INTRO
Procrastination. It’s a universal part of the human experience isn’t it? We put off doing the things we’re supposed to be doing because we figure we have time to get to it later. Some people seem like professional procrastinators. Students get assignments at the beginning of the term and then up bragging out the “all nighters” they pulled off in order to get the project or report finished on time. Children who have a certain amount of time to get their chores done will inevitably wait until the final moment, then scurry around frantically to get the jobs done. And when it comes to Christmas shopping, men seem to believe that there is something really “festive” about waiting until the 23rd or 24th to finally start thinking about what to get for those close to them!
For some reason, when we think we have lots of time, it creates in us a feeling of laziness and inattention that can be hard to snap out of when it is time to get busy again.
Jesus lived and walked this earth about 2000 years ago. That’s a long time ago. And when he was on the earth, one of the things he talked about and that those who were closest to him believed in was the fact that he was going to leave them, but then would return again to set up His Kingdom. You find this throughout his teachings in the gospel and in the other books of the New Testament.
But another thing that Jesus taught was that no one really knew when this return was going to take place. And so, for 2000 years now, believers have been in the difficult position of having to live life as if Jesus might return at any moment, and yet with each passing year having the knowledge that it’s been another year and he still hasn’t returned.
Since I was a young boy and my parents read “The Late Great Planet Earth” by Hal Lindsey I’ve been hearing people say that Jesus is coming back any day. I’m sure that those of you who are older than me have heard such statements for much longer. History shows that for 2000 years people have looked at what is going on and felt sure that the 2nd coming of Christ was imminent. This can make me, and perhaps others, grow complacent about the reality that he IS coming back, and it really could be soon.
Jesus knew this would be difficult for those he walked the earth with, as well as for those of us who would follow thousands of years later. And he told a couple of stories to help us think through the way we should live our lives in the light of his mysteriously long absence. His point which he makes throughout these stories, is that people need to be living as if they are ready and waiting for His return.
If you have your Bible with you please turn with me Matthew 24. Context: In this entire chapter Jesus has given some of the “signs of the times” when the end would come.
Matthew 24:42-51 (NIV)
42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ’My master is staying away a long time,’ 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus then goes on to tell another story, this time about ten virgins who are like bridesmaids at a wedding. In order to make sense of Jesus’ story, we need to understand a bit about Jewish wedding customs. Traditionally, the groom would leave from his house and travel, after sun-down to the bride’s home, and then he would take the bride back to his house, where the ceremonies and celebrations would continue for a couple of days.
The ten virgins in this story would be waiting outside the bride’s home for the arrival of the groom – but would not know exactly at what hour he would arrive.
Matthew 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6"At midnight the cry rang out: ’Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ’Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9" ’No,’ they replied, ’there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11"Later the others also came. ’Sir! Sir!’ they said. ’Open the door for us!’
12"But he replied, ’I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
One thing that’s becoming clear is that Jesus’ parables are definitely not predictable. They often end with something tragic happening. Neither of these stories has much of a “happy ending” do they?
In the first story, the wicked servant is cut to pieces, and in the second story, the unprepared virgins are shut out of the party.
What is Jesus getting at?
All people should live in readiness for the end to come.
Whether it is with the triumphant return of Christ, or whether through a sudden death, the end will come suddenly. It is important that each of us live our life in a way that we’re ready to meet our Master.
Putting on a show for others or looking “spiritual” on the outside will not do. See those 5 virgins – they were hanging out with the other five. They had a lamp – but that lamp did not have an ample supply of oil – so they tried to see if they could borrow some fuel from one of their friends – but they couldn’t.
If you are hoping that somehow God will accept you because you are hanging around with Christian people, or because you’re coming to church, or because you’re married to someone who follows Christ, the story of the virgins should be a stark reminder.
If you are living life as if you have lots of time to get to the “spiritual stuff” later, you need to take warning from that first story about what happens to the servant who was not attending to the master’s business.
I remember witnessing to a good friend in high school and college and trying to convince him to turn his life over to Christ, but he just wasn’t ready to do so YET. His attitude was, “I’m going to have my fun first – then when I’m older I’ll get serious about following God.”
Such a way of living risks eternity against some so called “pleasures” that are so passing.
The most dangerous lie is not "There is no God", not "there is no hell"; but the most dangerous lie of Satan is "there is no hurry."
Col. 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
What does it mean to be ready and waiting?
• It means you become a follower of Christ – you actually “get your torch” so that you can come to the wedding feast which is promised at the end of all things.
• You keep your stock of “oil” for your lamp by following God’s ways 24/7. Keep yourself pure from evil influences. Actively love your neighbors. Choose to say no to temptations. Make developing your relationship with Christ and other Christ-followers a high priority in your life.
APPLICATION:
Perhaps years ago you felt “on fire” for God. You were serving. You had a healthy fear of the Lord. You wanted to be found actively serving if your master suddenly returned or suddenly called you home. But life has happened, and now serving the Master takes a distant third or fourth place to other priorities in your life. Take stock. What would the Master say to you –and how would you feel if he were to return with the current way you are living your life?
Perhaps you’ve been waiting until sometime in the future. You’ve planned on following God someday after you’ve lived your life your own way. But you are feeling now the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon you to submit your life to him now. Don’t delay.
Jesus Christ IS returning. It may or may not be before you die – but the most important thing for you to be sure of in your life is that you are READY and WAITING for His return. For if so, you’ll be in for the great wedding feast promised for those who follow Christ! I pray you won’t be shut out but will enjoy all the blessings your heavenly Father wants to shower upon you that day.
Let’s pray.
