Devotional for Fall 2020 Semester

 

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

August 10 Devotional for Fall 2020 classes

Dr. John Sterling

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” —Matthew 25:1-13

We know from scripture that the bridegroom is Jesus.    Jesus is coming again. He gave us explicit instructions to be ready for His return. The readiness of the people of God depends upon their knowledge of truth, their obedience to truth, and their patience and faithfulness. In Matthew 24 and 25 we find some of the verses in the Bible that give clues to those days prior to His coming.  Elsewhere in scripture we find many instructions to help us always have an attitude of readiness, not just for His coming, but our service to Him.  We are told to make ourselves ready, spiritually, mentally, and physically to be “fit” for the work that God has called us to.  In Leviticus, this verse lays a foundation for the parable of the ten virgins:

“Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually.” Leviticus 24:2.  If the mission requires light, you must have enough oil for the lamps to be ready at a moment’s notice.

Those who were (have been) schooled in God’s Word, we understand the imperative: we have to DO some things to “get ready”. Salvation is free (nothing we CAN do to earn that) but our sanctification (the process of growing closer to God) involves discipline on our part-preparation and practice to be ready for the next “mission”.  In the Army, leaders report that their elements (squads, platoons, companies, battalions, etc.) are “mission-ready, sir!”   We have trained, and equipped ourselves to accomplish whatever we have been called to do.

Half of those virgins (young women who make up part of the wedding entourage) were called to provide light.   Light is produced by the lamps which require olive oil as the energy source. Part of the responsibility of the lamp-bearer is know how much oil will be required to accomplish the mission. Also implied is that the preparation for the mission must take place while we are engaged in another mission: the mission of daily living.   There is no special time set aside for training and material acquisition prior to receiving your “marching orders”.  Once activated, the preparation must be fully accomplished.

No doubt all of the ten virgins were engaged in something when they received the call. The Bible does not provide details so they are not important but we may surmise that whatever they were doing, they had short notice to drop that and report to the wedding feast prepared to accomplish the mission- to provide light for the wedding party inside the wedding chamber.

The ten virgins are divided by the narrative into two groups: the wise virgins and the foolish virgins (There is no middle ground here. You are one, or the other.)  The five foolish virgins must have had  some oil in their lamps, because they said, “Our lamps are going out.” They were “semi-prepared”.   Semi-prepared is not enough. You have to come to the wedding fully “mission-ready”.  Perhaps they thought they might avert disaster by some “late-stage” action. Maybe they didn’t take the assignment seriously in the first place.  Maybe they hoped for some kind of undeserved leniency.  So, the “foolish” virgins  were advised to try to go buy some more.    But it was late, the opportunities to acquire more oil were gone. By the time the bridegroom arrived, it was too late to buy oil.  They missed their “window of opportunity”.

“And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’” Matthew 25:10-12.

Do you see the finality here? When the deadline is passed, there are no more opportunities.   The score is “pass-fail”.    No sliding scale or grading on the curve. Whether you are “in” or “out” depends upon whether you took the warnings and instructions seriously.

I want to apply this principle to two different current events.    First, this is the beginning of a new semester at college, and we have a lot of new Freshmen who are poised to launch a whole new chapter of their lives.   Some have been preparing for this for a few years. Others, have managed to get this far mostly by dumb luck and/or the grace of God.  For those new college students, this is the message: Read the syllabus, read carefully and complete all assignments on time, and ask the instructor if you need assistance. Manage your time wisely, anticipate setbacks, and plan for contingencies. You will be like the wise virgins.

The other application for this parable is the social breakdown we are experiencing in American culture.  I address here a different audience, with different issues and challenges, but the principles are the same.  When we abandon first principles and reject God and His instructions, are become blind to the “signs of the times”. If we do not prepare for what must certainly be inevitable social collapse and systemic failure, then we will experience catastrophic destruction at the personal and national levels.  Like the foolish virgins, we have been warned, and we have been given opportunities (and second chances) to “get it all together” for these times.  Failure to heed the warnings will result in total systemic failure and we have no one to blame but ourselves.  Our preparation must include spiritual study and practice, mental discipline, and our physical and economic health. You may wish it were not so…you may not believe it will be so… but if it is true, it will be true no matter what you believe about it.  

No matter what you are going through, or where you are in life right now, the time is right for you to take action.  The warnings are clear to all who are paying attention. If you are not seeing it, you are not paying attention. The “fix” is also clear: seek God while He may be found. Do today what you can do to prepare.  Never gamble what you cannot afford to lose. Don’t procrastinate. Once the doors are closed, there will be no one to help you.  Quite literally, there will be Hell to pay.

John Sterling

Aug 7, 2020

How far is the Mask from the Mark?

 How far is it from the mask to the mark?

Covid-19 Pandemic. Mask requirements now, what next? 

July 18, 2020

Americans are divided on the subject of wearing a mask in public to reduce possibilities of a viral infection.  There is good science to back a conclusion that in some cases a mask may be beneficial but in other cases it is definitely not, and may even be harmful to the wearer.  Then there is science that is not so good (flaws in testing modalities, sample sizes, controlling of variables, etc.) that supports alternative conclusions.   Add to all of that, the politics which, with support of media, pushes whatever "conclusions" support their agenda.  I would like to think we could all agree that all of that is true.

