The times are measured by the awakening Church! The town crier lifts up his voice: “It is high time to awake out of sleep! (Romans 13:11) Salvation is nearer than it was before! The night is far spent, and the day is at hand!”
What a funny thing to say! “ . . . our salvation is nearer than when we first believed!” Why, yes, of course!
Yet, we do not always seem to hear the ticking of the clock.
A few very weighty instructions are coming up . . . and they all have to do with getting “dressed” in Jesus Christ. When we arise each day, we are donning our habits of faith and faithfulness, of love and devotion to God and love and devotion to His people.
Perhaps . . . what do you think? . . . perhaps we could jostle a few sleeping virgins and point out the sparcity of oil . . . oh, the danger! What if the Bridegroom returns while they go to make purchases? For Jesus’ sake let us “Look to him and be radiant,” in this hour. (Psalm 34:5)
If we have been asleep too long, we need not despair if only we will have light in ourselves, as we are meant to do, and so that our faces won’t be ashamed! But there is no time to lose . . . the day comes when there are no more deeds of righteousness to do! Jesus wouldn’t let demons tell who He is, because it is for men to know Him by faith. What a thought! The day will come when there are no more kindnesses to be shown on earth and no more prisoners to visit and no more opportunities to build up rather than destroy. The day approaches when no one may know the Lord by faith any longer: every eye will see Him. Today is the day of salvation for everyone we meet! (Hebrews 4:1-10)
Early Taschenuhr … pocket watch!
Wikipedia, Pirkheimer, by permission
Cor Unum Abbey 