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