BYM ONLINE DESK Blessing English E-magazine Aug 2019 | Page 12

Watchfulness In Small Things Pasala Ramana, Missionary, BYM, Vellore Watchfulness in Salvation "A stitch in time, saves nine" is an adage that highlights the importance of attending to issues though trivial in the beginning but becomes monstrous to handle in the roll of time. We can find a similar and more relevant metaphor in the parable of the ten virgins as described by our Lord Jesus Christ in the first part of Matthew chapter 25. The Bible says that 5 were wise and 5 were foolish. Why were the five virgins called foolish? They resembled the wise virgins in all manner! They were virgins, they wanted to meet the groom, they came with their lamps, they waited for him; in fact the wise virgins also slept. The only area they failed was that they did not take sufficient oil. They did not foresee the situation. Later, though they took greater efforts than the wise virgins, like requesting others for oil or even going to the market at that odd hour, they were shut out by the bridegroom. He even claimed that he does not know them. Thinking of this sends a shiver down my spine. It seems as if the bridegroom is unloving and merciless, but the fact is that these virgins were careless. Our Lord Jesus Christ, at the end of the parable exhorts, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour" (Mt 25:13). Let us consider some of the areas where we need to be watchful. Salvation is a gift from God. We are saved by grace through faith. Salvation is a transformation from dead to life and darkness to light. Salvation commences our journey with Christ. During the initial days we rejoice in His presence and are sensitive to the Spirit's leading. It is a life of total commitment to the Lord. We are totally sold out to Him. But as days pass by, we slowly lose our fervour. We don't "feel" like reading the Bible, meditating it or spending time in His presence. Even fellowship with other believers tends to become tiresome. Slowly we estrange ourselves from our Beloved and our zeal gradually diminishes. We can boast that we have been saved so many years back. But are we still relating to the Lord the same way as we used to? Let us beware! Salvation is a daily experience. The first time we were saved, we were saved from the penalty of sin. In our daily walk of life, we need to be saved from the presence of sin. When we continue to grow in the Lord, when we meet Him face to face, we will be delivered from the presence of sin. Till then we need to work out our Salvation. Christian life is a walk from sin to holiness. If we falter, we will become like King Saul. Though he was anointed as the first king of Israel, he failed to walk by the August 2019| www.bymonline.org | page 12