which is required to enter the Wedding Hall. If not, you will not be properly attired for the Marriage of the Lamb and will not be permitted to attend. Many are called to the Wedding - few are chosen to go in...Matt. 22:14.
In the last blog we described the foolish virgin in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. There were ten virgins...five of them were wise, and five were foolish...Matt. 25:2.
The number 5 in the Bible symbolizes incomplete. The 5 foolish virgins are Christians, but while on the earth they attended to the treasures of the world to benefit themselves, leaving little time to attend to spiritual treasures that are stored in Heaven to weave their Robe of Righteousness - Wedding Garment. The foolish virgins were incomplete when the Bridegroom arrived - not ready.
When Jesus returned, the 5 wise virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut...Matt.25:10. The number 5 symbolizes incomplete, revealing they entered the Wedding Hall leaving behind many Christians who were not ready - the attendees in the Wedding Hall were incomplete...Matt. 22:11-13.
How did the wise virgins prepare to go into the Wedding Hall when Jesus returned? While on the earth they built their houses - temples - on the foundation of salvation with gold, silver, and precious stone...I Cor. 3:12. These materials symbolize the righteousness of God. The wise virgins did not busy themselves in the materialism and entertainment of the world, which would only benefit. themselves. Their "works" only benefited the Kingdom of Heaven - glorifying only Jesus Christ.
What works will not burn up on Judgment Day? I will answer with a question - what are you doing today that could burn up in a fire on the earth? As we ponder that question, we will realize that even our physical body dies and returns to dust - so what is left of us? We must examine the "works" we are doing right now, while we still have time to make any needed changes.
Will acts of love burn up? Will acts of humility - putting the needs of others before our own - burn up? Will obedience to God - no matter how others reject or humiliate us like they did Noah, Joseph, or Jeremiah - burn up? When we lead someone to Christ - will that burn up? When we use our precious time to disciple someone in the Word of God - will that burn up? When we are kind and gentle toward others - will that burn up? When we bring peace to a volatile situation, rather than anger and rage - will that burn up? These are the questions we must ask ourselves, and the Lord will give us His answer.
God told us to...pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness...I Tim. 6: 11. If we built our house - temple - from these "works" it will not burn up when we stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne Judgment. These are the incorruptible treasures, along with forgiveness, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, faithfulness and self-control, that are stored in Heaven, which are the threads that weave our Robe of Righteousness - Wedding Garment - so we can participate in the Marriage of the Lamb.
While on the earth, each believer is given the freedom to choose the materials with which he builds his house. But the Word of God is informing us that there are consequences for building our house out of wood, hay, and stubble - it will burn down to the foundation of salvation when we stand before Jesus on that Day. If our house burns down, we will be left with only the Garment of Salvation. Paul said, If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire...I Cor. 3:15.
The loss that will be suffered by this believer on Judgment Day will produce weeping and gnashing of teeth. Why? He will not be allowed in the Wedding Hall - Holy of Holies because he does not have on the fine linen Robe of Righteousness - the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints...Rev. 19:8.
In Part 39 I explained how this believer was sent to place in Heaven referred to as Outer Darkness, symbolizing the "works" he accomplished on the earth defiled his temple with darkness, which burned up in the glory of His brightness. No darkness is allowed in the Holy of Holies where the Marriage of the Lamb takes place. See - Parable of the Wedding Feast - Matt. 22:1-14.
The believers who are sent to Outer Darkness will suffer great loss. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth - sobbing and wailing - while grating their teeth from the pain and rage for not being prepared for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now you can't say you didn't know.
Are you really prepared for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ?
God's sheep question doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
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