Preparing For Christ’s Return
Matthew 25:1-13
I was once sent an interesting book entitled, Jesus Is Finally Coming Are You Ready for the Rapture? October 28, 1992. It was sent to me free of charge by the Mission For The Coming Days. This is an organization that was formed in 1988 after, they say, a calling by God through the Holy Spirit. They have 61 divisions in Korea and 40 others throughout the world with headquarters in Seoul, Korea. In this book under the chapter Jesus Knows When, the following quotation is found: "Will Jesus not know the time of His return? By studying who Jesus really is, you will not only agree with us, but become one of our believers in '24:00 of 28 October 1992.'" Of course, this date-like many others, has come and gone and still Jesus has not returned.
Jesus warns us about trying to set a time for his return, but in the same vein, he instructs us in the matter of being ready for his return no matter when it may take place. This is the most important part of the Second Coming of the Lord. It does not matter when he comes. It matters whether we are ready or not.
We can look in the Old and New Testaments and find references to the second coming of Christ. Some have said that out of the 27 books in the New Testament, 23 of them give reference to the second coming of Christ. They have found 318 references to this coming in these books. This translates into about one out of every 30 verses.
Now we cannot deny that there are various views among Christians about how the events surrounding the Second Coming will transpire. Some believe in a literal seven year tribulation and a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. Others interpret these events in a symbolic manner. No matter how we interpret these events, the thing that should occupy our attention is the fact that Christ will return.
The parable that we read today speaks of the Second Coming of Christ. It does not tell how all of the events will take place. What it does tell us is that we must be prepared for the Coming. First through twenty-first century Christians have looked for his arrival. He has not come yet, but we hold to the belief that he will come, and it is our responsibility to be ready and to try to get others ready as well by warning them of this coming event.
I. WHO SHOULD PREPARE ( 1-5)
The parable deals with a wedding. During this period, the marriage affected the entire family. The decision for marriage partners was made by the parents not the participants in the marriage. This decision was often made while the man and woman were children. When they reached a certain age, they entered into a betrothal ceremony. A dowry was paid by the parents of the bride. Betrothal was much more binding that our engagement. So binding was it that if the marriage did not take place for whatever reason, a divorce had to be secured before either party could marry another. Even though not legally married, the man and woman were viewed as being husband and wife. If there was unfaithfulness during this period, it was considered adultery. We can think about the events surrounding the birth of Jesus and determine that this was the normal mindset. At the time of the wedding, the friends of the groom would bring the bride to the groom's house.
In our story, we are introduced to ten bridesmaids who take their lamps and go out to meet the groom. The number ten is probably used because it stands for completeness in God's Word. They then wait for the groom so they can escort him to the bride's house. So in this parable there is a difference. The groom is away and the bridesmaids are waiting to escort him to the bride's home.
Then we learn that five of these bridesmaids are foolish and the other five are wise, and we are told the reason they are considered so. Five of them took oil in their lamps and five did not. In reality, the reference is to extra oil. Five of them took extra oil, but five of them did not. Since the lamps were so small, it made good sense to take along extra oil. While they were waiting for the groom, they fell asleep.
The reference to the groom must be a reference to Christ. Paul pictures Christ as the groom and husband of the church. In turn, the church is pictured as the bride and wife of Christ. The coming of the groom is a reference to the coming of Christ. This coming can be compared to a marriage feast for those who have accepted him as their Savior.
At first the maidens seem to represent the disciples of Christ, but as the story continues, we will find that all of them are not true disciples. So who should prepare? Everyone. Whether they are believers or unbelievers, all are called upon to prepare for the coming of Christ.
II. HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE (6-9)
At midnight, the cry went out that the groom had arrived. As the bridesmaids wake up to trim their lamps, the foolish ones discover that their oil had run out. Then they discover that they failed to bring any extra oil. Though they asked the wise bridesmaids to let them borrow some, they refused and told them to go and buy some for themselves.
The foolishness is seen in that the five did not prepare to meet the groom who represents Christ. Perhaps they were like many today who feel that they have plenty of time to prepare. Jesus tells in the story of how the groom was a long time in coming. This means that we have no excuse for lack of preparation. The story however also teaches that his coming will be sudden and unexpected.
Preparation is involved in everything we do. At least, it should be. Planning is of the utmost importance. Those who are in school know firsthand the importance of planning. To do something else on the night of a test instead of studying will lead to dire results. We must prepare in the work we do if we are to find success. Investing for the future takes planning. Whether this is for the college education of our children or our retirement, planning and preparation must take place or the money will not be there when it is needed.
