Lake Merced Church of Christ Lake Merced Church of Christ

Jay Mijares gave us Sunday’s message about “The Oil of Preparation.” This message is taken from the parable of the ten virgins, Matt. 25:1-13. In this story, the ten virgins (members of a wedding party) are waiting for the bridegroom to appear, but it’s not known when he will arrive. While they wait, they are meant to keep their oil lamps lit, as they will light the path for the wedding procession.

However, five of the virgins were not prepared. Matt. 25:3-4, “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.”

The bridegroom was delayed, and they all fell asleep. When at last the bridegroom arrived, the wise virgins were able to light their lamps. The foolish ones had to go searching for oil to buy, but when they returned, the door was locked. They were denied access to the wedding.

Lamp oil is, of course, a metaphor for our faith, the strength of the holy spirit within us. It is up to us to keep our lamp full; we cannot use another person’s faith. Jay gave us four lessons about the prepared and the unprepared:
Each of us is a lamp that bears witness to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
An inherited faith or a borrowed faith is no faith at all.
We all fall asleep in our faith (have moments of weakness or lapses in our faith practices).
Profession as a believer in Christ without obedience to Christ is not a genuine faith in Christ.

We all know that Christ is coming, but none of us know exactly when he will arrive. It is up to us to be ready to meet him at any time. Jay gave us three questions to ponder, and to answer honestly:
Do you have enough oil to get through the night?
Is your faith your own?
Does Jesus know you?

We are all invited to the celebration, but we must be awake and prepared to attend. Let us work consistently to keep our lamps full in joyful anticipation of Christ’s return.

Each era of our lives has meaning and purpose. Even in our earliest and oldest years, we have something God is looking for. Scripture is full of teaching and examples of people who lived out God's purpose. Our challenge is to do the same.

On Mothers’ Day, we heard John Mulligan’s lesson about Biblical Teachings on Honoring Mothers. Firstly, it’s very important to note that Mothers’ Day can be very difficult for some people - those who are estranged from their children, those who are adopted, those unable to have children, and many others. Let us be thoughtful about what we say to these people on Mothers’ Day.

Next, honoring mothers isn’t just from that one commandment - several bible passages tell us about honoring mothers, and mother-figures. It’s important to note that ‘honor’ looks different in different parts of our lives. A very young child is simply expected to obey their parents. When we are older, honor becomes respect. Even after we marry and we are meant to cling to our spouse, we are still expected to honor our mothers.

Also, we should honor ourselves as mothers, or as mother-figures. As John said, we have a priceless role in a starving culture. Titus 2:3 reads, “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live… to teach what is good.” There are certainly many opportunities to be a loving mother-figure to someone needing a gentle, guiding hand in their lives.

Finally, know that honoring your mother comes with an important promise. Ephesians 6:2-3 says:
“Honor your father and mother” - which is the first commandment with a promise - “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

A mother’s faith can bless her children who then bless their community. Let’s thank God for what our mothers instilled in us.

There are some who walk the walk and talk the talk, but deep down in their hearts, who are they? Gehazi was a man who served under a prophet of the One True God, and yet he still came to a tragic end.

Death is the reality everyone faces but no one wants to talk about. Financial planners, attorneys, and funeral directors will talk about it but for their own reasons. We need to come to terms with our death and understand what happens when we die. This involves knowing where the answers are found and what they mean for our present life.

John Mulligan’s lesson on Sunday was about “The Resurrected Body” -- specifically, what kind of body will we have? As mortals, it can be difficult for us to face death, but we need to embrace what is to come - that is, our new Heavenly home.

We are both flesh and spirit. When death comes, our flesh will remain, but our spirit will go to God and we will have a new, resurrected body. 1 Corin. 15:52 says, “...for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” What will this change be? 1 Corin. 15:36-38 “...what you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined.”

Scripture teaches us five features of the resurrection body:
It will be a “body” (1 Corin. 15:38-42)
It will be a body of glory, honor and power (v. 42-44), one without defect.
It will be a different, changed body (2 Corin. 5:8-10)
It will be an imperishable body (2 Corin. 5:52-56)
It will be a body like Christ’s body! In Luke 24:13-43, we read that Jesus walked, spoke, and ate. (v39) “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” That is the kind of body God will grant us!

Our earthly body is merely a temporary tent. Our resurrected body will be our glorious, best self as God determines, without pain or defect. It will be the best of both worlds, indeed. So while we await these wondrous changes, let us keep doing our best in our current lives. Let us be the people God created us to be. Let us be steadfast; our faith is not vain. The best is yet to come!