Priceless Opportunity

If God knew that man would sin, why did He create him? That is a negative approach. The positive approach is If God knew that millions would find and enjoy eternal happiness, would He have been justified in not creating man. There are two sides to every picture. We have a free will. Varying circumstances may influence us; strong pressures may bear upon us; but we always have the power to choose.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Noah was asked by God to build a ship, the question is was he a fool? He worked without wages for many years. He served an employer who never came to see the job or send money to the worker. That's the way it looked but Noah kept working. When he did take time off he preached. The people listened to this old man and many must have decided he was good fun! When he rebuked their sinfulness they tolerated him; when he spoke of the holiness of God, they probably frowned and denied their sinfulness. When he told them the time of punishment was at hand they undoubtedly laughed at him. When Noah's predictions came true, they were dumbfounded. Yet they let the last seven days of priceless opportunity pass by. At anytime during that period, if any had walked through the door they would have been admitted. They let the opportunity go by. Have you ever stopped to think why? I mean out of all those people no one believed what Noah was saying; not one person. Were these people content with things the way they were? Was what Noah was saying so unbelievable? Then we read about another group in Matthew 25 we are told that there were ten virgins who all planned on meeting the bridegroom. In verse 2 we read
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
There were five wise and five foolish. What amazes me about the five foolish is that they were content and at ease. They were not fussy or fearful they fully expected to be there. Then we read Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (They thought they had plenty of time; they were wrong)

Matthew 25:7
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Matthew 25:8
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

Matthew 25:9
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.

Matthew 25:10
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.

Matthew 25:11
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Matthew 25:12
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

These five virgins had let some very important details slide. You might ask what? I think it was readiness. They came they knocked but it was too late. When they had time they took it easy they were sleeping. Then the Lord tells us Matthew 25:13
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
We must be ready for when that day comes we will not have time to get ready! 1Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Think you'll have time? Don't be fooled you will not if you are not ready get ready now don't delay.