Preparation must also take place when we are anticipating meeting Jesus at his Second Coming. The Bible tells us the way that we prepare. It is through repenting of our sins and faith in him as our Savior. We must turn and go in an opposite direction than we have been going. We must place our trust in him as the one who can deliver us from the bondage of sin. But our preparation cannot stop at this point. This is only the beginning of a life-long journey. We must follow that initial commitment by a life of obedience to the cause of Christ. His cause was to enlarge the kingdom of God by leading others to enter into it.
This preparation must be individual preparation. Notice that the foolish bridemaids ask the wise to share their oil with them but they would not do it. We cannot share our salvation with anyone else. We can share how to be saved, but no one can take a free ride into heaven on our decision. This is the dividing mark in the parable. Five were possessors and five were professors. A husband cannot stand for his wife or the wife for the husband. The parents cannot stand for the children nor the children for the parents. Nor can a friend stand for another friend. Each person must stand for themselves before God.
Many however fail to prepare. For one reason or another they put off or procrastinate when it comes to receiving Christ as their Savior. Les Waas is the founder of the Procrastinator's Club of America. He does not mind if you refer to him as the “late” Mr. Wass. In fact, the slogan of his organization is "Procrastinate Now." The normal approach of procrastinators is "There's always tomorrow."
III. THE PROBLEM IN PREPARATION (10-12)
While the foolish bridesmaids were away trying to buy more oil, the groom came. The bridesmaids who were prepared to meet him went into the banquet. After they entered, the door was closed. When the foolish bridesmaids returned, they cried for the groom to open the door, but his reply was that he did not know them.
The foolish bridesmaids knew the groom was coming, but they failed to prepare. They tried to prepare after he came but found it was too late. And so we cannot prepare to meet Christ when he comes. Then it will be too late. The preparation must come now while our earthly lives are continuing. There is no purgatory that another can pray us out of or that we can suffer out of. The Bible says that today is the day of salvation. Today is the day and time to live a life that is committed to Christ. When Christ comes, time will end. A new heaven and earth will be made, and all those who have refused him on earth will be refused by him in eternity. Hell will be the absence of the love and presence of God. In the parable, the shut door included those who were ready but excluded those who were not. There will be no second chances as we experience in many situations while on earth.
When we enter into eternity with God, it will be compared to a banquet. It will be a time of bliss and enjoyment throughout eternity. But for those who try to gain entrance, the answer will be “Depart from me, I never knew you.” For many, tomorrow is the day they will trust Christ; tomorrow is the day they will commit themselves to his service.
On one of the Andy Griffith episodes, a vagrant comes to town and takes up with Opie. Opie admires him; he looks up to him. The problem however is that the vagrant is a procrastinator. Andy offers him some work around the house so he will no longer be considered a vagrant and loiterer. The job was only to trim the shrubbery, but even this he put off. He preferred to go fishing. His procrastination rubbed off on Opie to the extent that Opie cut school to go fishing with him. His excuse for putting off work: "Tomorrow is the most perfect day to start any job." Many too put off the preparation for the coming of Christ.
One has said: "No light, so late, and dark and chill the night. Oh let us in, that we may find the light. Oh, no, too late, ye cannot enter now."
IV. THE FINAL WARNING (V.13)
The final words of Jesus tell us to watch because we do not know the day or time when he will return. All the efforts that are made to determine this time are futile. Our concern is that we are prepared when he does come. To watch for him does not infer that we are to cease our everyday duties or that we are constantly to keep our eyes on the sky. To watch means that we are to live prepared lives as we await his return.
CONCLUSION
The teaching of the parable is simple. Jesus is coming again at some point in history. Will you be ready. Are you ready now. Have you repented of your sins and placed your faith and trust in him. Is your life committed to him as a Christian. If not, you are not ready.
Even So, Come Quickly
Margaret Clarkson
The Prince of Peace came down to earth
with God's goodwill to men,
And all the hosts of Heaven sang,
And high their hallelujah's rang
O'er sleeping Bethlehem;
But men heard not the songs of love
For tumult of earth's strife:
High on a hill they hewed a tree,
Carried their King to Calvary,
And slew the Lord of life.
The Prince of Peace looks down on earth,
Sick with the strife of sin,
And watches men wage warfare blind
The while he yearns to help them find
The Peace He died to win.
War rages on in savage hate
With spectred horrors grim:
Distracted earth is sore distressed,
And prays for peace and cried for rest,
But will have none of Him.
The Prince of Peace shall come to earth
And earth shall own His sway;
Not thorn, but glory on His brow,
Earth's every knee to Him shall bow
In that truimphal day.
His righteous rule shall know no end;
Wars shall forever cease;
But not till comes her Savior King,
Love's banner o'er His world to fling,
Shall rebel earth have peace!
