When I was a child, my great-grandparents were a huge part of my life, often coming to our home to visit, and my dad would drive us to their home (often) on Sundays, after church and after a KFC lunch. I loved those Sundays spent at their place because it was paradise for a kid. You see, there was this HUGE three-story barn, and what’s not fun about that?!

I am sure anyone watching us arrive at their home, we probably looked like a car full, bursting at the seams, and when my parents opened their car doors, we (the many kids) fell out and fell in love. My great-grandfather was not a patricianly tall man, so when we ran to hug, I always felt so tall. Faithfully, he always sported a scratchy day-old beard that he enjoyed rubbing across our child-tender face. I know he enjoyed our squeal.

While all this commotion was occurring on the front enclosed porch, my mom would step inside the front door, entering my great-grandmother’s sanctuary. What I most recall about my time shared at their home was the deep contrast between these precious individuals.

• My great-grandfather was outside, while my great-grandmothers remained inside the home.
• My great-grandfather walked down to the overly large barn to attend the sheep, and my great-grandmother walked from the front living room to the kitchen, into her bedroom.

My great-grandfather and great-grandmother did not openly display their relationship with God through their words but through their actions. We felt the love of God each time we drove to their home, and I vividly recall my great-grandmother often sitting in the front room (the living room) with her Bible opened on her lap and retiring to her bedroom, closing the door, and entering her prayer closet.

Oscar Ransom and Laura Ellen Godby will forever be deep inside my being, for the many ways they displayed the love of Jesus to me. I am so proud to carry a part of her name as my name and to have shared that name with my daughter.

The five virgins who were ready for the coming of the bridegroom could not allow the five foolish virgins, who were not ready, to borrow that which they had prepared in advance. When the bridegroom, the virgins needed to be ready, and five were, but five were not (ready).

Here’s a frightening truth:

• You and I cannot provide salvation for any other soul. We can only seek the Lord Jesus for ourselves.
• You and I cannot find salvation through our family members, borrowing their faith as we receive their passed-down names. We must seek God for ourselves.
• You and I can pray for those who we know are lost and unready, asking God to help them see the truth about His Amazing Gift of Salvation He Offers to them.

Here’s another frightening truth:

People can attend church, going every Sunday, singing gospel melodies, attending Bible study, and even serving in the church—and still not be ready when Jesus comes.

• Church attendance,
• Church devotion, not
• Church work cannot save our soul.

Only a personal relationship with the Savior can make us ready (prudent and not foolish).

The problem of the world is a sin-problem. They make stand near their God-fearing family members or inside their churches, looking ready, but when “the day” comes WHEN JESUS RETURNS, they will realize the frightening truth.

They may be drowsy or asleep, thinking they are ready to meet Jesus,  but when “the day” comes WHEN JESUS RETURNS, they will realize the frightening truth.

They may be hoping they can ‘borrow’ the faith of their grandfathers, pastors, teachers, and other faithful believers, but when “the day” comes WHEN JESUS RETURNS, they will realize the frightening truth.