The first important event is found in the previous chapter (24), Jesus tells his disciples about the end times, and his promise to return. And he warns us to be good and faithful servants, and to be watchful for the signs of his coming.

Jesus is telling his disciples that it is time to go to the cross. The disciples want to know when Jesus will return, what will the signs be for the end of this age.

And Jesus tells them about famines, and earthquakes, and nations rising up against nations.

And he tells them to beware of false prophets, and false teachers who will lead them astray from the truth he has told them.

And then he tells them this: He says, "The Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it, and then, finally, the end will come." Jesus is talking here about the Great Commission. He's talking about spreading the Gospel to ends of the earth.

The second important event surrounding chapter 25 is found in the next chapter (26), when Jesus and the disciples share the last supper together.

So, now in chapter 25, just before the passover meal where we learn the meaning of the bread, and of the wine, and just after Jesus told his disciples that the Gospel must be preached throughout the whole world, we find Jesus teaching his disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven. He does this through parables. The first is the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, and the second is the Parable of the Talents. And this chapter concludes with Jesus telling of the Final Judgment, where all the nations are gathered before him, and he separates the people of these nations, one from another. The sheep on his right, and the goats on his left.

In his parable about the Ten Bridesmaids, we read the following: (Now your Bible probable says Ten Virgins, because in those days the word virgin, was also used to describe a young girl)

Read Matthew 25:1-13

Now keep in mind, what Jesus just got through telling us in chapter 24… he is going away. And while he is away, we are to beware of false teachers. We are to be good and faithful servants. We are to be watching for the signs of his return.

Now, if we hear this story out of context; The Bridesmaids are waiting for The Bridegroom. But in context with the previous chapter, where Jesus has gone way, and we are waiting for his return, The Bridegroom in this parable is Jesus.

The Bridesmaids are separated, much like the sheep on Jesus's right and the goats on his left. Some are prepared, and watchful, and go with the Bridegroom to the Wedding Feast. Others, are unprepared, and busy doing other "more important" things, and are left behind.

My friends, every one of us has an invitation to a Wedding Feast! The question is, how do we get there?

There are two important things I'm going to share with you today, that will help to ensure that we get there, and that we are good and faithful servants along the way.

The first thing is to be receptive to the Holy Spirit.

The second is to accept and share with others, The Gospel of Jesus Christ !

A 5-A-Day Club member wrote to me this week, only he didn't know he was helping me prepare my sermon. However, I'm sure God knew.

We'll call this 5-A-Day Club member… Bill.

And Bill asks two very important questions:

He writes:

Steve,

We conversed about this a some time ago.... but...

How do you know if the Spirit is communicating with you? This came up in discussion during last Sunday's adult class, and it has been a subject I have been working hard on lately.

What about emotions? How do you separate emotion from the leading of the spirit?

Also, to revive an even older topic we discussed... "the only way to the Father is through me", said Jesus. I cannot help but question the concept that "only Christians will go to heaven". I have a Baptist friend stabbing me with verses saying this, but I cannot accept it... he basically says that if I cannot accept what the bible says, then I am essentially calling God/Jesus a liar.

My return is to say "I, as an individual, cannot proclaim that millions of great humans will be denied heaven, solely because they don't accept Jesus - this is too bold a statement for humble little me". What is your take on this? I don't want to be a "cafeteria" Christian, but I also don't want to follow blindly - I want to use my mind and my heart to think about Jesus' message and then do the right thing with it.

Please give me your thoughts.

Bill

Has everyone figured out what a "Cafeteria Christian" is? It's one who only selects the items for his plate that taste good and stop the hunger, but it may not be everything he needs to completely nourish his body.

Bill is correct in being careful not to confuse emotion with the leading of the Spirit. A lot of people get themselves into trouble here.

But... to answer his question... How do you discern God's will for your life and become receptive to the Holy Spirit? ... let me offer the following:

I HIGHLY recommend that you read "Listening to God in Times of Choice" (subtitle - "The Art of Discerning God's Will"), by Gordon T. Smith. It's a very easy read, and full of excellent ways to turn up your radar for God.

But I gave Bill six easy steps to being receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit...

1. Be consistent with God's Word Scripture is good, but we need to know that scripture will fail us if it is taken out of context. The Bible speaks best as a whole... the big picture. This is the very reason I started the 5-A-Day Club. Daily consistency in God's Word really does wonders to allow us to understand and remember what God wants us to know. But be careful... One verse may "seem" to contradict another. This is just perception and varying views of what was most important to the writer at the time of the writing. In reality this gives us what we want... a bigger picture. Many parts make a bigger whole. But we need to remember that these differing views NEVER affect doctrine... the doctrine of Christianity remains consistent throughout the Bible, as well as other RLDS scriptures.

2. Be consistent with prayer and meditation Daily prayer and meditation is key. If we can't hear God... maybe we're doing all the talking. Or maybe we won't make the time to find a quiet place to be alone with God. By the way, this is another area where consistency is key. One session probably won't do it.

3. Examine your life for sin Remember Jesus saying that if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off, If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out? What Jesus is telling us here is to change the habits, and remove the things in our lives that temp us, and cause us to sin. Ask yourself, "Do I have a drinking problem? How about Drugs? Pornography? Am I a Work-a-holics? Is there abusive behavior… or are there dishonest business practices? Do I pay my taxes? Do I pay my tithes? How's my attitude behind the wheel of my car? What is my language like when I am not around my church family?" Remember that Jesus is there. Remember that it is sin that clouds our relationship with God. God always hears our prayers, but sin and the lack of repentance hinders our prayers and may result in withheld blessings… Read (1 Pet 3:7).

4. Fill your mind with pure thoughts Read scripture, and Christian books. Listen to Christian tapes, and Christian radio. It never ceases to amaze me how God continues to place before me, resources for what ever I am studying or questioning at any particular time. But you need to be about the business of allowing this to happen. Watch for answers!

5. Talk to the elders in your church about your struggles and questions These fine servants of God have much experience with this. Don't try to re-invent the wheel if you can help it. Go to them for insight on topics and their viewpoints on doctrine. Keep in mind, that in our church, you will get varying views on doctrine. That's okay. Learn to sift, and pray about what you hear and hold it up to scripture.

6. Check what you believe the Spirit is saying against scripture The Bible says that the Holy Spirit never contradicts scripture. If you're leaning toward a thought process or some new theology and then you come across scripture that is contrary... cross reference it to other passages to make sure that your understanding is in context and accurate, and then pray about it. If you have to toss something... toss the theology, not the scripture.

Folks, this requires us to become very sensitive... but after a while... we should be able to end up with "Yes", or "No, or "Wait, for God's answers to our questions... and then become sensitive to things God is trying to tell us... Like whether or not Jesus really IS the way, the truth, and the life. Is it true that "No one comes to the Father but by Him"? What about other religions?

Let me say that I too, like Bill, have been wrestling with this question (again). I've known for some time that I would be preaching today, and the closer Sunday got, the more God placed this question (and also the very passages of scripture containing the answers) right before my eyes!!!!

I don't believe this is a coincidence.

But you see, I'm no different than anyone else… there are some things in the Bible that I just plain don't like ( red flag… emotion! ), but just because I don't like them doesn't make them any less true! If I reject them, especially without being sensitive to the Holy Spirit… I become a "Cafeteria Christian".

I sent Bill a response which sounded a lot like what I've just shared with you, and he responded:

Steve,

Thank you for your insight.

There was one small question you didn't answer, though...

"No one comes to the Father but by Him"? Do you believe this? Do you believe that ALL non-Christians will be denied the Father? Is this really a simple "yes" or "no" answer?

