I Nearly Missing This!

As I waited for sunrise today a pink glow began to appear above the clouds so I headed out to capture the beauty only to discover that my camera battery was flashing empty and I’d left my spare one I usually have with me in my van. Once the sky puts on this kind of a display it can take only seconds before the beauty fades so imagine how I felt to find my camera battery flashing empty…

Thankfully when I returned I hadn’t missed too much as clouds I’d not seen earlier began to appear in every direction, a 360 degree display of colour.

I was annoyed at believing I’d be right without the camera bag I take every day and it reminded me of a story Jesus told of the 10 virgins waiting until midnight for the bridegroom to arrive.

If you’re unfamiliar here is the Story of the Virgins in Matthew 35, a parable about God’s Kingdom that comes with a warning for us as christians:

“God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.

“In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’

“The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’

“They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’

“They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.

“Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’

“He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’

“So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

It’s what we were created for…

Maybe they thought they’d have enough oil but the bridegroom took longer than expected to arrive.
They fully expected entry into heaven when they returned with their lamps burning bright again but the welcome door was now shut…. and the bridegroom said He didn’t know them.

We are His hands and His feet and He’s still waiting as He reminds us…

“So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of my return.

Please share this message and help to bring light to someone else’s world!
2017 Elaine Costin – Capturing Sunrise / Blog