A man named Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year, and every year when Stumpy saw the antique bi-plane he would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” Martha always replied, “I know, Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs $10, and $10 is $10.” One year, Stumpy said, “Martha, I’m 81 years old. If I don’t ride that airplane I might never get another chance.” Martha replied, “Stumpy, that airplane ride cost $10, and $10 is $10.”
The pilot overheard them and said, “Folks, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say one word, I won’t charge you, but if you say one word it’s $10.” Stumpy and Martha agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word was heard. He did all his tricks over again, but still not a word.
When they landed, the pilot turned to Stumpy and said, “By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn’t.” Stumpy replied, “Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell out, but $10 is $10.”
Marriage is defined by one word: commitment! That same word defines our Christian life. It’s not always easy being married. It’s not always easy being a Christian. Marriage has great joys. So does the Christian life. We give our lives for our spouses. We give our lives to our Lord Jesus Christ. When married couples are separated for a time they long to be with each other again. Christ is, in a sense, separated from His church. We have the Holy Spirit, of course, but Christ promised to come back for His bride, the church. The reunion between the bride and the bridegroom was so much anticipated that in ancient Israel it was shouted in the streets. Matthew 25:6: “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”
Are you anticipating your Lord’s return?
Do you long to be with Him? Have you been faithful to Him while He is away? One day we will all stand before Him. Sadly most of us are as unprepared as the five virgins in Matthew 25 who did not buy oil for their lamps and when the bridegroom came at midnight they did not have oil for their lamps and could not see. Matthew 25:11-13 says: “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.”
I talk to many people about coming to church each week. I have gotten this answer many times: “I stay up too late on Saturday night” or “Sunday is my only day to rest.” They will be like those five virgins who, when the bridegroom came had no oil. (the oil is the Holy Spirit, which means they were not prepared to meet the Lord. They had not trusted in Christ as their Savior.) Those unprepared virgins were locked out. The saddest words in the Bible. “I know you not.” They will be left out forever, left behind for eternity, all because they regarded sleep more than God. They regarded rest more than worshipping the God who made them. They cared more for their time than time spent serving God in worship and praise. They were more concerned with their plans than God’s plan of salvation.
Isaiah 30:1: “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.”
Ten dollars may be $10. But God’s mercy is worth more than all the money the world could give. But God asks for no money. God doesn’t require oil; he only needs us to turn from our sins and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Watch sermons and read sermon texts and other articles online at tomahawkmbc.com. Listen to Pastor Jack’s sermons on WSIP FM 98.9 every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Watch his sermons on his Facebook page. Find him on Rumble, Bitchute and Brighteon video platforms.