The choice to wear a mask is increasingly being made by government (or quasi-government entities) so individual choice is becoming moot. Businesses are now picking up the banner and echoing the warnings of the government and media.   "If you want to shop at our store, you MUST wear a mask".  SO far, that is not a big problem because consumers still have other shopping options.

Some businesses even put restrictions on what merchandise might be considered “essential or non-essential”.

Now suddenly, without explanation, we have a coin "shortage". Some businesses are accepting either "correct change only"  or "No cash accepted- credit/debit cards only".  Again, not too big a deal as long as consumers have choices.

How far away is the time of "no choices"?

How long until, by choice or coercion, all stores will demand digital transactions only?   Since we (at least, many Americans) have bought into the "Must wear a mask" argument, and most are apparently on board with the "must use digital means only" to conduct transactions, then how soon before you cannot buy, or sell ANYTHING without digital processes?

Mark my words (no pun intended) but we are very close to a government edict that declares all cash transactions to be unlawful. Perhaps they will use the “dirty” money argument- that because of a danger of spread of disease, use of cash will be outlawed.  To reduce/prohibit fraud with digital transactions there will be some form of ID required that goes beyond what is presently acceptable.   Something more, that validates the identity of the user and affirms alliance with the government, and obedience to the values of said government.  Something like the Bible describes as the “Mark of the Beast”.

The Mark will have the following characteristics:

(1) It will be justified by the need to protect people

(2) It will be an easy, quick, painless, process.

(3) It will allow government to “verify” every transaction

(4) It will promise ultimate security and convenience.

(5) Most people will see only the “upside” and will not see (or will marginalize) possibilities for misuse.

(6) Most people will be suspicious of, and will be encouraged to report, any person speaking against this means of transaction.

(7) The “mark” will likely include some sort of affirmation of the bearers allegiance to government above all else.  (That may come later- after the initial implementation is successful).

I have been a little surprised at how quickly, and how easily, so many have been led to a place of total commitment to wearing a mask to “prevent” the spread of COVID -19. Some people are wearing a mask by themselves as they drive their own automobile.  Some people are clueless about any science that opposes the “studies” that support the position they have bought into. Many folks are surprisingly willing, even eager, to “turn in” their neighbors for not wearing a mask in public.   Our local news recently had to air a public service announcement to ask people NOT to call 911 to report “mask violations”.   Seriously. It’s that crazy.

Seeing this unfold before my very eyes, I am reminded of historical examples of this very thing in Germany in the 1930’s. I have interviewed holocaust survivors to inquire how it could be that the Jews did not see what was happening to them.   Every one of them said that they did not see how it could deteriorate so far, so quickly. Every one believed that Germany, then one the leading nations in terms of science, education, and the arts, could ever be so callously in humane.  Somebody would surely DO something! They all believed that it would get no worse than what it was at the moment. (It got much worse!).

IF you believe in Biblical prophecy, or IF you believe that this path can be more dangerous for civil liberties than beneficial to fight the coronavirus, then you are probably already taking some steps to mitigate the predictable result of being forced to acquire necessary items without cash or credit card. If not, it’s never too late to DO SOMETHING. Web sites offering advice are plentiful.  Some are even pretty good.  My only advice here is to recognize that what is happening in our culture now is predicted, and it WILL play out as predicted. So if you want to know about that, visit some web sites on what the Bible says about the End Times.  My admonition would be to NOT allow your self to think like those poor Jews in pre-WWII Germany who did nothing while hoping that it would not get any worse.  It will.

John Sterling, MA, JD

7/18/2020

Deception is the Order of the Day

Bunked and debunked

I see these terms on social media in the form of an assertion of some truth.  A web site holds itself forth as a "news" source and it "reports" news that is designed to ignite (or fan the flames of) passion. Often these "news" items are repackaged tidbits from other "news" sites of varying degrees of credibility (or incredibility). 

Then, in the spirit of the game, another "news" pundit (of equally questionable integrity or reliability) will "debunk" the original "bunk" by accusing the original source(s) of being biased or outright lying. There is much caterwauling and beating of the chest, but usually very little (if any) actual facts offered as contrary evidence.

Frankly, it's exhausting.  Is there any such thing anymore as "honest" (in the intellectual as well as the moral sense) news outlet today?

Recently (for example), in the "discussion" leading up to the Iran "deal", we got very conflicting information from Russian and Israeli sources that contradicted U.S. sources (or offered glimpses into the details that were notably absent from U.S. reporting). It appears, in retrospect, that the ONLY reliable information available to the U.S. citizen was that which originated from either Russia or Israel. 

I apologize in advance for anything I post that proves ultimately untrue.  Like I said, it is exhausting trying to verify anything these days.   Deception is the order of the day.  

For what it's worth...Mat 24:24 tells us to be very alert in "The Last Days",  “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

The mind (reason) is far superior to passion (emotion) in determining what is true, but ultimately all truth is spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:14 says "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Another translation says it this way " A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the teachings of God's Spirit. He thinks they're nonsense. He can't understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them."

Whether or not these are the "Last Days" (I believe that they are) it seems pretty clear that with so much deception and so much "...spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph 6:10) that our reason alone is insufficient to know "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."   God help us.  

John A. Sterling, MA, JD
Dec 30, 2015