Introduction

Welcome, dear friends. It's always a joy to gather together in the house of the Lord, isn't it? To be able to share in the fellowship of believers, to sing praises to our King, and to sit under the teaching of His Word. It's a privilege we should never take lightly.

Today we find ourselves in Matthew 25, at the parable of the ten virgins. The passage reads as follows: "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.'"

In this passage, we see a call to alertness, a reminder of the hope we have in a world that often seems devoid of God's presence, and an encouragement to hold onto our purpose even when darkness surrounds us.

Heeding the Call to Alertness

The ten virgins were waiting for the bridegroom. They all had lamps, but only five of them had the foresight to bring extra oil. This is a picture of alertness. It's about being ready, being prepared. It's about understanding that we are living in a time of waiting, a time of anticipation. We are waiting for the return of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. And while we wait, we must be alert. We must be prepared. But what does it mean to be alert? How do we live in a state of readiness?

Firstly, being alert means being aware of our surroundings. We need to be in tune with the times and the seasons. In the parable, the wise virgins understood the times. They knew that the bridegroom could come at any moment, and they were prepared for his arrival. They didn't allow themselves to be caught off guard. They were aware of their surroundings, and they acted accordingly.

Being alert means being active. It's not enough to simply be aware of our surroundings, we must also take action. The wise virgins didn't just know that the bridegroom was coming, they also took steps to ensure they were ready for his arrival. They brought extra oil for their lamps. They didn't just sit back and hope for the best. They were proactive. They took responsibility for their own readiness.

Being alert means being adaptable. The wise virgins were able to adjust to the situation as it unfolded. When the bridegroom was delayed, they didn't panic. They didn't give up. They didn't lose hope. Instead, they adapted. They used their extra oil to keep their lamps burning. They remained flexible and open to change, and as a result, they were ready when the bridegroom finally arrived.

Being alert means being attentive to God's Word. The wise virgins were not only aware of their surroundings, active in their preparations, and adaptable in their response, but they were also attentive to the voice of the bridegroom. They listened for his call. They responded when he arrived. They were attentive to his voice, and as a result, they were able to enter into the wedding feast.

Harnessing Hope in a Godless World

As we continue to reflect on the parable of the ten virgins, we find ourselves drawn to the image of the five wise virgins ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO