The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

The phrase “at hand” means “close in time; about to happen.” For example, if someone says that they need to focus on an issue at hand, it means that they are concentrating their efforts at something happening right now or very soon. 

You know, right around Thanksgiving, many big retail stores have huge discounts on items for Christmas gifts. The allure of saving sometimes over half off an item will draw massive amounts of people to the store. But because the supply is limited, people will need to get to the store early to make sure that they can get it, sometimes waiting for hours before the store opens.

Or maybe a band is coming to town for a concert a certain weekend, and because they are such a popular band, if someone wants to get tickets for it, they need to get the tickets immediately, right then, before they sell out. Like the saying goes, “You snooze, you lose.” 

Well the time to repent of your sins is right now. Not later, not sometime when I get to it, but today, right now. Do you know what is going to happen later today? Do you know for certain that the next time that you go driving down the road that you will not die in an accident? We do not know when we are going to die, and because of this people need to repent and turn from their sins immediately, today. 

The 10 virgins in Matthew 25 knew that the bridegroom was coming, but only 5 of them were ready. They were prepared and ready to go, but the 5 foolish virgins were not ready. They had the time to prepare and get ready, but they didn’t. They thought they could wait right until the bridegroom came, but by that time it was too late and they were shut out of the wedding.

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 

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

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. 

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.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:1-13

And that is what is going to happen on Judgement Day. People are going to try to put off changing from their ways until the last moment, but as the Bible teaches, that time will come when they least expect it. They will not be ready and it will be too late.

“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:37-44

The time to repent and change is right now. Don’t make the mistake of the foolish virgins, and put it off until the last moment, because you don’t know when that moment is. Are you ready?

In Christ,

Andrew