17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” ~ 1 Peter 4:17-18
Please note that he did not say that the righteous will not be saved. Or that the righteous cannot be saved. But instead, he said that they are scarcely saved. Meaning this is not a spectator’s sport. We are not here to sit on the bench and watch. We are expected to “work out” our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
Jesus gave His Church a mandate to go into all the world and tell the Good News of His death and resurrection. And we are to baptize and make disciples of all who believe. There are no couch-potato-Christians. There are no armchair Christians. We are expected to get up, stand up, and win souls for the LORD before Eternity Comes Crashing In.
His coming will be like a thief in the night, you do not know on which night or at which hour He will come back. Therefore, we must watch and pray that we are not found slumbering or without oil to trim our lamps, as was the case with the Five Foolish Virgins.
You cannot say that they were not saved because they were. They even had on their wedding garments. They looked the part, but they had no oil with which to trim their lamps. They had no growth. They were only spectators and not participants.
Listen … Jesus is coming back for participants, and not spectators. Which one are you? Are you a participant? Or are you a spectator? Do you look the part only? Or are you being the part? I’m not trying to insult you. I’m not trying to scare you. I’m not trying to place doubts in your mind.
What I am suggesting, however, is to take an inventory of your life. Evaluate your actions. Assess your purpose for Jesus. Do not let that day catch you unawares or unprepared, with no real treasure stored up in eternity. You do not want to be broke here and be broke there… that’s if you make it in at all.
We are not saved by works, but we are certainly saved to work. Adam was placed in paradise, the Garden of Eden, to work it and to keep it according to Genesis 2:15. We are fellow workers, not general spectators. Therefore, get up and start working before Eternity comes Crashing In on you, and you are caught with no real treasure in eternity.
But it all starts with Jesus. There is no life. There is no hope. There is no future without Jesus being first in your life.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be A Participant.