I am concerned about this question because I don't believe God intends to "rule by threat" (i.e. "If you don't believe in everything I say, your out").

I have concluded that believing in such a simplistic view is close-minded, as well as brazen and anything but humble. If I subscribe to it, then I am elevating myself - and that doesn't seem to feel right.

This is not a challenge to my personal faith in God and love for Jesus - I am confident in my conviction. However, there are so many beautiful people in the world, that I can't imagine that there is one-true- correct way to worship the "ultimate truth" about the universe.

If all of the RLDS people I have come to love were Buddhists, I'd be a Buddhist. As it is, I subscribe to a humble small church family, that believes that Joseph Smith was a Prophet - - - - we are obscure in many respects. How do we know that we are right and who are we to espouse that? If I broaden the picture to Christians in general, the history since Christ is marred with ugly human mistakes - - is this really "inspired"??

What do you believe the Bible says about this, and what does your heart & mind tell you?

Bill

As I share with you, my response to Bill, I would like you to ask yourselves the same questions I have asked Bill. There is a logical succession that occurs while answering these questions which I believe brings the listener… to the foot of the cross.

Dear Bill,

I promise to answer your question. But there is so much behind the answer that we need to establish some premises and answer other questions first:

Why do you have such a love and conviction for Jesus?
What has he done for you?
Who was he and why did he come?
Why did he suffer persecution and an agonizing death?
Why was he resurrected?
What does this tell us about life and death?
If Jesus paid my sin debt to God in full, how do I receive the benefits, rewards, and forgiveness associated with that payment?
What is it that makes HIS death... payment for OUR sins?
Does God have favorite people, favorite races, favorite places?
If there was a "Chosen People", what were they chosen for?
How have they been used for God's purposes?
Did "something" happen a long time ago that caused sin to enter into the human race and this world?
Does sin in the world make it difficult to communicate with God and sense his will for our lives?
If so, does God have a plan of salvation to correct this terrible disconnection from Him?
If so, what is the plan?
If there is a plan, is it sufficient for ALL people?
If the plan is sufficient for all people, how and why would people be excluded?
The word Gospel means "The Good News"... what is this good news?
Why are we asked to spread the Gospel?
Is everyone a "child of God", or do we need to be adopted into the family... grafted into the vine, in order to receive our inheritance?
What does the Bible and BOM say about all of this?
Can we trust what the Bible says?
Are there secular writings and archeological evidences to corroborate the stories and people in the Bible?
If we can't trust ALL of what the Bible says, how do we know which parts we CAN trust?

Bill, you've asked what the Bible says about all of this.

The Bible says that something DID happen to cause a separation between the human race and God. It says, that the Jews were his Chosen People out of all the other clans and races on the earth to be the ones through which God would reveal himself and his plan of salvation to correct this separation. It says he did this out his mercy, grace, and love for us, even though we don't deserve it. God called Prophets as messengers to reveal his word to his Chosen People as a race. There were reoccurring periods of obedience to what the Prophets preached, and long bouts of disobedience... bouts of reading and adhering to scripture, and of ignoring and forgetting what was recorded in scripture. God instructed "His People" to make atoning animal sacrifices in order to make payment for sin. The animals sacrificed had to be perfect and without blemish. The Bible says that they needed to do this over, and over, and over again.

At the appointed time, God chose to use a part of his being to step down from his eternal and omniscient position and to enter into time and space in the form of a human named Jesus. A name which means, "Savior".

Jesus claimed to be the "Son of God", an incarnate portrayal of who God is and what he is like. Jesus is the one who created the universe while in his heavenly form. The Bible says that there would come a Messiah (Hebrew), a Christ (Greek), the Anointed One or Chosen One (English). Jesus had the power to resurrect the dead, heal the sick and afflicted, change peoples hearts, and forgive sin. No other religious leader in history can lay claim to all of these things.

