Circumspection and Virgins

My debut entry for this online journal was about Time and it is no mere coincidence that today's sermon by Pastor Paul Chong was regarding Time, albeit in a different context. Vita brevis, tempus fugit and hence Psalm ninety verse twelve exhorts us:

"So teach us to number our days, that we apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Pastor Paul Chong's choice of Scriptural reference for this Sabbath was from the Epistle of Ephesians, chapter five verses fifteen to seventeen:

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

What particularly struck me is that both of the above Bible quotations highlight the prudence of wisdom. It pleases our Heavenly Father to be good stewards of Time, which is a gift from His loving hands and has been bestowed upon us for our employment for His Glory within the bounds of Christian liberty He has set for us.

The world today, just like it was in Noah's time, scratches its head and inquires with a sneer, "What's the haste? Why the hurry?" And the Church must then whip out the Gospel of Saint Matthew and cry out the Parable of the Ten Virgins [chapter twenty five, verses one to thirteen]:

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

The Apocalypse or the Second Coming will occur when our guard is down, in the most clandestine of times. If Jesus Christ returns, the world has nothing to gain and everything to lose.

Carpe diem.