Page 124 - Overcoming Addiction

Matthew 25:5

"Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to
sleep."

Although the church often praises the five wise virgins in this parable for
having oil in their lamps, it is often ignored that none of these virgins was going to
the wedding feast to be married to the Bridegroom. These virgins were not
included in the bride of Christ. Certainly, part of the reason for this
disqualification was that they all fell asleep while the bridegroom tarried, for the
bride of Christ will be watching intently for her Bridegroom’s appearing.

During the occasion of the transfiguration of Christ on the mount when
Moses and Elijah appeared, we read the following:

Luke 9:32
Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when
they were fully awake, they saw His glory...

We too will only see the glory of Christ in His appearing if we are fully
awake! We must not allow our senses to be dulled by the stupor that comes from
feeding upon the world’s fare.
A day of great calamity is coming in which men will be caught unaware and
suffer great harm because they were not intent on the Spirit of Christ. Many
Christians will suffer loss in this hour due to the dullness of their spiritual senses.

I Thessalonians 5:3-6

While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon
them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not
escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake
you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of
night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be
alert and sober.

It is often that which Christians deem as harmless that is the most dangerous
for them. We may not think of watching an x-rated movie, for we know it is full of
poison, but we may not have the same alertness to the message coming across the
evening news broadcast. Yet even the news is reported in a biased manner, and it
is intended to deceive the masses and to cause them to be distracted from that
which God would have them to be alert unto. Just before the stock market collapse
of the Great Depression, the news was reporting that things had never been better.
Wealth was increasing, and things looked favorable as far as the eye could see.
While they were saying "Peace and safety!" destruction was at their door. Are we
so naive as to think that the media is now declaring things as they really are?