Ready And Prepared

A GREAT DEAL OF OUR LIFE AND DAILY ROUTINE IS GETTING READY OR PREPARATION. WE SPEND TIME GETTING READY FOR WORK, FOR APPOINTMENTS, HOLIDAYS, AND SUCH. I FOUND ONE STUDY THAT SAYS THAT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN SPENDS 5 YEARS OF THEIR LIFE IN PREPARATION AND WAITING FOR EVENTS IN THEIR LIFE.

MATTHEW’S PARABLE OF “THE TEN BRIDESMAIDS” IS ONE OF THE FINEST STORIES ON PREPARATION. WE ARE TO INVEST OUR LIFE PREPARING FOR THE “SECOND ADVENT” WHEN JESUS, AS THE BRIDEGROOM, RETURNS FOR HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH.

1 PETER 4:7-8, “THE END OF ALL THINGS IS NEAR; THEREFORE BE SERIOUS AND DISCIPLINE YOURSELVES FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR PRAYERS. ABOVE ALL, MAINTAIN CONSTANT LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS.”

FOR CHRISTIANS, THE END OF THE WORLD IS A PROMISE, NOT A THREAT. WE SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST WHICH WE RECITE IN OUR CREED, “HE SHALL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.” WHEN THE AGE COMES TO AN END, IT WILL BE THE TIME OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH, WHEN SIN AND EVIL WILL BE NO MORE, AND WHERE WE WILL ALL LIVE IN ETERNAL JOY WITH GOD THE FATHER AND OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

ARE WE PREPARING? ARE WE LIVING IN EXPECTATION OF THIS ETERNAL REALITY? THE PARABLE OF THE BRIDESMAIDS SHOWS US HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE READY FOR CHRIST’S RETURN AT ANY TIME, EVEN IF MAY APPEAR THAT HE IS DELAYED OR TAKING LONGER THAN EXPECTED. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE CAUGHT UNPREPARED.

IN OUR LESSON TODAY, JESUS COMPARES THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TO WHAT HAPPENED TO TEN BRIDESMAIDS WHO WERE WAITING TO JOIN IN WITH THE FESTIVITIES OF A WEDDING BANQUET.

FIVE WERE WISE AND FIVE WERE FOOLISH. WISE, IN THIS SENSE, MEANS INTELLGENT, THOUGHTFUL, AND MINDFUL OF ONE’S INTEREST WHEREAS FOOLISH, IS WHERE WE GET THE SLANG WORD “MORON” WHICH MEANS DULL, STUPID, AND, MY FAVORITE, BLOCKHEAD.

JESUS TELLS THE STORY OF TEN BRIDESMAIDS WHO ARE WAITING AT THE BRIDE’S HOUSE FOR THE CALL TO START THEIR PROCESSION TO THE GROOM’S HOUSE, WHERE THE CEREMONY WOULD TAKE PLACE. THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE THE YOUNG GIRLS WOULD PREPARE TO LIGHT THEIR TORCHES TO BEGIN THE JOURNEY.

THE FOOLISH HAD TORCHES THAT WERE AT LEAST WORKING AT THE MOMENT, BUT NO EXTRA OIL. THE WISE ARE FULLY PREPARED BY BRINGING WELL-MAINTAINED TORCHES AND AN EFFICIENT SUPPLY OF OIL TO COVER ANY SURPRISES OR DELAYS. THE WISE WERE READY, BUT THE FOOLISH ARE ILL-PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED.

THE CRY RINGS OUT “HERE’S THE BRIDEGROOM ! COMEOUT TO MEET HIM!” ALL TEN GIRLS WAKE UP, ARISE, AND BEGIN PREPARING THEMSELVES FOR THE PROCESSION TO THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE PROBLEM: THE FOOLISH GIRLS WERE STRUGGLING TO GET THEIR TORCHES LIT. NO MATTER WHAT THEY TRIED, THEY STRUGGLED TO GET THEIR TORCHES TO CATCH FIRE. DESPITE THEIR BEST EFFORTS, THEIR TORCHES KEPT SMOLDERING AND STARTED TO GO COMPLETELY OUT. THEY NEEDED MORE OIL!

THERE WASN’T AN IMMEDIATE REMEDY. THE WISE GIRLS DID NOT HAVE ANY SPARE OIL TO GIVE THEM. THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GO OUT INTO THE VILLAGE TO FIND OIL TO PURCHASE. THERE WAS NO TIME TO WASTE, BUT THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE.

WHILE THE FOOLISH GIRLS WERE AWAY, THE GROOM ARRIVED AND LED THE WEDDING PARTY AND GUESTS OFF TO THE BANQUET HALL TO START THE WEDDING CEREMONY. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE GROOM’S HOUSE, HIS SERVANTS CLOSE THE DOOR.

AFTER THE FOOLISH BRIDESMAIDS GET THEIR OIL, THEY QUICKLY RETURN WITH HOPES OF JOINING IN THE CELEBRATION ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY ARE ALL LOCKED OUT OF THE BANQUET HALL.

THEY PLEAD WITH THE GUARDS “SIR, OPEN THE DOOR FOR US!” ONLY TO BE TOLD “CERTAINLY NOT! I DO NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE!” THEY MISSED THEIR OPPORTUNITY AND ARE NOW LOCKED OUT. THEY ARE TOTALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE MARRIAGE FESTIVITIES.

YES, ONE OF THE OBVIOUS LESSONS THIS PARABLE TEACHES IS THE NECESSITY OF BEING READY FOR THE RETURN OF CHRIST. BUT, THERE ARE FEW OTHER POWERFUL LESSONS TO LEARN:

FIRST, UNDERSTAND WHY THE WISE COULD NOT SHARE THEIR OIL! THEY ARE NOT BEING RUDE OR STINGY! THIS IS SYMBOLIC OF THE FACT THAT YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! PREPARING FOR ETERNITY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

THE GRACE OF GOD IS NOT TRANSFERABLE FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER. YOU CAN’T BARROW SOMEONE ELSES FAITH OR DECISION. ROMANS 10:10, “FOR WITH THE HEART ONE BELIEVES AND IS JUSTIFIED, AND WITH THE MOUTH ONE CONFESSES AND IS SAVED.”IT MUST BE YOUR OWN CHOICE. SALVATION CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED NOR CAN ANYONE MAKE THE DECISION FOR YOU.

SECOND LESSON: IF THE BRIDEGROOM DELAYS, DON’T SLUMBER AND FALL ASLEEP! TO “SLUMBER” MEANS TO BE “NODDING OFF” OR “BEGINNING TO DOZE.” THE SECOND WORD, “SLEPT” IS IN THE “IMPERFECT TENSE” IMPLIES CONTINUOUS AS IN “KEPT ON SLEEPING.”