The Bible says that the Christ would be hung on a tree, and be made a sacrifice for many. It says that the one who knew no sin would become sin for the world. This one blood atonement by The Chosen One, the Sinless Lamb of God, would be sufficient in God's eyes, to cover the past, present, and future sins of all those who would call upon his name. It says that animal sacrifices were all pointing to the cross, and were no longer necessary. Jesus made this payment in full. Salvation can be found in no other name given among men.

The Bible says that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that whosoever believed in his son shall have everlasting life, and whosoever shall not believe in him shall not see life.

In accepting Christ as our personal savior, we are grafted into the vine, adopted into his family, heirs to the promise to his Chosen People (given through Abraham), and that as a result we become "Children of God".

The Bible says that this is available to everyone, because of what Jesus did at the cross.

Jesus is proof that God has conquered death, that resurrection is possible, and that he has prepared a place for us, so that where he is, there we may be also.

The Bible says that every human being who ever lived will some day stand before Jesus and give an account of their lives, and that there will be a judgment. Those who were feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting those who were sick and in prison will be rewarded in heaven, because when we did this to the least of these, we were doing it to Him. Those who did not do these things, and those who rejected Jesus as their savior after hearing and understanding the Gospel Message, will reject him at the judgment as well, and they will be cast into eternal torment and remain separated from God forever. The Bible is very clear on this one point... we will all stand before Jesus.

The Bible says that what Jesus did, covers every conceivable sin... except one... rejecting him. Now I don't mean back-sliding, or having bouts of unbelief or doubt… we all have that. I mean hearing and understanding the Gospel message, and tossing it aside.

Not many dispute that this is what the Bible says. But many challenge the validity and trustworthiness of scripture.

Because I continue to study everything I can about the existence of God, his messages to the human race, and the evidence surrounding scripture, I have come to the conclusion that the Bible is true, and trustworthy. I have made a personal choice to live in obedience to what I learn from scripture. My personal testimony to you is that as a result, I am enjoying communion with our Father, and I am continually blessed and receptive to the things that he would have me know about his will for my life. As a result, God continues to give me his words, and bring his teachings to my remembrance, which is a feat I continue to marvel at. All this has brought me a sense of peace and joy that cannot be described in earthly terms. What I am experiencing is eternal life in the here and now.

Okay Bill, here it comes... What I believe... because you asked.

It is my belief that the Loving, Fair, Just and Holy Creator of this universe who is our Heavenly Father, would never condemn anyone for rejecting a Christ they never even heard of. I believe that we are resurrected with the character that we die with. I believe that if we reject him here on earth, we will reject him while standing right in front of him. I believe that there is only one GUARANTEE that one is going to heaven, and that is faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is the reason for the Great Commission... which is the admonition from Jesus to preach the Gospel to the four corners of the earth... for it is God's desire that NO ONE should perish, but that ALL should have eternal life.

God has a plan of salvation, a provision sufficient for the entire world. If this is not true, then Jesus didn't need to come, and he didn't have to die on the cross, and God made a terrible mistake. I don't believe God makes mistakes. God has provided the way, the truth, and the life, in his son, Jesus the Christ. We as believers have a responsibility to spread this good news, so that others may experience this eternal life. An abundant life that begins here and now, not just at physical death, or at the resurrection.

I stand in praise and thanksgiving for God's gracious love for you, and for me, and for us ALL.

I thank you for this opportunity to share the Gospel with you.

In Jesus' holy name,

Amen.

(Bill's response)

Wow! You know… I don't think I have ever really heard anyone preach the Gospel before!

I have a lot to work on. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Thank you, Steve,

Bill

Bill's right… it is a process…. It's a progression.

The Bible is logical, the Bible is convincing. It's truth allows the Holy Spirit to changes peoples minds, and changes peoples hearts… that is one of the most crucial criteria for the canonization of scripture.

We have an obligation to know the Gospel. We have a responsibility to spread the Gospel.